Leslie Herbert Wexner is an American billionaire businessman who founded L Brands (now Bath & Body Works, Inc.), the retail empire behind Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and other retail brands. Born September 8, 1937, Wexner built one of the most successful specialty retail companies in American history. His relationship with Jeffrey Epstein represents one of the most significant financial and personal associations in the Epstein archive: Wexner hired Epstein as his financial manager from 1987 to 2007 and granted him sweeping power of attorney over his finances, ultimately transferring hundreds of millions of dollars in assets to Epstein, including a Manhattan townhouse later valued at over $50 million.
The archive documents 19 emails between Wexner and Epstein spanning December 2005 to June 2008, though their professional relationship reportedly ended in 2007. The correspondence reveals ongoing contact after Wexner claimed to have severed ties, including a June 2008 exchange in which Wexner referenced Abigail told me the result...all I can say is I feel sorry. You violated your own number 1 rule...Always be careful — sent four days before Epstein's guilty plea to solicitation charges. Wexner later accused Epstein of misappropriating "vast sums of money" from him and his family, recovering approximately $46 million in 2008. Maria Farmer alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 1996 at a guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate; Wexner has denied knowledge of the incident.
Background#
Leslie Herbert Wexner was born September 8, 1937, in Dayton, Ohio, to Harry and Bella Wexner, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants who operated a small clothing store. He founded The Limited in 1963 with a $5,000 loan from his aunt, focusing on fast-selling items like shirts and pants. The company went public in 1969 and expanded rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s, capitalizing on American mall culture.
In 1982, Wexner acquired Victoria's Secret for $1 million from founder Roy Raymond and transformed it into a global lingerie brand worth billions. Under his leadership, L Brands became a retail powerhouse that also included Bath & Body Works, Henri Bendel, and other specialty retailers. Wexner served as CEO for more than 50 years before stepping down in 2020. According to Forbes, he announced in 2020 that he would sell a majority stake in Victoria's Secret for $525 million to a private equity firm.
Wexner met Epstein in the mid-1980s through friends who recommended him as a financial professional, despite Epstein possessing no bachelor's degree and having previously been a high school math teacher. Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney in July 1991, giving him authority to hire people, sign checks, buy and sell properties, and borrow money on Wexner's behalf. Epstein became the primary and often only publicly known client of Epstein's money-management firm. A 2003 New York Magazine profile described Wexner as one of Epstein's few confirmed clients, noting their close association.
In August 2019, following Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, Wexner released a letter stating that Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money" from him and his family, first discovered in 2007 when they separated. Wexner stated he was "NEVER aware of the illegal activity charged in the indictment" and that he was "deceived by Mr. Epstein." In February 2026, newly unredacted FBI documents named Wexner among individuals the FBI labeled as Epstein co-conspirators in 2019, though Wexner's legal representative stated he was viewed as a source of information and not a target.
Correspondence with Epstein#
The archive contains 19 emails between Wexner and Epstein from December 2005 to June 2008. Eighteen were sent to Wexner at his L Brands email address ([email protected]); only one was from Wexner to Epstein. The correspondence continued through June 2008, contradicting Wexner's public statements that their relationship ended in 2007.
The correspondence documents Epstein's role as financial and strategic advisor to Wexner. In May 2007, during what appears to have been a corporate crisis at L Brands, Epstein sent multiple emails offering counsel. He wrote: just a tiny dray,,, mighty mouse sold your interest in alliance data,, (it had topped out).. left hundreds of millions on the table, did want proton therapy,( your friend jeffrey is screwing up the deal). we should not buy a 10% stake in Amaxon for 90 million, as it is virtually impossible . for it to make money. I've done the spreadsheets, Dennis hersch doesn't belong on the board. He has NO judgement.. BE careful.!! The message reveals Epstein's deep involvement in Wexner's business decisions and his willingness to critique other advisors.
During the same period, Epstein offered strategy on what appear to be activist investor pressures. He advised: re alternative proposals,,I think knowing when you are winning comes to mind and proposed visiting to discuss next steps. On corporate buybacks, he wrote: re; accelerated buyback program.... I'm sorry , but I think the co. has already exceeded it's allocation of steps to make it appear goofy. He counseled: I recognize this is an emotional time, I understand.,, Eddy is a champ.and I can only echo his sentiments and sincerity, . I'm at the island over the weekend.. call anytime, re; authorize a large buyback(500m+) quickly,monday?, review the actual reaction vs your advisors outlandish predictions i.e. ,they have consistantly been, and still are, completely out of touch !!!
The correspondence also documents personal closeness. In February 2006, following what appears to have been a family gathering, Epstein wrote: that was really funn...watching your kids, with you, at lunch was a real treat......eva also thought your kids were amazing.... IF inadvertantly I've done something to either disappoint you , or disturb you, I would like to apologize, I can't figure it out/ i miss spending time with you and your family.. Wexner had referenced his children referring to "Uncle Jeffrey" in an earlier message. In December 2005, Epstein positioned himself as one of the very few to still have your ear, discussing internal L Brands personnel matters and expressing concerns about individuals he characterized as disloyal to Wexner.
The most striking exchange occurred in June 2008, after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea was finalized in Florida. On June 26, 2008, Wexner wrote: Abigail told me the result...all I can say is I feel sorry. You violated your own number 1 rule...Always be careful. Epstein replied: no excuse. This exchange, sent four days before Epstein's guilty plea to state charges of solicitation of prostitution, demonstrates that Wexner and Epstein remained in contact well past the 2007 separation Wexner publicly described.
In September 2006, following what appears to have been negative press coverage, Epstein wrote: hope everythings ok.., SOrry for the press intrusion, easy fast... In February 2007, Epstein forwarded Wexner an inventory of marina properties owned by an Epstein associate, writing: thought you might find what we own interesting. The list included properties in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, the Bahamas, and other locations.
In September 2010, Epstein's assistant contacted Wexner's office requesting his current email address, suggesting attempts to maintain contact even after the public separation.
Connections#
Within Epstein's network, Wexner's connection was primarily one-to-one with Epstein himself, though the correspondence references Wexner's wife Abigail Wexner, who appears to have served as an intermediary in at least one instance. The archive also documents Epstein's interactions with various L Brands executives and advisors, though these appear in separate threads.
Document References#
Wexner appears extensively in legal documents and investigative materials. His name appears in Epstein's personal address book, described by media as the "Holy Grail" of famous names. Court filings in Maria Farmer v. Indyke & Kahn allege that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually assaulted Farmer while she was working on an art project at Epstein's guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate in summer 1996. The amended complaint specifies that Epstein and Maxwell flew Maria to Ohio as part of her employment duties and violently sexually assaulted her while she was working on an art project at Epstein's guest house on Leslie Wexner's Ohio estate.
In derivative litigation against JPMorgan Chase, court documents describe Wexner as Epstein's principal client and detail the financial relationship, including Epstein's power of attorney and control over vast Wexner assets. A New York Times article preserved in the archive documents Wexner's August 2019 accusation that Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money" from him and his family, first discovered in 2007 during their separation. The article states that Wexner gave Epstein "wide powers over his finances, philanthropy and private life," including power of attorney that "enabled Mr. Epstein to hire people, sign checks, buy and sell properties, and borrow money — all on Mr. Wexner's behalf." Wexner recovered "a portion of the returned monies," including approximately $46 million transferred in 2008 from entities controlled by Epstein (C.O.U.Q. Foundation and Financial Trust Co.) to a foundation run by Wexner's wife Abigail.
Multiple draft notes recovered from Epstein's accounts, dated June 2014, contain fragmentary references to Wexner. One reads: necklaace . mother suicide sharon, taxes, new albany, bankrupt, never ever, did anything without informing les. A more complete version states: necklaace . mother suicide sharon, taxes, new albany, bankrupt, never ever, did anything without informing les. questionable as to unrelated third party, jack kessler, stanley, jerry, , my personal. taken advantage of, understand scared, i would never put les in arms way. He never called. The notes appear to be talking points Epstein prepared, possibly for his own defense or for negotiations, referencing his claim that he consulted Wexner on all significant matters.
A 2003 New York Magazine profile preserved in the archive describes Wexner as Epstein's primary known client and details their close relationship. The profile states that Epstein was "said to run $15 billion for wealthy clients, yet aside from Limited founder Leslie Wexner, his client list is a closely held secret."
Visits to Epstein Properties#
No visits to Epstein's island, New Mexico ranch, Paris apartment, Palm Beach residence, or Manhattan townhouse are directly documented in the email archive reviewed. The correspondence references Epstein being "at the island over the weekend" in May 2007 while offering to take a call from Wexner, but does not document Wexner traveling there.
Criminal Activity#
Jmail believes society has a moral obligation to fully investigate all potential perpetrators in Epstein's extensive network.
The archive documents a financial relationship between Wexner and Epstein involving transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Wexner purchased a Manhattan townhouse in 1989 for $13.2 million and later transferred it to an entity controlled by Epstein; the property was ultimately valued at over $56 million. According to city records, Wexner purchased the property from the Birch Wathen School in 1989 and sold it in 1998 to a Virgin Islands entity called NES, with which Epstein was affiliated. In 2011, the company Wexner had used to purchase the townhouse transferred it to Epstein's Virgin Islands-based Maple Inc. for $0.
Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney in July 1991 and appointed him trustee of a family property trust that same year. Wexner-backed entities financed a charity called C.O.U.Q. Foundation, which Epstein controlled, accepting $11.2 million from the Wexner Children's Trust in 2002 and $10 million from the Leslie H. Wexner Charitable Fund in 2004. In 2008, Epstein's entities transferred approximately $46 million to the YLK Charitable Fund founded by Wexner's wife Abigail — which Wexner characterized as "a portion of the returned monies" representing "originally Wexner family money." An independent review commissioned by the Wexner Foundation found that Leslie and Abigail Wexner "never knew about or authorized" transfers of their family's assets to C.O.U.Q. in 2001 and 2003.
These patterns of asset transfers — a Manhattan townhouse worth tens of millions of dollars, power of attorney arrangements, and tens of millions of dollars flowing through Epstein-controlled entities — constitute financial structures within the scope of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956-1957 (money laundering) when used to facilitate or conceal proceeds of illegal activity.
Court filings allege that Epstein maintained a guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate where he committed sexual assault. Maria Farmer's complaint against the Epstein estate alleges that in summer 1996, while working for Epstein as an aspiring artist, she was "violently sexually assaulted" by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Epstein's guest house on Wexner's Ohio estate. The complaint states Farmer "began working for Epstein in his Manhattan mansion" and was later flown to Ohio, where the assault occurred. Providing property where sex trafficking occurred constitutes facilitation within the scope of 18 U.S.C. § 1591 (sex trafficking) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (aiding and abetting), though Wexner has publicly denied any knowledge of this incident.
For a comprehensive overview of potentially applicable criminal statutes in matters involving Epstein's network, see Potentially Relevant Criminal Statutes.