Unsealed Files Detail Jeffrey Epstein's Final Bequests: Private Island, Millions to Girlfriend and Associates

In the latest document release tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case, federal authorities have laid bare the financier's detailed plans for distributing his wealth and properties—most infamously his private Caribbean island—just days before his death in a Manhattan jail cell.

The trove of files, made public by the Department of Justice under court order, includes Epstein's updated will, signed August 8, 2019, two days before he was found dead of an apparent suicide. The document names Karyna Shuliak, Epstein's last-known girlfriend and a Belarus native, as the primary beneficiary, set to inherit an estimated $50 million along with multiple high-value properties.

Those properties included Little St. James—the Virgin Islands estate widely dubbed "Epstein's island"—as well as his New York City penthouse, a New Mexico ranch, a Paris apartment, and a Florida residence. Handwritten notes indicate a nearly 33-carat diamond ring had already been given to Shuliak "in contemplation of marriage."

Also named in the will were Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, set to receive $10 million; his brother Mark Epstein ($10 million in trust for his children); his lawyer Darren Indyke ($50 million); and his accountant Richard Kahn ($25 million). Various staff members, including his pilot, were slated for payouts between $1 million and $10 million.

Yet these bequests ultimately went unfulfilled. Epstein's estate, once valued around $577 million, has been largely depleted by legal fees and victim settlements. A compensation program established in 2020 paid more than $121 million to over 135 survivors, with banks including JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank also reaching separate settlements. The estate now holds roughly $127 million, frozen in Virgin Islands probate court.

"This wasn't just a will—it was a blueprint for silencing and securing loyalty from those closest to his operation," said Dr. Elena Vance, a professor of forensic finance at Cornell University. "The timing, two days before his death, and the sums involved suggest a deliberate attempt to control the narrative and protect associates posthumously."

Michael Rossi, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice, offered a more tempered view: "While the amounts are startling, this is ultimately a probate matter. The real story is how little of this wealth will ever reach the named beneficiaries, given the claims of victims and creditors."

But for survivors and their advocates, the documents reinforce long-held suspicions. Sarah Chen, founder of the non-profit Justice Initiative, reacted sharply: "It's grotesque. While survivors fought for years for accountability, his inner circle was lined up to walk away with private islands and diamonds. This wasn't an estate plan—it was a final act of contempt for the lives he destroyed."

The release is part of the DOJ's ongoing disclosure under the 2022 Epstein Files Transparency Act. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the department has "completed its obligations" with Friday's drop, though only an estimated half of the 6 million pages collected have been made public.