Forbes released its 40th annual World’s Billionaires List, and it’s a who’s who of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Since the Department of Justice began releasing records related to the late pedophile on Dec. 19, the rich and famous linked to Epstein have been resigning and publicly apologizing in droves.
Dozens of names on the new 3,428-person Forbes list also came up in the Epstein files, some more than others.
Bill Gates – ranked the 19th richest person in the world with $108 billion — is chief among them.
In emails released by the feds, Epstein claimed the Microsoft co-founder, a frequent visitor to his Upper East Side townhouse, asked for medicine to treat a sexually transmitted disease he caught from “sex with Russian girls.”
Gates, 70, later admitted to flying on Epstein’s private plane and to two affairs with Russian women – and called his friendship with the disgraced financier a “huge mistake.”
He said he did not do or see anything illicit.
Steve Tisch, chairman of the New York Giants and ranked 1,193rd richest in the world with a $2.2 billion fortune, exchanged several eyebrow-raising emails with the sex predator.
They showed Epstein tried to set up the 77-year-old businessman with women, including a “Tahitian” girl named “Emily in 2013, years after Epstein’s first conviction in Florida.
“Working girl?” Tisch replied in one missive. Others referenced “girls” from Ukraine and Russia.
Tisch later claimed they were talking about adult women, and that he regrets associating with Epstein.
Last week, he announced he’s transferring his ownership stake in the NFL franchise to his children.
Virgin founder Richard Branson — 1,504th on the Forbes list with $2.8 billion — lives on a private island in the British Virgin Islands a short 20-minute helicopter ride from Epstein’s “pedo island,” and gushed in emails about Russian girls Epstein brought him.
The pair hung out twice on the 75-year-old English entrepreneur’s Necker Island in 2013, with Epstein bringing girls each time.
Branson was so pleased, he emailed Epstein after the second visit to say, “Any time you’re in the area would love to see you! As long as you bring your harem!”
Here are other billionaires on Forbes’ list with alleged close ties to Epstein:
- Victoria’s Secret founder Les Wexner, 88, who’s 402nd on the list with $8.8 billion, was one of Epstein’s closest friends and admitted going to his island, which he described as “crummy.” Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney over his finances and has been considered a potential co-conspirator by the feds. He called Epstein a con artist who stole his money.
- Private equity founder Leon Black, 74, the 251st richest person in the world with $12.1 billion, was a frequent guest at the Manhattan home of Epstein, who managed his money. He was accused of sexual abuse at Epstein’s mansion, and of allegedly colluding to “silence and destroy” victims, allegations he’s denied. He stepped down from his firm Apollo in 2021.
- Hedge funder Glenn Dubin, 68, 1,440th on the list with $2.9 billion, flew on Epstein’s private jet, the “Lolita Express,” 21 times, according to flight logs. He and his wife, Eva Dubin, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, were close friends of the pedophile, hosting him at their home and vouching for him in 2009 to his probation officer, saying they were “100% comfortable” with Epstein around their children. Epstein even wanted to marry the Dubins’ 19-year-old daughter, Celina, and make her his teen bride. A family spokesperson dismissed the remark as an “offhand comment” that the Dubins were not aware.
- LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, 58, the 1560th richest with $2.7 billion, visited Epstein’s island in 2014 and joked about sending ice cream “for the girls” as a gift afterwards.
- Hyatt Hotels heir Tom Pritzker, 75, the world’s 677th richest person with $6.2 billion, flew on the Lolita Express and helped arrange a trip to Southeast Asia for Epstein’s girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak in 2018 “to find a new girlfriend for Jeffrey.” He told her, “May the force be with you.” He stepped down as chairman of Hyatt and said he “deeply regrets” his ties to the perv.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, 64, the former Cantor Fitzgerald CEO and the 542nd richest person with a family fortune of $7.2 billion, lived next door to Epstein on East 71st Street but claimed he only visited him once in 2005, and got so creeped out by the massage room he never saw Epstein again. It was later revealed Lutnick visited pedo-island in 2012.
- Google co-founder Sergey Brin, 52, the third-richest man in the world with $237 billion, visited Epstein’s island in 2007 and exchanged emails about dinners at Epstein’s townhouse.
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