Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who built a significant fortune and cultivated an extensive network of high-profile individuals, including politicians, celebrities, and royalty. He began his career at Bear Stearns before establishing his own investment firms, notably managing wealth for billionaires like Leslie Wexner. Despite his financial success and expertise in wealth management, his business dealings were often opaque. Epstein gained notoriety as a convicted sex offender, involved in the trafficking and abuse of underage girls. His high-profile connections and wealth facilitated his criminal enterprise, leading to his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges before his death in custody.