Jeffrey Epstein’s main private property, Little St. James in the US Virgin Islands, has been sold to a private investor and is no longer owned by Epstein’s estate.
Ownership and sale
- In May 2023, billionaire Stephen Deckoff, founder of Black Diamond Capital Management, bought Little St. James and the nearby Great St. James from Epstein’s estate for about 60 million dollars, after they had originally been listed for much more.
- Part of the sale proceeds went toward settlements with the US Virgin Islands government and civil claims from victims, including over 100 million dollars paid to the territory and agreements to share sale proceeds.
Current use and development plans
- Deckoff announced plans to turn the islands into a small, high‑end luxury resort of roughly 25 rooms, marketed as a way to boost tourism and jobs while preserving the environment.
- Reports in 2025 indicate that formal development and construction appear delayed, with local authorities saying they have not yet received full planning applications and satellite images showing little visible change on the islands since Epstein’s death.
Ongoing investigations and public scrutiny
- Little St. James remains central to investigations and public scrutiny over Epstein’s trafficking and abuse of girls and young women, and new photos and video of the interiors and grounds were released by congressional investigators in late 2025.
- The controversy over what should happen to the island continues, with some seeing redevelopment as economic opportunity and others viewing the site as inseparable from the crimes committed there.
