EFTA00188389

## HOTSHOT EPSTEIN NOT SO HOT: VF

PAUL THARP. New York Post. New York, N.Y.: Feb 4, 2003. pg. 036

People: Epstein, Jeffrey, Hoffenberg, Steve

Section:

Business

Text Word Count 249

Document URL:

## Abstract (Document Summary)

[Jeffrey Epstein], a 50-year-old Ralph Lauren lookalike who claims to manage a billionaires-only fund, has made headlines for his high- society lifestyle; among his attention-grabbing moves was flying President Clinton and Kevin Spacey to Africa on a private jet.

The article says that when Epstein worked for [Steve Hoffenberg], he cooked up some of Hoffenberg's questionable financing deals - a claim Epstein has denied.

EFTA00188390

Archives: New York Post

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## HOTSHOT EPSTEIN NOT SO HOT: VF

PAUL THARP. New York Post. New York, N.Y.: Feb 4, 2003. pg. 036

[Jeffrey Epstein], a 50-year-old Ralph Lauren lookalike who claims to manage a billionaires-only fund, has made headlines for his high- society lifestyle; among his attention-grabbing moves was flying President Clinton and Kevin Spacey to Africa on a private jet.

The article says that when Epstein worked for [Steve Hoffenberg], he cooked up some of Hoffenberg's questionable financing deals - a claim Epstein has denied.

(Copyright 2003, The New York Post. All Rights Reserved)

## Full Text (249 words)

Jeffrey Epstein - a self-proclaimed billionaire who hobnobs with moguls and pledged $25 million to Harvard - is actually a small potatoes ex-bounty hunter with a questionable financial background, says a report.

Epstein, a 50-year-old Ralph Lauren lookalike who claims to manage a billionaires-only fund, has made headlines for his high- society lifestyle; among his attention-grabbing moves was flying President Clinton and Kevin Spacey to Africa on a private jet.

Epstein has also been involved in numerous lawsuits, including one in which Citibank is suing him for defaulting on $20 million in loans from its private banking arm.

Epstein wasn't exactly the top gun at Bear Stearns, as he claims - and left the firm amid a swirl of rumors and an SEC violation, the article said.

The article says that when Epstein worked for Hoffenberg, he cooked up some of Hoffenberg's questionable financing deals - a claim Epstein has denied.

But a report in the March issue of Vanity Fair, on newsstands this week, unmasks Epstein's mystery image.

His mentor in high finance was Steve Hoffenberg, the bill collector turned hustler now serving 20 years in prison for running the nation's costliest Ponzi scheme, the report says.

The article said that Epstein keeps all his deals and clients secret, except for one - retail magnate Leslie Wexner, who calls Epstein "smart . . . [with] high standards . . . and a loyal friend."

Epstein and his lawyer, Jeffrey Schantz, couldn't be reached for comment on the article.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

People: Epstein, Jeffrey, Hoffenberg, Steve

Section: Business

Text Word Count 249

Document URL:



62-0603f273p


11/30/2005