TERSON
took him three years, working
rney's office, Epstein finally did
S's maze and recover Obregón's
bank in the Cayman Islands.
na prevents us from knowing
ow much he kept. But given the
y earned millions-or moreas nothing but appreciation for
ems," she says. "I don't want any-
t of the deal with a new modus
ly work with the super rich.
104
CHAPTER 25
Eva Andersson: July 8, 1980
M
iss Sweden, Eva Birgitta Anderzling white gown and sweating, ever so slightly, under
the stage lights. But Bob Barker's about to announce the
winner of this, the twenty-ninth Miss Universe pageant, held in
Seoul, South Korea, and Eva's smile is as wide as the ocean.
"And now that we know what Miss Universe will win, let's
see which five girls are still in the running!"
Barker pauses, like the expert broadcaster he is. Eva's chest
tightens. There are twelve women on stage, all of them beautiful--
even if they're not quite as beautiful as Miss Sweden.
"On this card are the names of five contestants who have
received the highest total score from our judges in the personal
interview, the swimsuit, and the evening gown competition."
Eva feels the camera pan across the stage-pan across her,
standing in between Miss Scotland and Miss Puerto Rico.
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JAMES PATTERSON

“As a result, they will be our five finalists. As I call each name,
you will see a figure on your television screen. That is the total
score received by the contestant since she became a semifinalist.
But one thing I would point out to you: the point total is not
necessarily a sign of who our eventual winner will be. Being first
now is no guarantee of being first at the time of our judges' final
ballot."

Oh, get on with it, Miss Sweden thinks. And, as if by her command, Bob Barker does.

“Now our five finalists. Good luck, girls! The first finalist is:
Miss Sweden!"

Eva's hands fly up to her face. The time it takes her to walk to
the front of the stage is all the time she needs to stop herself from
crying.

For Eva, it's not meant to be. Miss USA, Shawn Weatherly, wins
that year's competition—she'll go on to become a star on Baywatch. But Eva's future is secure nonetheless. After the pageant,
she'll spend three years studying in Stockholm, finish med
school at UCLA, and become a doctor of internal medicine.
Along the way, she'll meet Jeffrey Epstein.
People who knew them when they were a couple say that Eva
wanted to marry Epstein. One friend says he considered it seriously. In the end, Eva ended up with a man named Glenn Dubin,
though she and Epstein remained very close. And if Eva was the
proverbial “one who got away,” Epstein ended up dating other
impressive women—world-class beauties—as he made his way
in the world.

106

Why didn't any of
always someone more
corner. Perhaps none c
urges. But he did have
by his side through th
with them.
When he was thro
say, they graduated up
status of “lover” to “frie
In his estimation, th
The world was ful
friendship seemed to b

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009257



TERSON
FILTHY RICH
ve finalists. As I call each name,
rvision screen. That is the total
since she became a semifinalist.
t to you: the point total is not
ntual winner will be. Being first
it at the time of our judges' final
n thinks. And, as if by her com-
d luck, girls! The first finalist is:
: The time it takes her to walk to
me she needs to stop herself from
fiss USA, Shawn Weatherly, wins
1 go on to become a star on Bayre nonetheless. After the pageant,
lying in Stockholm, finish med
doctor of internal medicine.
Jeffrey Epstein.
en they were a couple say that Eva
e friend says he considered it sert-
p with a man named Glenn Dubin,
ined very close. And if Eva was the
y, Epstein ended up dating other
lass beauties as he made his way
105
Why didn't any of the romances take? Perhaps there was
always someone more fabulous waiting for Epstein around the
corner. Perhaps none of these women satisfied Epstein's deeper
urges. But he did have a knack for keeping the women he'd dated
by his side through thick and thin, long after he'd broken up
with them.
When he was through with his girlfriends, Epstein would
say, they graduated up, not down, the ladder, moving from the
status of "lover" to "friend."
In his estimation, these shifts always constituted a promotion.
The world was full of beautiful women. But for Epstein,
friendship seemed to be a far more precious commodity.
107
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Pay me fifty million d
amount.
At first Epstein did nc
asked that the paymentescrow. If his strategy wo
bounced back to the clien
In the eighties, when
much, much higher than
50 percent, it was an exti
were other ways to make t
In 1982, Epstein sold his
relatives, and others on an
Michael Stroll, had run W
company known for the p
Stroll put $450,000 int
But in 1984, Michael S
repeated demands and re
Epstein owed him, he got
ment. Eventually he sued l
ing $440,000-the case w
Epstein told the judge tha
ly the payment for a hor
Like many cases invol
of court, the terms of the f
CHAPTER 26
Jeffrey Epstein: 1984
ow did Jeffrey Epstein make all his money?
Epstein would tell stories over the years about monlies recovered from slippery characters. Sometimes, friends
and former associates would say, he'd suggest he had ties to the
government, giving listeners the impression that he was doing
dangerous, glamorous work.
Others said that what Epstein really did, at this stage in his
career, was much more banal. According to them, Epstein spent
most of his time coming up with creative new ways for the rich
to avoid paying taxes. The commission for tax-avoidance deals
was enormous, although the number of deals Epstein was involved
with is a matter of conjecture, as is his record of successes and
failures.
But Epstein's business model was evolving. He'd charge a flat
fee. No fancy math. No percentages.
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