The late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s mysterious “black book,” containing names and addresses of 221 previously undisclosed individuals, is going up for auction. The book is expected to fetch up to $200,000 and includes names such as former President Donald Trump, businessman John Catsimatidis, Melania Trump’s friend Suzanne Ircha, and investor Carl Icahn. None of the individuals listed in the book have been charged with any crimes related to Epstein. A female musician found the book on Fifth Avenue in the East Village during the 1990s, but how it ended up there remains a mystery.
According to a Business Insider investigation in 2021, many people named in Epstein’s black book claimed to have minimal or no relationship with him. Catsimatidis, who is in the book, stated that he only met Epstein once. Trump and Chris Cuomo’s wife, Cristina Greeven, were also named in the book, with both opting not to comment. The book contains names of 349 people, 221 of whom were not mentioned in Epstein’s later “black book.” Marty Peretz said he met Epstein once over 25 years ago but had no further contact. Cuomo responded on behalf of Greeven, stating that they have no relationship with Epstein.
The black book, believed to date back to 1997, will be privately sold by Alexander Historical Auctions, along with a forensic examiner’s report verifying its authenticity, on May 15. Owner Bill Panagopulos predicts the book could sell for between $100,000 to $200,000 or more. In 2015, Epstein’s previous black book was leaked, including names like Michael Bloomberg, Bill Clinton, Trump, Mick Jagger, and Prince Andrew. All individuals listed in the book have denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting a trial on sex trafficking charges.
The revelation of the black book auction comes after sealed court documents from Virginia Giuffre’s defamation suit against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s “madam,” were released. The documents contained names of numerous notable individuals, such as Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Stephen Hawking, highlighting Epstein’s use of wealth and connections to exploit young women. The auction of Epstein’s black book adds to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the financier’s extensive network of influential figures and their alleged involvement in his illicit activities. Despite the high-profile names listed in the book, none have faced legal repercussions for their connections to Epstein.
