9 EAST 71ST STREET — PROPERTY TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP RECORDS New York City Department of Finance / Manhattan Block 1388, Lot 60 — 1989-2021
The seven-story limestone townhouse at 9 East 71st Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side was one of the largest private residences in New York City and served as Jeffrey Epstein's primary residence and the site of numerous alleged crimes. The property's ownership history and transfer records became key evidence in multiple legal proceedings.
ORIGINAL ACQUISITION BY WEXNER: Les Wexner, founder and CEO of L Brands, acquired the Herbert N. Straus House at 9 East 71st Street in 1989 for approximately $13.2 million. Built in 1933 in a neo-Georgian style, the approximately 21,000-square-foot mansion contained approximately 40 rooms across seven stories plus a basement level. Wexner undertook extensive renovations of the property, reportedly spending millions on interior improvements before the transfer to Epstein.
THE DISPUTED TRANSFER: The circumstances of the property's transfer from Wexner to Epstein remain among the most scrutinized aspects of their financial relationship. New York City property records show the transfer occurred in 1998, recorded with a stated consideration of $0 — indicating it was conveyed as a gift or as part of a broader private arrangement. Wexner's representatives later stated that Epstein had purchased the property, but the $0 recorded consideration contradicted this characterization. No mortgage was recorded against the property in connection with the transfer, further suggesting it was not a conventional purchase.
The power of attorney Wexner had granted Epstein in 1991 meant that Epstein himself may have executed the transfer documents on both sides of the transaction — as Wexner's attorney-in-fact conveying the property and as the individual recipient — though the specific transaction mechanics were not fully clarified in public filings.
TAX ASSESSMENTS AND VALUATION: New York City tax assessment records valued the property at various points during Epstein's ownership. The assessed value fluctuated but generally trended upward with the Manhattan luxury real estate market. By the time of Epstein's death in 2019, the property was estimated to be worth approximately $56 million, making it one of the most valuable single-family residences in Manhattan.
USE AS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE LOCATION: Multiple victims identified 9 East 71st Street as a location where they were sexually abused by Epstein. The property featured surveillance cameras throughout, and prosecutors alleged that Epstein used recorded footage as leverage over visitors. Following Epstein's July 2019 arrest, FBI agents executing a search warrant discovered a locked safe containing compact discs labeled with names and descriptions suggesting surveillance recordings, along with large quantities of cash, diamonds, and an expired foreign passport with Epstein's photograph but a different name.
2021 ESTATE SALE: Following Epstein's death, the property was listed for sale by the estate. In March 2021, the mansion sold for $51 million to Michael Daffey, a former Goldman Sachs executive. The sale price, while substantial, was below the initial asking price and the pre-death valuation, reflecting the property's notoriety and the practical challenges of selling a residence associated with extensive criminal activity. The proceeds of the sale went to the estate, which was subject to claims from victims, creditors, and government entities.
PROPERTY TAX RECORDS: Annual property tax records for 9 East 71st Street documented Epstein's continuous ownership from 1998 until the 2021 sale by the estate. The property was classified as a Class 1 residential property, and tax payments were made through Epstein's corporate entities rather than in his personal name, consistent with his broader strategy of using corporate structures to hold real property.