Full Breakdown
Leon Black’s Long-Term Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
9/9/2026, 12:51:36 AM
Background & Context
Leon Black, co-founder and former chief executive of Apollo Global Management, first encountered Jeffrey Epstein in 1996 after a suggestion from Elliot “Skip” Stein Jr., a longtime friend who sat on several Apollo boards. Stein, a former managing director of Commonwealth Capital Partners, arranged a lunch that brought the two men together at China Grill, a Manhattan restaurant. At the time, Epstein held positions such as trustee of Rockefeller University, and memberships in the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission, placing him among heads of state, former U.S. Treasury secretary Larry Summers, and other high-profile figures.
Development of the Relationship
Following the initial meeting, Black appointed Epstein a trustee of his family foundation a year later—an unpaid, honorary role that Black described as “intimate” given their brief acquaintance. He also consulted major New York law firms for additional advice on personal matters. Black recalled a flight on Epstein’s jet to Boston with two of his four children, noting the pilot’s striking appearance, and likened Epstein to a “James Bond villain” because of the glamorous staff surrounding him.
Impact and Ongoing Scrutiny
Black’s relationship with Epstein resurfaced publicly when he testified before a closed-door House Oversight Committee meeting and later sued the committee, alleging overreach. The renewed attention has prompted broader examination of how elite financial leaders engage with controversial figures for personal and advisory services.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Skip just said [Epstein] had a circle of very interesting friends and he was very engaging,” — Leon
- “C’mon. This was thirty years ago. He was one of the one thousand people I met every year. Over time, we got friendlier because I did find him interesting.” — Commonwealth Capital Partners. Stein
- “We used to talk about getting the kids included [in the trusts] and stuff,” — Leon
