Jeffrey Epstein's NYC mansion bought by former Goldman Sach executive

Former Goldman Sachs exec buys Jeffrey Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion for $51 million – $35 million below the asking price – and the funds will be sent to victims’ restitution fund

  • Michael D. Daffey bought the seven-story, 40-room property at 9 East 71st Street
  • Australia native is moving from London after recently retiring from major financial firm
  • Daffey worked as Goldman’s global markets chairman overseeing trade remodeling trade in Europe after Brexit
  • Sale revenue to be transferred to the Epstein victims restitution fund
  • Judge blocked attempt by US Virgin Islands attorney general  to freeze sale of assets by Epstein’s estate

Michael D. Daffey bought the seven-story, 40-room property at 9 East 71st Street 

Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion on the Upper East Side of New York City has been purchased by a former Goldman Sachs executive for $51 million.

Michael D. Daffey bought the seven-story, 40-room property at 9 East 71st Street for far less than its original asking price of $88 million, the New York Post reported.

The Australian financial executive is reportedly moving to New York from London and plans to live with his wife in the 40-room home, which is one of the city’s largest.

Daffey recently retired from the firm after spending the past year as Goldman’s global markets chairman overseeing trade remodeling trade in Europe after Brexit.

Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes abusing girls as young as 14. Epstein plead not guilty. During an FBI raid, federal agents found child sex abuse images in the mansion’s safe.

Jeffrey Epstein’s residence at 9 East 71st Street in Manhattan has sold for $51 million

Jeffrey Epsteinis pictured arriving at his New York City mansion in 2019

Daffey is reportedly determined not to retain any trace of the notorious former owner. 

‘Mr. Daffey had never previously been in the home nor ever met its owner, but he is a big believer in New York’s future and will take the other side of all the people who say the city’s best days may be in the past,’ said Stu Loeser, a spokesman for Daffey.

Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell entertained the rich and powerful at the home, including Prince Andrew of the British royal family.

Multiple women claim Maxwell procured them for Epstein when they were underage and facilitated his pedophile ring by organizing travel for them or meetings with Epstein. Maxwell denies the charges. 

The mansion was previously owned Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner, an Epstein client.

Real estate broker Dolly Lenz, who was among those trying to sell the property, said the purchase price was probably about ‘half off’ what the mansion might have fetched.

‘It is 28,000 square feet. That’s less than $4,000 a foot for the most magnificent mansion on the best block, just off Fifth Avenue. It’s the very best in New York,’ Lenz said.

Even at the relatively low price, the home was a difficult sell, Lenz said.

‘We offered it to a lot of people who said, “We don’t want to go near that place,”‘ Lenz said. ‘Fancy international people who are always in for a deal said “No way.”‘

Lenz said she believed Daffey’s purchase was a good decision.

‘I think he made a smart move, however, it will be a long time before people forget it was a place were children were abused,’ Lenz said. ‘But he’s betting on it long term. That’s what some people do.’

The sale was only completed after a judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands rejected an attempt by the territory’s attorney general, Denise George, to freeze the sale of any further assets by Epstein’s estate

The sale revenue is expected be transferred to the Epstein victims restitution fund, which is controlled by Epstein’s estate.

The sale was only completed after a judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands rejected an attempt by the territory’s attorney general, Denise George, to freeze the sale of any further assets by Epstein’s estate, The New York Times reported.

The value of the estate has dropped to about $240 million from nearly $600 million. The estate has paid expenses including taxes and contributions to the restitution fund that has distributed about $55 million to dozens of Epstein’s accusers, the Times reported.

George requested the asset freeze after the estate said it could not provide new money to the restitution fund. But the judge overseeing the administration of Epstein’s estate ruled the Virgin Islands attorney general did not have legal standing to request the asset freeze.

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