Pay me fifty million do
amount.

At first Epstein did no
asked that the payment-
escrow. 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 i

## CHAPTER 26

## Jeffrey Epstein: 1984

ow did Jeffrey Epstein make all his money? H Epstein would tell stories over the years about mon- ies 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.

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
repeated demands and re
Epstein owed him, he got
ment. Eventually he sued ]
ing $440,000-the case w
Epstein told the judge tha
ally the payment for a hors
Like many cases invol
of court, the terms of the f

108

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