WASHINGTON — Why Les Wexner in the USA news today ? In a stunning revelation emerging from a massive Department of Justice document release, investigators have uncovered evidence that Jeffrey Epstein paid $100 million to retail tycoon Les Wexner after the billionaire’s attorneys accused the financier of stealing hundreds of millions from his personal fortune.
The payment, detailed in investigative memos from the “Epstein Files” released last week, provides the most significant evidence to date of a massive financial settlement between the two men following the collapse of their decades-long partnership. Wexner, the founder of L Brands and the mastermind behind Victoria’s Secret, had previously acknowledged a “misappropriation” of funds by Epstein but had never publicly disclosed the full scale of the alleged theft or the subsequent nine-figure repayment.
The $100 Million Settlement Revealed -Les Wexner News
According to internal memos from Wexner’s legal team, attorneys for the billionaire claimed that Epstein “stole hundreds of millions of dollars” while serving as his primary money manager and holding full power of attorney over his assets. The newly unsealed documents reveal that Epstein eventually paid back $100 million to Wexner to settle these claims.
The repayment appears to have been facilitated through a complex series of transactions. Previous reports indicated that Epstein returned a portion of the funds via the C.O.U.Q. Foundation, a personal charity that made significant donations to the Wexner Foundation. Wexner later clarified in a 2019 letter that “every dollar” of that money was originally “Wexner family money” that Epstein had misappropriated.
‘Gang Stuff’ and Unsettled Debts
The financial disclosure was accompanied by the release of a bombshell undated draft message written by Epstein to Wexner. In the note, which was never sent, Epstein expressed fury that Wexner had cut off ties with him.
Most shockingly, the draft letter references the two men being involved in “gang stuff” for more than 15 years. Epstein also claimed that the two “owe each other great debts,” despite the $100 million payment, and criticized Wexner’s wife, Abigail, for making what he called “false accusations” against him.
A spokesperson for Wexner dismissed the draft message as a “desperate attempt” by Epstein to justify his criminal misconduct, describing the claims in the letter as “untrue, outlandish, and delusional”.
A Decades-Long Power of Attorney
For nearly 20 years, Epstein served as Wexner’s only known financial client, gaining unparalleled access to the billionaire’s retail empire, which included The Limited, Bath & Body Works, and Victoria’s Secret. Wexner granted Epstein power of attorney, allowing him to hire employees, sign checks, and even manage the billionaire’s personal real estate.
Investigators believe Epstein leveraged this relationship to build his own $600 million fortune. During their partnership, Epstein acquired a $70 million New York City townhouse and a mansion in New Albany, Ohio—both of which had previously been owned or developed by Wexner.
However, the relationship reportedly soured in 2007, just as Florida prosecutors were investigating Epstein for soliciting minors for prostitution. Wexner claimed that it was during the process of severing ties that he discovered the missing funds. Despite the scale of the alleged theft, Wexner never reported the matter to law enforcement, a decision that has long drawn scrutiny from victims’ advocates.
Congressional Deposition Looming
The revelation of the $100 million payment comes as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer prepares to ramp up the investigation into Epstein’s social and financial networks.
Wexner is scheduled to be deposed by Congress on February 18, 2026, where he is expected to face intense questioning regarding the $100 million settlement and his knowledge of Epstein’s activities. Other high-profile figures scheduled for depositions include:
- February 17: Former President Bill Clinton
- February 26: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- March 11: Richard Kahn, long-time Epstein accountant
- March 18: Darren Indyke, long-time Epstein lawyer
“We will continue to move forward and try to get answers for the American people,” Chairman Comer said following the announcement of the schedule.
Ongoing Privacy Scandals
The DOJ’s release of the “Epstein Files” has been plagued by significant technical failures. In December 2025, faulty redactions allowed the public to uncover blacked-out text simply by copying and pasting it, exposing sensitive FBI tips and testimony.
Further errors in January 2026 led to the unredacted publication of dozens of nude images and the names of at least 43 victims, many of whom were minors at the time of their abuse. Attorneys representing over 200 victims have petitioned federal judges to take down the DOJ website, calling the release “the single most egregious violation of victim privacy” in U.S. history.
Despite the controversy over the release, the documents continue to provide unprecedented insight into how Epstein maintained his lifestyle and social status. For Wexner, the latest revelations of a $100 million payment may force a public reckoning over a relationship he has spent nearly two decades trying to leave behind.
Would you like me to create a summary of the upcoming Congressional deposition schedule for Les Wexner and other key figures?