In the days leading up to his dramatic arrest in July 2019, Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced American financier, was engaged in a last-minute scramble to acquire a multimillion-dollar palace in Morocco—a move that has since fueled speculation about his motivations and connections. According to documents released by the US Department of Justice, Epstein signed a $14.95 million wire transfer on July 5, 2019, as part of a deal to purchase Bin Ennakhil, a lavish estate in Marrakech’s exclusive Palmeraie neighborhood, for €18 million. The very next day, he was arrested in New York on sex trafficking charges, abruptly halting the transaction and casting a new light on his global dealings.
Epstein’s pursuit of Bin Ennakhil was far from a spur-of-the-moment decision. His interest in the palatial property dates back to 2011, when he first set his sights on the estate, described by BBC as an “architectural masterpiece.” Built by 1,300 skilled craftsmen, the palace boasts intricate mosaics, ornate carvings, and grand courtyards—a testament to Moroccan artisanship and opulence. Yet, negotiations over the property dragged on for years, mired in disputes over price and purchase arrangements. At one point, Epstein considered the initial asking price of €55 million to be exorbitant and made a much lower offer, which the seller, German businessman Gunter Kiss, flatly rejected. According to BBC, Kiss was so offended by the lowball bid that he refused to deal with Epstein for a time.
Despite the rocky start, Epstein remained undeterred. He enlisted his longtime girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, who began leading the search and negotiations for a suitable property in Marrakech. Shuliak’s involvement was hands-on—she made numerous visits and handled communications, sometimes even pretending to act on behalf of billionaire investor Leon Black, a close friend of Epstein, in order to keep the negotiations alive. Marc Leon, a partner at Kensington Luxury Properties, recounted to BBC that Epstein’s focus on Bin Ennakhil was clear as early as 2011, though the convoluted bargaining process would stretch on for nearly a decade.
As the years passed, Epstein’s fascination with Morocco only deepened. His ties to the North African nation stretched back to the early 2000s, when, according to CNA and BBC, he flew Virginia Giuffre—one of his most prominent accusers—to Tangier to inspect the interiors of luxury homes, hoping to infuse Moroccan style into his own island residence. In 2002, Epstein attended the wedding of King Mohammed VI, invited by none other than former US President Bill Clinton. After his 2008 conviction for soliciting underage sex and subsequent release from house arrest in 2010, Epstein’s visits to Morocco became more frequent. The released documents indicate that, in the same year, he even asked former Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson to help him find an assistant to locate a house in Marrakech.
From 2012 onward, Epstein was a periodic visitor to the Palmeraie district, mingling with a wealthy expatriate community that included the likes of Jabor al Thani of the Qatari royal family—a man Epstein described as his “Arab brother.” The Palmeraie, with its lush palm groves and exclusive villas, provided the perfect backdrop for Epstein’s ambitions to live in luxury. According to BBC, Shuliak and Epstein’s network of contacts in Morocco continued to inspect Bin Ennakhil, and by 2018, Epstein himself had visited the property, signaling his intent to close the deal.
The negotiations took on a new layer of complexity when Kensington Luxury Properties proposed a “sale and tax strategy.” As outlined in the documents, the idea was to register the property with Moroccan authorities at a value of €10 million, while a separate transaction of €20 million would take place for the shares of the offshore company that owned the estate. This arrangement, according to Marc Leon, would have allowed Epstein to register his name on the title deeds while minimizing the taxes owed to Moroccan authorities. However, Leon firmly denied to BBC that there was anything unethical or illegal about the proposed transaction, stating, “This transaction did not violate any tax regulations. Mr Epstein wanted to pay registration fees in Morocco, even though he was under no obligation to do so… in order to own the property in his own name.”
By July 2019, the deal seemed poised for completion. On July 5, Epstein signed the $14.95 million wire transfer, following an agreement to purchase the shares of the offshore company that held Bin Ennakhil. But fate intervened: on July 6, Epstein was arrested in New York on sex trafficking charges. Just three days later, his accountant, Richard Kahn, canceled the wire transfer, and the purchase was never finalized. The timing of these events has led to widespread speculation about Epstein’s intentions—was he seeking a sanctuary in Morocco, a country with no extradition treaty with the US, in anticipation of legal trouble?
Local media and observers were quick to point out the potential advantages of owning property in a jurisdiction beyond the reach of US authorities. Yet, the documents released by the Department of Justice contain no direct evidence that Epstein was plotting an escape to Morocco. A former associate of Epstein, who spoke to BBC on condition of anonymity, observed that the timing of the transaction actually suggested Epstein “had no clue” about his impending arrest. The associate added, “It would make sense if he was thinking of a potential sanctuary where he could still live like a king.” Still, the files offer no indication that Epstein ever explicitly discussed using Morocco as a refuge from prosecution.
Even so, the intrigue surrounding Epstein’s Moroccan dealings has only grown in the years since his death. The Bin Ennakhil saga reveals not just the financier’s penchant for luxury and secrecy, but also the intricate web of global relationships he cultivated. From leveraging the expertise of Shuliak and the resources of Kensington Luxury Properties, to mingling with royalty and billionaires, Epstein’s efforts to secure the palace were emblematic of his larger-than-life persona—and his relentless pursuit of privilege, no matter the cost.
Ultimately, the Bin Ennakhil transaction was Epstein’s last major financial maneuver before his downfall. The palace, with its opulent halls and storied walls, remains a symbol of what might have been—a final, unfinished chapter in the life of a man whose secrets continue to reverberate around the world. As new details emerge, the story of Epstein’s Moroccan ambitions stands as a stark reminder of the lengths to which he was willing to go to secure his place among the global elite, even as the walls were closing in.