Plans to transform the notorious Caribbean islands once owned by Jeffrey Epstein into a luxury resort have hit a mysterious standstill, raising eyebrows across the US Virgin Islands and beyond. Two years ago, billionaire private equity investor Stephen Deckoff made headlines by purchasing both Little St James and Great St James from the late financier’s estate, with a bold promise to launch a "state-of-the-art, five-star, world-class luxury 25-room resort" by 2025. Yet as the calendar turns to late August 2025, there is little sign that this vision is any closer to reality.
According to The Telegraph, the US Virgin Islands government has not received a single planning application for new development on either island. Local tour operators and residents, who keep a close eye on the comings and goings in the region, report seeing no significant construction activity since Deckoff’s initial announcement. "Nothing has really happened on either one of those islands. We haven’t seen anything going up at all," said one boat charter operator. Another guide, who regularly works the waters around Little and Great St James, echoed the sentiment: "I have not seen anything and I’m out and about… that’s my little area."
Satellite images tell a similar story. Shots taken between 2019 and 2025 reveal only a couple of modest structures added to the north face of Little St James. Monika Kuffer, a satellite mapping expert at the University of Twente, noted that one small building had appeared on the beach, while another structure stretched out to sea near a dock. A reservoir—likely the island’s sole source of freshwater—has been filled up again after nearly running dry six years ago. But these changes pale in comparison to the sweeping renovations one might expect for a luxury resort. It remains unclear whether these minor developments were intended for Deckoff’s personal use or as tentative first steps toward the promised tourist destination.
Deckoff, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at nearly $3 billion, acquired both islands in May 2023 through his firm SD Investments. The deal reportedly closed at $60 million, after the properties languished on the market for a year at a much lower asking price of $12 million. In a press release at the time, Deckoff said he would work closely with the Virgin Islands government to "make this dream a reality," touting his track record of turning "distressed situations into successful enterprises." The statement promised that the resort would "help bolster tourism, create jobs, and spur economic development in the region, while respecting and preserving the important environment of the islands."
Despite these assurances, the government’s position is clear: no planning applications, no green light for new construction. As a government spokesperson told The Telegraph, any new buildings or alterations to existing structures would require Deckoff to formally submit plans for approval. To date, no such documents have been filed for either Little St James or Great St James.
The silence from Deckoff’s camp has only fueled speculation. Representatives for the billionaire declined to comment when pressed by reporters. Meanwhile, the lack of visible progress has left many locals baffled. After all, the islands—especially Little St James—carry a heavy legacy that would make any redevelopment a sensitive endeavor.
Little St James, sometimes referred to by Epstein as "Little St Jeff’s," became infamous as the epicenter of his sex trafficking operation. The tropical beauty spot was, according to a 2020 lawsuit filed by the Virgin Islands against Epstein’s estate, "the perfect hideaway and haven for trafficking young women and underage girls for sexual servitude, child abuse and sexual assault." The island’s dark history has led to its widespread nickname: "paedophile island."
Among the most disturbing allegations are those made by Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the island at age 17 and called it "orgy island." Giuffre has accused the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, of sexually assaulting her there—an allegation he has consistently denied, along with ever visiting the island. The stigma attached to Little St James is so profound that prominent figures have gone to great lengths to distance themselves from it.
Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, but the fallout from his crimes continues to ripple through high society and politics. The islands themselves, with their turquoise-roofed mansions, swimming pools, guest villas, and helipad, have changed little since Epstein’s death, according to recent aerial photographs. The property’s association with scandal remains firmly intact.
The controversy extends beyond the islands’ borders. Donald Trump, the former US president, recently faced a political firestorm after refusing to release the so-called "Epstein files"—government documents related to the financier. Trump, who had a friendship with Epstein spanning about 15 years until the mid-2000s, insisted in July that he "never had the privilege" of visiting the infamous island, claiming he turned down an invitation. In a familiar pattern, Trump has alleged—without evidence—that Bill Clinton visited Little St James "28 times," a claim Clinton denies. The saga took another twist when Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, stated during a July 2025 federal interview that Clinton never visited the island. The release of this interview on Friday only added to the murky web of claims and denials surrounding the case.
The islands’ past has cast a long shadow over any attempts at reinvention. Even as Deckoff’s team touted the potential for tourism and economic growth, the question remains: can a place so closely associated with abuse and scandal ever truly be reborn as a luxury destination? For now, the islands’ future hangs in the balance, with little more than unfulfilled promises and a handful of new structures to show for all the talk.
As August 2025 draws to a close, the fate of Little St James and Great St James remains uncertain. Locals continue to watch for any sign of transformation, while the world waits to see if these islands will ever shed their grim reputation. Until then, the story of Epstein’s islands is one of stalled ambition, lingering trauma, and a community left wondering what comes next.