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Person

Leon Black

American financier; co-founder of Apollo Global Management and its chief executive until 2021.

8 links, 0 backed by primary records. 6 more in open data

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Wikidata
Q5578461
Over time
  1. dealt with Jeffrey Epstein (paid Epstein; the review says for tax, estate planning and related services, $158M) 2012–2017

Contact on the record. By itself it shows neither knowledge of a crime nor a part in one.

The debate

What it disputes

  • Looking the Other Way 4 Aug 2026

    Senator Wyden’s assertions are outrageous and false,1

    The words of Susan Estrich, his attorney, as American Banker quotes them. She also called the report “politically motivated”.

Each side is quoted in its own words. Whether a finding holds is not decided here.

Legal records

U.S. Virgin Islands and Leon Black, January 2023

  1. Jan 2023 Settled with U.S. Virgin Islands: $62.5M, paid to be released from current and future claims related to Epstein; the sources read do not say whether it holds an admission 2345His spokesman: “There is no suggestion in the USVI settlement that Mr. Black was aware of or participated in any misconduct.”

American financier; co-founder of Apollo Global Management and its chief executive until 2021.

Connections 8

founded

CEO of

settled with

  • U.S. Virgin Islands Jan 2023 $62.5M, paid to be released from current and future claims related to Epstein; the sources read do not say whether it holds an admission Scholarship & press 2345

    His spokesman: “There is no suggestion in the USVI settlement that Mr. Black was aware of or participated in any misconduct.”

disputes a finding of

Each side is quoted in its own words. Whether a finding holds is not decided here.

answered

  • House Oversight inquiry into Epstein interviewed in a closed session on 26 June 2026; did not appear for his sworn deposition on 3 September; held in contempt by the House on 16 September 2026, a step about the subpoenas, not a finding about Epstein Scholarship & press 78

dealt with

  • Jeffrey Epstein 2012–2017 paid Epstein; the review says for tax, estate planning and related services, $158M Scholarship & press 68

    The sum is the Dechert review’s; Senator Wyden says $170 million and lawmakers $180 million. The review found he was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. Black says he paid for legitimate financial advisory services, in part because of his “unrivaled network of relationships”; that he knew in 2008 that Epstein had pleaded guilty and was told it was an isolated incident; and that he did not know of the wider crimes until 2019. He also lent Epstein $30.5 million in 2017.

Contact on the record. By itself it shows neither knowledge of a crime nor a part in one.

party to

  • Dechert’s review for Apollo, January 2021 the subject of the review; it found he was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities Scholarship & press 6
  • Civil suits against Leon Black, 2022 to 2026 defendant; he denied both suits Scholarship & press 59

    Neither suit reached a verdict. One plaintiff ended hers in February 2024. A judge sanctioned the other and her former lawyer in April 2026, then dismissed the suit with prejudice that October at her request; she wrote that this was “not a concession concerning the truth of my allegations”.

Timeline 4 dates
  1. 2012–2017 Leon Black dealt with Jeffrey Epstein
  2. until 2021 Leon Black CEO of Apollo Global Management
  3. Jan 2023 Leon Black settled with U.S. Virgin Islands
  4. 4 Aug 2026 Leon Black disputes a finding of Looking the Other Way According to Leon Black
Proof 9 sources
  1. Senate report: Three big banks ignored red flags on Epstein, American Banker, 4 Aug 2026. Scholarship & press
    Senator Wyden’s assertions are outrageous and false,
  2. Leon Black agrees to pay $62.5 million to avoid Jeffrey Epstein-related lawsuits in the US Virgin Islands (CNN, on KTVZ), KTVZ, 4 Aug 2023. Scholarship & press
    According to a settlement document obtained by CNN, Black agreed in January to pay the Virgin Islands government $62.5 million in cash. In exchange, the Virgin Islands released Black from any current and future legal claims related to Jeffrey Epstein.
  3. MoMA trustee Leon Black settles lawsuit with the US Virgin Islands over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, The Art Newspaper, 25 Jul 2023. Scholarship & press
    There is no suggestion in the USVI settlement that Mr. Black was aware of or participated in any misconduct.
  4. JPMorgan Settles With Staley, USVI to End Epstein Legal Woes, Bloomberg Law, 26 Sep 2023. Scholarship & press
    Earlier this year, the territory struck a $62.5 million deal with Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black to avoid a public legal battle over his past Epstein ties.
  5. Woman Drops Lawsuit Alleging Billionaire Financier Raped Her, Reuters (Insurance Journal copy), 21 Feb 2024. Scholarship & press
    He also reached a $62.5 million settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein had a home, to avoid a possible lawsuit.
    has ended her lawsuit against the Apollo Global Management co-founder.
    two other women who said Black raped them, which he denies.
  6. Leon Black, billionaire co-founder and CEO of Apollo hedge fund, steps down after review of ties to Epstein (Reuters, on NBC News), NBC News, 26 Jan 2021. Scholarship & press
    Black co-founded Apollo 31 years ago.
    He will step down as CEO no later than July 31.
    Black paid Epstein $158 million for advice on tax and estate planning and related services between 2012 and 2017, according to the review.
    The independent review, conducted by law firm Dechert LLP, found Black was not involved in any way with Epstein’s criminal activities.
  7. House votes to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress over Epstein investigation (Associated Press, on PBS News), PBS News, 16 Sep 2026. Scholarship & press
    The House approved a resolution Wednesday holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress, referring the matter to the Department of Justice after he defied the Oversight Committee’s subpoenas in its investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
  8. Billionaire Leon Black defends $158M paid to Epstein: ‘I knew Jekyll. I didn’t know Hyde’ (Associated Press, on ABC11), ABC11, 26 Jun 2026. Scholarship & press
    Black is the 16th person to appear before the committee as part of their broader investigation into the web of wealth and influence around Epstein.
    A 2021 review commissioned by Apollo found that Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017
  9. Case against Leon Black dismissed after plaintiff said she was ‘medically incapable of continuing’, The Guardian, 16 Oct 2026. Scholarship & press
    An attorney for Black, who has strongly denied Doe’s allegations, said his team was pleased that the judge had dismissed the lawsuit.
    My request [to dismiss the case with prejudice] is not a concession concerning the truth of my allegations, a retraction of my statements, or an acceptance of defendant’s disputed positions;
    The case was dismissed with prejudice, which means Doe cannot bring the matter to court again.
    sanctioned Doe and her former lawyer at Wigdor in April for “serious, sanctionable misconduct in this case”
Page history 2 changes
  1. Apply the final reader's report to the four Epstein stories.Alibek7acd804e
  2. Tell the Epstein record in four storiesAlibekde7c5f7a

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