Jeffrey Epstein attempted to purchase a multimillion-dollar palace in Morocco on the day before his arrest in July 2019, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice last month.
The property, known as Bin Ennakhil, is located in the luxury Palmeraie neighbourhood of Marrakech and has been described as an architectural masterpiece built by 1,300 craftsmen over three years, featuring ornate carvings, mosaics, fountains, and elaborate interiors.
Epstein had been pursuing the acquisition since 2011, but negotiations stalled for years due to disputes over the price and purchase structure.
On July 5, 2019 — one day before his arrest by US authorities on sex trafficking charges — Epstein signed a $14.95 million (£11 million) wire transfer as part of an agreement to buy the offshore company owning the palace for €18 million (£13.3 million).
Three days after his arrest, Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn cancelled the wire transfer, and the deal was never completed.
Morocco has no extradition treaty with the United States, leading to speculation in local media that Epstein may have viewed the property as a potential sanctuary to evade arrest if new charges emerged.
However, a former associate of Epstein, speaking anonymously, told the BBC that the transaction indicated Epstein “had no clue” about his impending arrest, describing it as a possible future luxury retreat where he could “still live like a king.”
The released documents contain no direct reference to Epstein discussing Morocco as a refuge from US authorities.
Epstein’s ties to Morocco date back to the early 2000s. In her memoir, accuser Virginia Giuffre recounted being flown to Tangier by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to inspect luxury properties, as Epstein wanted to redesign parts of his private island in a Moroccan style.
In 2002, Epstein attended the wedding of Moroccan King Mohammed VI alongside Maxwell, having been invited by former US President Bill Clinton.
After his 2008 conviction in the US for soliciting underage sex and release from house arrest in 2010, Epstein’s interest in Morocco intensified. Documents show that in 2010 he asked former UK Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson to help find an assistant who could “find a house in Marrakesh” for him.
Epstein made periodic visits to Morocco from 2012, often staying in the exclusive Palmeraie district, home to wealthy expatriates including members of the Qatari royal family. He referred to one close associate there as his “Arab brother.”
The search for Bin Ennakhil was led in later years by Epstein’s girlfriend Karyna Shuliak, with multiple visits and negotiations documented in emails.
Marc Leon of Kensington Luxury Properties told the BBC that Epstein first focused on the property — then owned by German waste magnate Gunter Kiss (“Mr Kiss” in emails) — as early as 2011. Epstein initially considered it overvalued at €55 million and made a low offer that offended Kiss, halting talks
Negotiations resumed later, with Shuliak and Epstein’s network conducting inspections. In 2018, Epstein visited personally before Shuliak made final bids while initially pretending to act on behalf of billionaire Leon Black.
Eventually, it became clear Epstein was the real buyer. Kiss agreed to continue, but discussions included a proposed “sale and tax strategy” to register the property at €10 million for Moroccan authorities while handling a €20 million share transaction offshore to reduce taxes.
Kensington Luxury Properties denied any unethical or illegal tax minimisation, stating the transaction complied with regulations and that Epstein intended to pay registration fees in Morocco to own the property in his own name.
At the time of his arrest, Epstein was finalising how to register the property in Morocco after deciding to purchase it solely through the offshore company shares.
