The files of Jeffrey Epstein, the American billionaire who died in 2019 amid sexual scandals and accusations of human trafficking, dominate the global scene, following the release of a new series of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to the published documents, the city of Tangier is mentioned in about 9 pages; this time, it was not only mentioned that the file of the March 2001 trip, which involved British Prince Andrew along with Epstein, but it revealed the American billionaire’s attempt to purchase property in the capital of the Strait.
The documents and correspondence indicate his interest in luxury real estate in Morocco, specifically in Tangier in 2015, several years before his death.
The main information comes from a series of emails between Epstein (or a person referred to as “Jeffrey E.” in the documents) and a real estate broker named Marc Leon, the director of Kensington Finest Properties which is part of the Christie’s International Real Estate network in Morocco.
These emails, revealed in the context of court documents or investigations related to Epstein, disclose conversations about purchasing unique luxury properties in Tangier, focusing on their exceptional location and architectural design.
Details of the First Property: Villa Putman
On July 16, 2015, Marc Leon sent an email to Jeffrey E. describing a unique property in Tangier:
- Location: on a cliff facing Spain, providing a panoramic view of the Strait of Gibraltar.
- Design: a modern house designed by the famous French designer Andrée Putman, known for her high-end work in hotels and luxury stores (such as Morgans Hotel in New York).
- Condition: not officially on the market, but the owner may accept an offer around 12 million (presumably euros, given the luxury context).
- Uniqueness: one of only four private homes entirely designed by Putman. It was previously owned by the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy and his wife, actress Arielle Dombasle, and was renovated in 2001.
This property, known as Villa Putman, is considered a modern architectural masterpiece with multiple levels, spacious terraces, an infinity pool, a sauna, a meditation room, and an office overlooking the sea. It was later marketed in 2017 for about 6-7 million euros, but it was, in 2015, an off-market offer.
Details of the Second Property: the Former Italian Consulate in Tangier
In a later response (after discussions about another property in Marrakech), Jeffrey requested information about the “Italian Consulate in Tangier.” Marc Leon replied with details:
- Last asking price: 2.9 million euros.
- Expected renovation cost: about 1 million euros additional to update the infrastructure (electricity, plumbing, modern finishes).
- Context: a historic building from the international zone era in Tangier (1923-1956), where many European countries had luxurious consulates. After the end of diplomatic use, such buildings were converted into luxury homes or private riads.
This property was a less costly alternative compared to the first villa and suited someone seeking renovation projects (as Jeffrey mentioned his experiences with a castle in France and a country house in Britain).
General Context of the Conversations
- The messages are part of a broader series that includes a third property in Marrakech (a palace with a huge garden containing thousands of palm and ancient olive trees, estimated at around 15-20 million euros, owned by “Mr. Kiss,” who prefers to donate it to charity rather than sell it cheaply).
Did the Attempt Succeed?
There are no public data confirming that Epstein purchased any of these properties in Tangier. His known real estate portfolio included homes in New York, Palm Beach, Paris, New Mexico, and private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but no official indication of ownership in Morocco.
The conversations remain within the context of exploration and negotiation in 2015, prior to his arrest in 2019.
