Two days before his death in August 2019, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein signed a will outlining his wishes for his extensive $288 million fortune and international properties. The document, executed on August 8, 2019, revealed plans to distribute his wealth among at least 44 beneficiaries. However, rather than receiving their intended inheritances, Epstein's estate was subsequently transferred to a trust established to compensate his victims and cover substantial taxes and legal fees. Latest accounts indicate that only $127 million of the original sum remains.

The will, released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a recent batch of Epstein files, designated significant assets to his girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak. Epstein intended to leave Ms. Shuliak $50 million, a 33-carat diamond ring "flanked by baguette-cut diamonds mounted in platinum," and a collection of notorious properties. These included his infamous "Pedo Island" (Little Saint James), the Zorro Ranch estate, his New York townhouse, and additional properties in Paris and Florida. A handwritten message from Epstein on the will indicated the diamond ring was given "in contemplation of marriage."

Ms. Shuliak, originally from Minsk, Belarus, was reportedly in a relationship with Epstein for eight to ten years. She was the last person to speak with him on the phone before his death and had visited him in prison 11 days prior. Prison records also show she was among those on his private jet when he was arrested in July 2019. Having arrived in the US in 2009 and initially married to an Epstein associate, Ms. Shuliak later became romantically involved with Epstein and earned the nickname "the inspector" due to her obsessive snooping. Epstein also allegedly funded her mother's expensive medical treatment and possibly an upscale home for her parents in Minsk.

Beyond Ms. Shuliak, Epstein's will also allocated substantial sums to other close associates. His lawyer, Darren Indyke, was set to receive $50 million, while his accountant, Richard Kahn, was due $25 million. Longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, along with Epstein's brother Mark Epstein and pilot Larry Visoski, were each intended to receive $10 million.

The recent release of three million documents by the DOJ, including photographs and videos, has shed further light on Epstein's network, particularly implicating disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also known as Prince Andrew. Among the most damaging revelations are photographs allegedly showing Andrew crouching over a woman lying on the floor, touching her stomach. Emails between Andrew and Maxwell from 2002 reveal an affectionate dynamic, with them referring to each other as "sweetheart," "darling," and expressing their "love" for one another. In one instance, Andrew sought Maxwell's "permission" to spend time with his ex-wife and children rather than traveling to the US, bemoaning missing the socialite.

Further compromising details emerged regarding Andrew's interactions with Epstein. He invited Epstein to dinner at Buckingham Palace days after the paedophile's house arrest for soliciting a minor ended, promising "lots of privacy." Epstein, in turn, offered to arrange a dinner for Andrew with a "clever, beautiful and trustworthy" 26-year-old Russian woman. Andrew responded enthusiastically, stating he would be "delighted to see her," and even asked the convicted sex offender, "Good to be free?" Adding to the scandal, Andrew sent Christmas photographs of his daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, to Epstein in both 2011 and 2012. These intimate family snaps were sent years after Andrew claimed to have cut off all contact with Epstein following his 2008 conviction. The images, which depicted the princesses in various activities like posing in the snow, on a charity bike ride, and climbing Mont Blanc, have pulled the innocent sisters into the ongoing controversy. Andrew also invited Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell to Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday party in 2006.

A statement from an unnamed 25-year-old masseuse who worked for Epstein in 1999 added another disturbing layer. She claimed Epstein wanted her to massage Prince Andrew, but she "didn't feel good about that," wondering if he was offering her "to do more."

The revelations have created "trying times" for Andrew's daughters, Eugenie (35) and Beatrice (37), who are reportedly "hugely conflicted" in their loyalties. Eugenie, a champion of anti-slavery campaigns, is finding the situation particularly difficult, while Beatrice is taking a more nuanced approach. Both have publicly distanced themselves from their parents to protect their royal reputations but remain concerned about Andrew and Sarah's mental health. The King has stripped Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson of their titles and evicted them from their 30-room home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, though he allowed their daughters to retain their royal standing.

Sarah Ferguson's own connections to Epstein were also highlighted. Emails from August 2009 show her thanking Epstein for being "the brother I have always wished for." She also referred to him as "my dear spectacular and special friend" and "a legend," having accepted money from him to pay off her well-chronicled debts.

The extensive DOJ files also feature communications between Epstein and other high-profile individuals, including Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Bill Clinton. Melania Trump's emails with Ghislaine Maxwell were also published, underscoring the vast reach of Epstein's controversial circle.