The college dropout who becomes a private school teacher. The teacher who becomes a Wall Street titan. That’s the myth of Jeffrey Epstein’s rise to wealth and power. But the truth is more complicated and nefarious. He may even be the mastermind behind one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history. That didn’t stop him from winning over one lonely billionaire in particular.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, reach out for help. In the US, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 1-800-656-HOPE. Or you can chat anonymously with a hotline staffer by messaging the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network at online.rainn.org.

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