Marc Rowan — the outgoing chair of the Wharton Board of Advisors — maintained a documented relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which involved phone calls and multiple visits to Epstein’s New York home, according to email exchanges released by the Department of Justice last week.
An analysis by The Daily Pennsylvanian found that Rowan, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 1984 and a Wharton MBA in 1985, remained in contact with Epstein between 2013 and 2016. The emails include discussions about a potential purchase of Rowan’s private jet and multiple plans to meet for breakfast at Epstein’s home.
Rowan co-founded the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, Inc., along with 1986 Wharton graduate Joshua Harris and investor Leon Black. The released documents reveal that Rowan, Harris, and Black met with Epstein on several occasions related to their work at Apollo.
“In select instances, Mr Rowan provided information to Mr Epstein in connection with his tax work for Mr Black,” Rowan’s spokesperson wrote to the DP. “While Mr. Epstein sought to do work with the Apollo co-founders other than Mr. Black, Mr Rowan had neither a business nor any other relationship with Mr Epstein. As previously stated, Apollo never did any business with Mr Epstein.”
A University spokesperson declined to comment. Rowan has not been accused of involvement in Epstein’s crimes or wrongdoing.
The earliest recorded correspondence between Rowan and Epstein occurred in August 2013 — five years after Epstein was sentenced to an 18-month jail sentence in 2008, after pleading guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution from a minor.
In the email, Epstein inquired if Rowan could plan for the “morning of the 4th.” Rowan responded that he would be out of town.
Days later, Rowan’s executive assistant Elizabeth Irene helped coordinate a meeting between Rowan and Epstein. According to the documents, the meeting was to “be held at Jeffery’s home” on Sept. 8, 2013 at 8 a.m.
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Another exchange in September seemingly arranged a meeting between members of Apollo Global Management — including “Leon” and “Josh” — and Epstein on Oct. 22, 2013. While most members of the company were meant to meet at 8:30 a.m., Irene inquired if Rowan was planning to “see Jeffrey for 1:1” at an earlier point.
In October 2013, Epstein’s assistant requested to set up another meeting between Rowan and Epstein — but Rowan was traveling at the time.
The files suggest a lull in contact between the two after 2013. Only one exchange appears in 2014, in which Black’s assistant emailed Epstein with a “heads up” that Black had asked Rowan to call him about “Donor Advised Funds.”
Extensive contact between Rowan and Epstein resumed after Black’s assistant emailed Epstein in December 2015 that “Leon’s partner, Marc Rowan, wants to meet with Jeffrey.”
“He said January 5, 6, or 7th is good for him — he will move things around and come to Jeffrey. Marc said if Jeffrey wants early breakfast that works for him — he will bring coffee!!! Thanks,” the email continued.
Epstein’s assistant emailed Rowan’s on Jan. 5, 2016 asking to reconfirm that “Marc will come see Jeffrey tomorrow for breakfast at 8am at Jeffrey's home.” The message also inquired if Rowan wanted “anything in particular” for breakfast.
Irene replied that “Marc is looking forward to seeing Jeffrey.”
Five days after the meeting over breakfast in Epstein’s home, Epstein’s assistant emailed that “Jeffrey would like to speak with Marc today” and asked if they could arrange a call.
Irene wrote back that “MR will reach out to Jeffrey tonight if he hasn't already.” In the message, she asked Epstein’s assistant to check three phone numbers she had for Epstein and “advise a primary number” for Rowan to call.
Epstein’s assistant replied that “Cell 2 is actually his island phone / Cell 3 is his island office (STC-Southern Trust Company) / the other numbers you have correct and correctly labeled!”
The next day, Epstein’s assistant emailed Irene for details on potentially purchasing Rowan’s private jet.
“Jeffrey is asking if he could get the details of Marc’s plane for sale...the hours, photos, any pertinent information! Possible?” the email read.
Later that day, at Irene’s request, a representative for Hagerty Jet Group sent Epstein’s assistant information about the aircraft — including its $18.9 million price point.
Two days later, on Jan. 14, 2016, Rowan met with Epstein at his Manhattan townhouse. They were joined by members of the Edmond de Rothschild financial group, along with Rowan’s “partner Imran” — possibly referring to former Apollo senior partner Imran Siddiqui.
“Mr Rowan met with the CEO of Edmund de Rothschild bank at a meeting in 2016 arranged by Mr Epstein that Mr Epstein did not attend,” Rowan’s spokesperson wrote in response to a request for comment.
The documents included several exchanges between Epstein and Rowan regarding various financial matters between February and March of 2016.
In May 2016, Epstein emailed Rowan a link to the website of ValueWalk, a site advertising investment information. The link no longer functions after ValueWalk sold its website in 2023, but the URL appears to show a YouTube parody of the 2004 movie “Downfall,” which depicts the defeat of Hitler.
The files also suggest that Rowan and Epstein made several professional introductions for each other.
In March 2016, Epstein emailed Rowan that he would introduce him to Nicholas Ribis, who previously worked as an executive for 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump’s resorts.
In August 2016, Perry Shwachman — an attorney who has represented Apollo — emailed both Epstein and Rowan in a thread that thanked Rowan for introducing him to the famed financier. In the email, Shwachman told Epstein that “It would be great to talk to you about helping with potential new insurance regulations.”
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Senior reporter Arti Jain covers state and local politics and can be reached at jain@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies economics and political science. Follow her on X @arti_jain_.
Senior reporter Alex Dash leads coverage of politics and can be reached at dash@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies history and political science. Follow him on X @AlexBDash.
