Former Penn donor and 1965 Wharton graduate Ronald Lauder kept in touch with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as recently as 2017, according to documents released by the United States Department of Justice.
An analysis by The Daily Pennsylvanian traced Lauder’s relationship with Epstein across a series of meetings, home visits, and business dealings that took place years after his 2008 arrest. The documents also reveal that Epstein referenced Lauder on multiple occasions with members of his inner circle.
In 2013, Lauder’s signature appeared on a joint purchase agreement between the Neue Galerie and billionaire art collector Leon Black. The Galerie sold five high value art works in exchange for $19 million paid over two installments.
A year later, Lauder — a longtime art collector — purchased “Ja-Was? - Bild” in cooperation with Black. The mixed-media painting by German artist Kurt Schwitters cost the pair $25 million dollars.
The two billionaires established Friends Ventures LLC under the supervision of Epstein and brokered a deal to share the art piece. As Epstein described it, the two ended up agreeing that “each will use it for 2 years and then the other for 2 etc. until death.”
Black — who serves as a co-founder of Apollo Global Management along with outgoing Wharton Board of Advisors Chair Marc Rowan — has his own documented past with Epstein.
Lauder did not respond to a request for comment. He has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein or his crimes.
On Feb. 11, 2017, Epstein emailed German entrepreneur Nicole Junkerman that “the nicole fan club” — which consisted of Epstein, Lauder, and “Leon” — convened during a meeting by Epstein’s pool.
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Two days later, Epstein’s assistant contacted Lauder’s to “see if Mr. Lauder could come for either breakfast tomorrow morning or tea in the afternoon.” Epstein’s schedule for Feb. 14 reflected the exchange with tentative plans for breakfast or tea.
Lauder’s assistant, Maureen Finkelstein, replied that he would be traveling that day.
“I will let you know when he may be available to meet Mr. Epstein,” Finkelstein wrote.
Epstein’s assistant wrote back that if Lauder “is back in town he can join for a dinner with woody” — possibly referring to filmmaker and Epstein associate Woody Allen. It is unclear whether Lauder attended the dinner.
On Feb. 18, 2017, Epstein emailed Microsoft founder Bill Gates, recommending that Gates "seek out" Lauder to receive funding for his health programs.
“my friends say you are in munich, i think it would be in your interest to seek out ronald lauder,” Epstein wrote in the email. “he is interested in funding health initiatives. and can offer some protection against reduced funding of some your current programs. tell him we are buddies. he is very smart.”
The records also show Lauder was scheduled to visit Epstein’s home on Feb. 24, 2017 — an occasion Epstein wrote his recipient “should be well dressed” for. Lauder was to be accompanied by a “janes watson,” likely referring to deceased Nobel laureate James Watson, who had documented connections with Epstein.
Four days later, Epstein’s assistant coordinated with Finkelstein to arrange “a tour of the museum" with Lauder, Epstein, and “Jim Watson.” In the exchange, Finkelstein wrote that “Ronald is asking if Jeffrey has a direct number” he could use for their communication.
In April of that year, emails showed Epstein intended to bring Lauder as a guest to a party hosted by former Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen. Among Epstein’s other guests listed in the files were Allen, Black, and former Harvard University President Lawrence Summers.
In August 2017, Epstein’s assistant wrote to Lauder that Epstein wanted to speak with Lauder’s accountant “to give him the best guidance." He also requested to “see a copy of his past 2 year tax returns and his will.”
Lauder’s assistant replied that “I have given Mr. Lauder your message.” It is unclear whether or not Lauder agreed to Epstein’s requests.
In 2018, Epstein wrote in an email to Peter Roth — the founder of Peter Thomas Roth Labs — that Lauder “was trying to sponsor” the “talks” of a “beautiful” and “biz oriented” woman whose name was redacted, adding that he had “no romantic invovlment” with her.
According to the message, Epstein told the woman that Lauder was a “dinosaur.”
Lauder has given extensively to Penn in the past, but halted his donations to the University in October 2023 amid a wider fallout surrounding the administration’s response to the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, antisemitic incidents on campus, and the Israel-Hamas war.
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Staff reporter Luke Petersen covers national politics and can be reached at petersen@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies philosophy, politics, and economics. Follow him on X @LukePetersen06.
