Posted on: February 18, 2026, 06:57h.
Last updated on: February 18, 2026, 07:00h.
- Jeffrey Epstein received VIP treatment as a convicted sex offender in Las Vegas in 2013
- Billionaire Leon Black allegedly funded at least a portion of the trip while his firm controlled Caesars Entertainment
- Epstein turned down a Rod Stewart meet-and-greet because he was too busy
He was already a convicted felon and registered sex offender by 2008, but that didn’t stop Las Vegas from welcoming Jeffrey Epstein with open arms five years later. Epstein’s Vegas vacation in August 2013 boasted luxury dining, premium entertainment, and the kind of VIP access available to the uber-rich even after some of their criminal history becomes widely known.
Digging through thousands of Department of Justice files, the Las Vegas Review‑Journal uncovered evidence that Epstein — who died in federal custody in 2019 — had his assistant, Lesley Groff, book a weekend getaway for 11 with a Caesars Entertainment guest services director.
The weekend included six luxury suites and an itinerary featuring dinner at Nobu, seats for Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère at Treasure Island and Rod Stewart’s residency at Caesars Palace, and eight conference passes to the DEF CON hacker convention held annually at the Rio.
“This is a belated birthday gift!” Groff emailed the guest services director. “(Shhhhh 60)!!!”
According to the newspaper’s reporting, Epstein even declined a backstage meet‑and‑greet with Rod the Mod — not out of disinterest, but because his schedule was too packed.
Always networking, Epstein over the years also helped acquaintances secure their own tickets to Vegas productions including both of Celine Dion’s “Celine” residency at Caesars Palace, Penn & Teller at the Rio, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE show at Mandalay Bay, and David Copperfield’s magic show at the MGM Grand.
Leon Black Listed
Though the financial consultant and pimp to rich and powerful pedophiles could certainly have afforded to foot his entire Vegas bill, records indicate that at least part of its cost was covered by Leon Black, the billionaire co‑founder of investment firm Apollo Global Management and one of Epstein’s financial clients.
At the time, Apollo held a major stake in Caesars Entertainment. Now, it controls the operating businesses of the Venetian, Palazzo, and the Venetian Expo. Black stepped down from his leadership roles, including CEO, in July 2021, according to the New York Times, after an internal investigation into his financial relationship with Epstein.
Black’s connection to Epstein was well‑documented. He even contributed a handwritten poem to Epstein’s 50th‑birthday tribute book — a volume that also included messages from Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. Black has since said he does not recall paying for Epstein’s Las Vegas excursion.
Crime Capsule
In July 2006, Epstein was accused in Florida of sexually assaulting multiple underage girls he hired for massages. Two years later, he copped a plea for soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution with a minor. He served 13 months of an 18-month sentence at the Palm Beach County Stockade until he was granted work release. His plea agreement forced him to register as a sex offender, and to check in regularly with law enforcement, for the remainder of his life.
In July 2019, Epstein was indicted by a federal grand jury on new charges of sex trafficking minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. A month later, he was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell.
