Billionaire real estate investor (b. 1960, NYC), grandson of Alexander's department store founder George Farkas. Harvard ‘82.
Founded Insignia Financial Group (1990), grew it into the world's largest commercial real estate services firm before merging with CB Richard Ellis (2003). Then founded Island Capital Group and Island Global Yachting (IGY Marinas), a leading luxury marina operator. In 2007, Farkas purchased the 127-slip American Yacht Harbor marina at Red Hook, St.
Thomas, USVI, and offered Epstein 50/50 ownership. The marina was a short boat ride from Epstein's Little St. James island.
Epstein's stake remained hidden until a 2018 deposition. Farkas gave Epstein approximately $200,000 per year in discounts on the deal and received a $2 million fee from Epstein per subpoenaed documents. Nearly 2,000 emails exchanged over a decade.
In a December 31, 2010 message -- two years after Epstein's Florida sex crimes conviction -- Farkas wrote: 'You are one of the blessings in my life and I cherish our friendship.’ The two jointly applied for special USVI tax treatment that ultimately saved Epstein over $300 million (per a JPMorgan lawsuit). Farkas visited Epstein regularly during his 13-month Florida jail sentence. Through spokesperson Julie Wood, Farkas claimed the relationship was ‘entirely business’ and said he ‘regrets their association and condemns Epstein's crimes.’ Named in the January 30, 2026 release of 3 million additional Epstein file pages.
Epstein's estate sold its IGY stake in 2021; Farkas then sold the company for $480 million in 2022.