Ariane de Rothschild Named in Epstein Files: Banking Dynasty Head's Correspondence Revealed
The recent release of US Department of Justice documents concerning financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has brought to light the name of Ariane de Rothschild, the prominent head of the Edmond de Rothschild Swiss private bank. The disclosure adds another high-profile figure to the growing list of individuals revealed to have been part of Epstein's social and professional circles.
Extensive Correspondence and Meetings Documented
According to the DOJ documents analyzed by financial publications, Ariane de Rothschild corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein multiple times and agreed to several meetings over approximately five years before his 2019 arrest and subsequent imprisonment. The correspondence reveals that Epstein and de Rothschild arranged meetings at various locations, including Epstein's residences in New York and Paris.
One particularly notable exchange occurred on March 19, 2019, nearly four months before Epstein's arrest. Epstein informed de Rothschild of his presence in Paris, to which she responded, "Are you really ?!! I'm here as well. When would you be free?" Epstein replied, "Its been much, much too long," before they arranged to meet the following day. However, whether this specific meeting actually took place remains unconfirmed.
Bank's Response and Context of Relationship
While the documents released on January 30 do not indicate any criminal wrongdoing by Ariane de Rothschild, they do raise questions about the bank's previous characterization of their relationship. In 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that the bank had described her meetings with Epstein as part of her routine professional responsibilities.
A spokesperson for Edmond de Rothschild bank informed Reuters that Epstein was de Rothschild's business acquaintance from 2013 to 2019 and emphasized that she was unaware of his criminal conduct. The spokesperson stated that de Rothschild "unequivocally condemns his behaviour and the crimes which he committed."
The email exchanges between the two largely date from the mid-to-late 2010s, with de Rothschild's name appearing 4,400 times in the released documents, though many entries are duplicate files. Some communications occurred through assistants, including a 2016 exchange where Epstein's assistant arranged to return a hoverboard to de Rothschild's daughter.
Who is Ariane de Rothschild?
Ariane de Rothschild, now 60 years old, is a member of one of Europe's most renowned banking dynasties. She served as Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss private bank from her marriage in 1999 until 2023, overseeing assets worth 184 billion Swiss francs ($236.8 billion). Her leadership marked a historic milestone as she became the first woman to run a Rothschild financial institution in a banking dynasty that traces its origins to 18th-century Frankfurt, Germany.
Background of the Jeffrey Epstein Case
The case against Jeffrey Epstein originated primarily from a 2006 complaint by parents of a 14-year-old girl who accused him of molestation at his Florida residence. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to two felony charges, with reports indicating he paid minor girls for sexual acts and utilized his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to manage victims. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on charges of trafficking girls, some as young as 14 years old. He died on August 10, 2019, in his jail cell while awaiting trial. The recent document releases came under pressure from Epstein's victims and members of Congress, revealing previously unknown connections between Epstein and various prominent individuals across multiple sectors.
