May 15, 2026
Stephen Deckoff thought he was getting a deal when he bought two private islands — Little St. James and Great St. James — in the U.S. Virgin Islands. And technically, he did, paying less than half the asking price (1). What he didn't count on were the headaches the island's past would bring.
Little St. James is better known as Little St. Jeff's to some people — or "Epstein Island," if you prefer. It was ground zero for many of the atrocities committed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and that makes it a magnet for curiosity seekers, conspiracy theorists and more.
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Some people believe Epstein is still alive. Others use drones to capture footage of the island. One person even showed up with a samurai sword. And plenty arrive on jet skis, including one YouTuber who exclaimed "Epstein could literally be right there bro!" as he tried to sneak onto the island, only to be stung by sea urchins and give up (2).
Plans for a resort
Deckoff, who is the founder of Black Diamond Capital Management, bought the property in 2023. At the time, he said, he planned to build a luxury resort and make a break from the island's disturbing history. Today there's no sign of that resort or any momentum towards it. Whether it's still in the works is unknown.
One thing Deckoff likely didn't count on was the staying power of the public's fascination with the Epstein case, something that has been stoked by the ongoing call for the Trump administration to fully release the Epstein files.
Deckoff is working with area law enforcement to curb the unwanted visitors, and private security is making citizen's arrests from time to time as well. A property spokesperson also strongly clarified that just because Epstein used to own the island, that doesn't mean the current owner knew him.
"The current owner and his family never met or associated with Jeffrey Epstein in any way and will not tolerate this continued endangerment of the safety and well-being of people who live and work on the island," they said.
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Epstein tourism
The ongoing interest in Epstein has led to a cottage industry for tour guides. While the island is off-limits, some tour companies offer guides on how to see the island from afar (such as using services like private water taxis and charters, or taking a snorkeling tour along the Ledges of Little St. James).
Step onto the island and you will almost certainly be arrested, however. One trespasser alleges he was restrained with duct tape, blindfolded and held in an underground bunker for several hours. Another claims he was hog-tied naked (3).
Jeffrey Epstein has been dead for seven years, but the impact of his crimes continues to reverberate. Warren Buffett says he has not talked to his one-time best friend Bill Gates since the release of the Epstein Files. And the Gates Foundation is in the process of cutting 20% of its workforce and conducting an external review of its ties with Epstein.
Article Sources
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Bloomberg (1),(3); YouTube (2)
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Chris Morris is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the internet's biggest news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent panel moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
