May 12, 2026— 12:32pm
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Jeffrey Epstein’s office set a rule for its special team inside American Express: spending on trips for young women and others had to be kept a secret, even from his inner circle.
After a flight confirmation went out to multiple people in 2017, Epstein’s longtime assistant, Lesley Groff, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, sent a message to the relationship manager for his invite-only Black card, officially known as Centurion: “PLEASE HELP! Take ALL Email Addresses OUT of OUR ACCOUNT!!”
She explained that “Jeffrey was livid” because he’s “EXTREMELY private” and “does not want ANY flight confirmations sent to anyone but me”.
For years, Epstein’s office relied on American Express to arrange trips not just for the disgraced financier, who’dpleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution, but for dozens of women, often Eastern European. His Centurion relationship manager also booked and cancelled trips that were never meant to be taken, a move aimed at helping the women obtain visas, according to emails released by the Department of Justice.
The documents offer a window into the uppermost tier of consumer finance, where the wealthiest clients are paired with dedicated handlers who anticipate needs and handle an array of requests. In the Centurion program, reserved for American Express’ biggest spenders, relationship managers play highly personalised roles as travel agents, problem solvers and door openers.
For Epstein, the discretion and service that came with the card provided a ready-made infrastructure for arranging travel for women. More than 100 of them haveaccused him of abuse, and several have said they were flown by various means to Epstein’s properties in the US, Europe and the Caribbean. He was arrested on charges of sex trafficking in July 2019 anddied in federal custodythe next month.
That was more than a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty to sex offences in a Florida state court in 2008. In between, his money and connections bought some of the most luxurious help the financial system has to offer, sparing him from the struggles facing the millions of people who leave US prisons and jails each year.
Along with an array of billionaires, lawyers, executives, advisers and co-conspirators, Epstein used one of consumer capitalism’s icons of exclusivity and excess to keep his machine moving. The booking patterns and fake itineraries are the kinds of requests that should have raised red flags, said two experts inhuman trafficking, who asked not to be named discussing legally sensitive matters.
An American Express spokesperson said the company terminated Epstein’s account after the federal charges against him and regrets having him as a customer.
“American Express strongly condemns abuse, exploitation and human trafficking,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company continuously updates its processes and controls. “We take our legal and regulatory responsibilities seriously, including reporting suspicious activity.”
Epstein, a cardholder since 1977, was a lucrative customer. At times, he spent at a clip of more than $US1 million ($1.38m) per year, statements show, likely generating tens of thousands of dollars of fees for American Express. He had a Centurion from at least 2004, according to the public files.
By 2006, there were eight Gold cards, counting additional users, and a Platinum to go with it. His account was up to three Centurions in 2012, and as many as nine in 2017. A message to prosecutors from American Express after Epstein’s arrest in 2019 tallied Centurions, a Platinum, Golds, a Blue Cash card, and business cards including Plum and Gold.
