Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous 1997 “little black book” of contacts went up for auction on Wednesday, with an estimated bidding price of $200,000 or more.
A forensic document expert dated the 64-page address book to about 1997, with a total of 349 names. Celebrities include investor Carl Icahn, actress Morgan Fairchild, the wife of CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and actress Cristina Greeven.
Denise Ondayko, a singer, says she first came upon the book in the 1990s while strolling along Fifth Avenue in New York City. She didn’t know at first that it belonged to Epstein, but she hung onto it, intrigued by the names within it. In 2020, she listed the book for sale on eBay after discovering it included numbers pertaining to the late financier’s crew and residences.
Chris Helali, an independent reporter following the Epstein case, bought the book for $425 and shared some of its contents with other reporters. Vermonter Helali stated that although the book has been an effective means of learning more about Epstein’s life story, he does not wish to have it in his family’s house.
“I’m not superstitious, but it’s an odd feeling owning what is really an evil book,” Helali told The New York Post. “It’s unlike anything else in the world and linked to the most infamous case of the 21st century.”
Despite the long shadow left by the book’s author, who committed suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting prosecution for sexually abusing young girls, there has been a lot of interest, according to Bill Panagopulos, owner of Alexander Historical Auctions, which is organizing the sale.
“As for the proceeds of the sale, I can say with a great deal of confidence that they will be going to a party that does not, nor ever did have any connection with Mr. Epstein or anyone named in the book.”
Alexander’s said interested parties may view the book by sending a two-day notice to the auction houses’ Maryland office. The deadline for private bidding is June 15.
The top two bidders will be contacted by FedEx when the auction closes and will have one more opportunity to submit an offer before the winner is selected. After that, the second-highest bidder will have the opportunity to submit a counter offer.
In the event that Helali declines the winning price for whatever reason, the Epstein book will be put up for public auction in July.
Panagopulos had earlier predicted that the book would bring in at least $200,000.
