Jeffrey Epstein was interested in luxury villas in Zug and Lucerne

The Epstein Files suggest that the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was interested in the ‘Villa Rose’ in Meggen – the former estate of Zug-based commodities trader Marc Rich. A stately property in the canton of Zug has also been mentioned.

It is one of the most prestigious detached houses in Switzerland: Villa Rose in Meggen, Lucerne. The property on Lake Lucerne covers around 10,200 square metres. It includes a boathouse, staff quarters, parkland, lakefront access, wellness facilities and an indoor pool.

The deceased sex offender and investment banker Jeffrey Epstein had apparently set his sights on this property, which once belonged to Zug-based commodities trader Marc Rich. At least, that is what emerges from the Epstein Files that were released last Friday, which comprise three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos.

The Jewish connection
Among them is a short email sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 by the late American basketball executive David Stern, which mentions Marc Rich's estate in Meggen. The purchase could be completed quickly and without an agency, Stern writes, as he knew Marc Rich well. The villa offers high-security facilities and privacy, the sports executive adds. He concludes with the question: ‘Any interest?’

But the purchase did not go ahead
A few days later, Epstein asks whether anything has happened in connection with Marc Rich's house. There is no answer to this question in the documents. A year later, however, David Stern wrote to Epstein again: Marc Rich was planning to move to London. His daughter had told Stern that Marc Rich wanted to sell his two houses in Switzerland, the one in St. Moritz and the one in Meggen. But the Meggen property did not ultimately pass into Epstein's possession. From 2014, it has belonged to Robert Landau, one of the world's most important art dealers.

From 2014, Villa Rose in Meggen has belonged to Canadian art collector Robert Landau   Photo: derijkstebelgen
Marc Rich – he was a passionate cigar smoker     Photo: Linkedin
 

Marc Rich, who died in a Lucerne hospital in 2013 after suffering a stroke, fled to Switzerland in the early 1980s after coming under scrutiny from the American authorities for tax evasion and illegal oil trading with Iran. He was on the FBI's ‘Most Wanted’ list for years, until he was pardoned by then US President Bill Clinton in 2001. His company, Marc Rich & Co. AG, became Glencore International AG in 1994. Marc Rich was also involved in numerous charitable projects.

The name of the colourful commodities trader appears several times in the Epstein files, independently of his property in Meggen. They suggest that Epstein must at least have known who Marc Rich was. For example, a person whose name has been blacked out in the Epstein Files writes that they were having lunch with Marc Rich and his girlfriend. ‘Should I say hello to her from you?’ In another message, someone let Epstein know that they were sitting very close to a friend of Marc Rich and Epstein at a New Year's party.

Interest in Zug property
A message from the same period as the emails about Marc Rich also mentions a marvellous property in the canton of Zug. A real estate company described a property on Lake Zug to David Stern, as he had expressed interest in it. Stern, in turn, forwarded the message – without the real estate company's knowledge, it should be noted – to Jeffrey Epstein, indicating that Epstein was interested in such properties.

When asked, the real estate consultant who was in contact with David Stern at the time says she is astonished to find her name in the Epstein files. She confirms that she was contacted by David Stern, but says she never received any feedback from him, either in connection with the Zug property or later. She also says she knew nothing about Stern and Epstein being in contact with each other.

Another connection between Jeffrey Epstein and Zug leads to ‘Crypto Valley’. According to an article in the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper last November, Epstein was fascinated by cryptocurrencies, and had intensive exchanges with Steve Bannon, the right-wing conservative former Trump adviser. Bannon, who also visited Zug's Crypto Valley in 2018, mentioned ‘Swiss Guys’ in an email, and ultimately introduced Epstein to an American crypto expert known to these ‘Swiss Guys’.