The Shadowy Zionist Architect of The Empire: Les Wexner’s Web of Power, Corruption and Secrecy

A thorough dive into one of the most powerful figures in the U.S., whose influence extends far beyond borders and our imagination.

The first time I encountered Les Wexner’s name was through its association with Jeffrey Epstein, his late former power of attorney. Since that moment, amidst the whirlwind of the once 24-hour Epstein news cycle, riddled with misinformation and shallow critiques of the elite involved, I have learned much more about the enigmatic and insidious man that wields extensive influence spanning both the U.S. and globally. Yet, this influence has largely remained in the shadows. Leslie Wexner often operates under the radar and his ability to remain largely immune to major public fallout or serious legal consequences despite being connected to sex traffickers, and allegations of misconduct is a testament to the level of power he wields in both business and politics.

And if one were to take the time to peel back to the layers with consideration to each, at the core they would find a man deeply embedded in the upper echelons of power.

The beginning is always important. Leslie “Les” Wexner was the first born to Harry and Bella Wexner on September 8, 1937. His father was Jewish immigrant from Russia who later owned a small store called “Leslie’s” in downtown Columbus, Ohio, with Les’ mother. His father’s business gave Les his first direct view into the retail world and would later become his pathway into adulthood, where he cultivated much wealth, influence and control—attributes he may not have fully felt in his earlier life.

In a video available on YouTube posted by the Academy of Achievement, Leslie openly reflects on his childhood with a distinct sort of sorrow, saying he “didn’t like being a kid” and that his parents exerted “adult judgements” upon him. At one point, he reflects on times he went to sleep crying, thinking to himself, “They won’t let me be a kid and I can’t be an adult”. Harry Wexner’s discouraging remarks toward Les’s retail ambitions after a failed attempt at law school—“You’ll never be a merchant”—left a lasting impression on Les. His mother, Bella, seemed overbearing even long into her son’s adulthood. According to journalist, Sarah Ellison from The Washington Post, a long time executive told the publication that Les and Bella were “basically married to each other”. Both Harry and Bella Wexner were board members of The Limited, with Bella’s office across the hall from her son’s. This dynamic of control—both exerted and surrendered—seems to have shaped Les Wexner’s life and business empire. While he built a vast retail network with an iron grip, his personal relationships suggest a paradoxical need to be dominated, whether by his mother’s influence or later by figures like Jeffrey Epstein. In understanding Leslie Wexner, one must recognize that his psychology was not just about power, but about the tension between authority and submission—a conflict that defined his personal and professional world.

Wexner’s rise from modest beginnings to becoming one of Ohio’s wealthiest and most influential figures is marked by the success of L Brands, a retail conglomerate he built from scratch. Founded in 1963 as The Limited, Wexner’s empire grew to include iconic brands like Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works that dominated malls across America from the 80s through the mid 2000s. Through his strategic acquisitions and savvy marketing, Wexner built L Brands into a global powerhouse with a portfolio worth billions of dollars. His astute business ties to fashion allowed him to build extensive networks with celebrities, business moguls, and high-profile individuals in politics and finance and he meticulously leveraged these connections to further expand his influence. However, his meteoric rise was accompanied by numerous events concerning his associations and business dealings. These clandestine activities have risen closer to the surface over time—revealing a man who appears to be tied up in a lot more than fast fashion.

In the mid 1980s, right around the time Les Wexner became Jeffrey Epstein’s client through Robert Meister (an insurance executive who had connections with Bear Stearns), Wexner was also entangled in a highly suspicious tax evasion and money laundering scheme that involved his company, L Brands, and its dealings with Arthur Shapiro, a tax attorney who represented Wexner’s interests. On March 6th, 1985–just a day before the tax attorney was set to testify to a grand jury in a critical court case involving money laundering and tax avoidance strategies—Arthur Shapiro was murdered under mysterious circumstances.

The timing of Shapiro’s death has been a point of contention for investigators, and many believe that it was far from coincidental. For example, The Columbus Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into Shapiro’s murder, culminating in a report titled “Shapiro Homicide Investigation: Analysis and Hypothesis,” completed in June 1991. This report delved into various aspects of Shapiro’s personal and professional life, as well as potential connections to organized crime. Key findings in the report revealed that Shapiro was under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service for failing to file income tax returns and investments in questionable tax shelters. The report also explored potential links between Shapiro and organized crime figures, noting that his murder bore the hallmarks of a Mafia (La Cosa Nostra) “hit” and further delves into the various associations involving Leslie Wexner and Edward DeBartolo Sr, who is described as an associate of the Genovese-LaRocca crime family in Pittsburgh.

Both men shared business and investment partnerships including two joint attempts in the late 1980s to acquire Carter-Hawley-Hale Department Stores. Additionally, the report examines the relationship between Wexner and John W. “Jack” Kessler, co-founder of the New Albany Company with Wexner, suggesting that Wexner-controlled entities made investments in a jazz club run by former Columbus City Council members Jerry Hammond and Les Wright, potentially to influence favorable zoning and annexation considerations for the New Albany project.

Upon its completion, the report was ordered to be destroyed by Columbus Police Chief James G. Jackson, who labeled it “scandalous.” However, copies of the report survived and were later made public, leading to controversy and further scrutiny of the case that remains unsolved to this day.

The relationship between Les Wexner and Jeffrey Epstein stands as one of the most enigmatic and controversial in recent history. Wexner’s decision to grant Epstein such power and control, especially over his personal and business affairs, remains a point of profound intrigue as Epstein’s position as Wexner’s power of attorney allowed him access to vast wealth, including control over real estate and other assets. One of the most notable transfers was Wexner’s Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street, a massive property that Epstein took possession of. The property was owned by Wexner’s trust, and was sold in 1998 to a Virgin Islands entity called NES LLC, which Epstein was affiliated with. There were no public property records of sale available until 2011. According to a 2019 article in Time, public records indicate that in 2011, the ownership of the property was transferred to Epstein’s company, Maple Inc., for $0. This has led to speculation that Epstein received the property without any monetary exchange, conflicting with some reports that he paid up to $20 million.

Epstein, who later became embroiled in a notorious sex trafficking scandal with long-time partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, was reportedly soliciting and violating Victoria’s Secret models under the guise of being a recruiter, which Les Wexner was directly informed of sometime in 1993. At the same time, Epstein was already deeply involved in Wexner’s affairs in Ohio. Business records from the state identified Epstein as the president of The New Albany Company, a real estate development firm that focused on high-end, master planned communities. Epstein’s involvement extended to property ownership in the area where he purchased a 10,000-square-foot home in New Albany for $3.5 million, a property originally intended for Jack Kessler, the company’s chairman. The New Albany International Business Park, which became a home to tech and retail corporations such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, was one of the other major projects the New Albany Company helped develop.

Les Wexner’s influence in Ohio extends far beyond retail and real estate, shaping major institutions like Ohio State University (OSU) through philanthropy and governance. One of his most notable contributions is the Wexner Medical Center, a premier research hospital and healthcare facility that bears his name due to substantial financial donations. His philanthropy also established the Wexner Center for the Arts, a contemporary arts institution on OSU’s campus, reinforcing his cultural and academic influence. Additionally, Wexner and his wife, Abigail, played key roles in OSU’s Board of Trustees, where they wielded significant sway over university policy, fundraising, and administrative decisions.

Epstein not only footed his way into Wexner’s empire but also hammered a wedge between Les and Bella Wexner in the early 1990s when he assumed a position as a trustee on the board for The Wexner Foundation when Bella temporarily resigned due to health issues. Upon her return, what ensued was a long, drawn out lawsuit enacted by the foundation itself against Wexner’s mother. Epstein even told Vanity Fair in 2003, “If my client needs protecting — sometimes even from his own family — then it’s often better that people hate me, not the client”, displaying that he clearly viewed Bella as an obstacle and successfully—through triangulation and opportune timing—replaced possibly the most controlling person in Wexner’s life with himself. Wexner’s commitment to keeping Jeffrey Epstein involved in nearly all of his affairs did not cease until 2007, at least, according to Les himself. This means Epstein was still heavily submerged into Wexner’s life at least six years after the passing of Bella Wexner.

The Wexner Foundation, along with The New Albany Company, the YLK Charity Foundation and the Wexner Family Charitable Fund have all been subjected to some scrutiny over the years since Les Wexner’s close ties with Jeffrey Epstein were revealed to the public. Many of the details surrounding Epstein’s involvement in these charities reek of money laundering strategies.

For instance, three months after federal prosecutors drafted a 53-page indictment against him for charges related to the solicitation of prostitution, and the solicitation of prostitution with a minor, the YLK Charitable Fund (named after Yehuda L. Koppel) was formed with Abigail Wexner listed as president. A month later, in January 2008, a $47 million donation (the only donation to the fund during its existence) would be made to it by Epstein’s private foundation, COUQ and his company, Financial Trust Co. The former of which two of Wexner’s foundations had once contributed a combined $21 million in stock and cash. In June 2008, Epstein plead guilty to lesser state charges and paid a $5.5 million settlement to 3 teenage victims. His sentencing was ridiculously lenient compared to other Florida state sex offenders who often serve in state prison. Instead, Epstein served just over a year in county jail with work release that allowed him to be in the comforts of his office for almost the entire day. He was released in July 2009 and the YLK Charitable Fund officially dissolved in December 2010. All remaining $33.3 million in remaining assets were transferred to the Wexner Family Charitable Fund. I call this strategy the donor circle, where no matter what, the money is kept in the same sphere.

Wexner has a pattern of using family members and associates to manage properties and hold assets under different entities—a common tactic among the ultra-wealthy to obscure ownership and shield assets from public scrutiny. A relatively unknown example is the 8,000-acre quail hunting property in Albany, Georgia, which Wexner appears to still own. This information was first flagged by a commenter on my TikTok, leading me into a deeper investigation.

Jeffrey Epstein’s widely available address book lists Tallassee Plantation, later renamed Abigail Plantation, with Darrell Halstead registered as an agent for L.A.W. Plantation Management Corp. This corporation, filed as a domestic profit entity in September 1996, had its principal address in New Albany, Ohio—the stronghold of Wexner’s business empire. The company had only two contacts on record: Abigail Wexner and Dennis Hersch. You can watch me go through the process of how I figured this out here. Additionally, I later found another article mentioning the purchase here.

Dennis Hersch was publicly announced as Wexner’s new business manager in February 2008, just one month after Epstein donated $47 million to Wexner’s YLK Charity Foundation. Before managing Wexner’s finances, Hersch was an executive at JPMorgan Chase—the same bank later accused of enabling Epstein’s trafficking operations by allowing him to move large sums of money despite multiple internal red flags.

It has since been revealed and widely accepted that Epstein was very likely an agent of multiple states, using his connections with Wexner and other elite individuals to gain access to other powerful individuals and facilitate his own operations, which involved blackmail. Therefore—Wexner’s relationship with Epstein raises serious questions about the nature of their dealings and financial entanglements with some summarizing that Epstein’s involvement with Wexner may have been part of a larger network of intelligence operations. Either way, the long-term nature of their relationship suggests that Wexner may have been complicit in Epstein’s illicit operations or at the very least aware of them, given the breadth of their financial dealings.

But Jeffrey Epstein is not the only figure Les Wexner has been associated with that is predatory. His deep financial ties to Ohio State University and past position on the board of trustees from have led to scrutiny, particularly in connection to the Dr. Richard Strauss abuse case, where survivors have questioned whether Wexner’s influence contributed to a lack of accountability. More than 350 former athletes and students have come forward accusing Dr. Strauss of sexual abuse and misconduct. A significant part of the scandal involved Ohio State University’s failure to act on reports of Strauss’s abuse over the years. Despite multiple complaints from students and faculty about Strauss’s behavior, the university did not take adequate steps to stop him. Allegedly, OSU administrators were aware of the accusations but allowed Strauss to continue his practice, with some students even reporting the abuse to university officials who ignored the complaints. In 2018, hundreds of survivors filed a lawsuit against Ohio State University for failing to stop the abuse and for allegedly enabling Strauss’s behavior by covering it up. The university ultimately reached a $60 million settlement in 2021 to compensate the victims of Strauss’s abuse.

Abercrombie & Fitch, under the parent company, L Brands, and CEO Mike Jeffries, has also long been the center of allegations concerning exploitative practices, discriminatory hiring processes and sex trafficking. In October 2024, ten years after his resignation, Mike Jeffries was arrested in a federal sex trafficking case involving interstate prostitution. Prosecutors in the case alledge that between December 2008 and March 2015, Mike Jeffries & two other individuals coerced young men who were models into attending sex events. In December of 2024, it was announced that Jefferies apparently has late-onset Alzheimer’s and may not be fit to stand trial.

Additionally, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of L Brands, Ed Razek, was accused of making sexually inappropriate comments and engaging in harassment toward women working for or associated with Victoria’s Secret. One notable claim came from former Victoria’s Secret model Sara Ziff, who accused Razek of making unwelcome advances during her time working with the company. In addition to these allegations, Razek also faced public backlash for his remarks about transgender and plus-size models.

All of these individuals, including Wexner, seem to have one thing in common: they all evolve in environments curated by them where exploitation and power imbalances thrive. This speaks to what I think is a larger issue surrounding the types of individuals attracted to positions of power. They are distinctly fit for these positions and not just because of their skills or experience but because of the maladaptive behaviors they have assimilated to and their desire to control. Remember what I said some many ramblings ago? The beginning is important.

Les Wexner’s psychology, when considered through the lens of his early family dynamics, appears deeply shaped by dominance and subservience that later evolved into the paradox of seeking control professionally while submitting to figures who wield power over him personally. Les and Bella being described as “married to one another” speaks to the anatomy of enmeshment. His father’s undermining of his dreams likely created an emotional void that Wexner sought to fill through his associations with individuals who exercised influence over him—yet these very relationships, rooted in control, exploitation, and lack of boundaries, may have been a reflection of the power dynamics Wexner himself experienced growing up. Most of all, I believe Jeffrey Epstein knew this and greatly used it to his advantage—meticulously crafting a relationship that was forged from the attributes Les Wexner either consciously or subconsciously sought in his life.

Now, I feel the need to make the disclaimer that I am not excusing any of Wexner’s behavior and I’m certainly not suggesting that all individuals with similar familial dynamics are sinister—I am simply illustrating that some cycles (particularly the cycle of abuse) are not always broken and some individuals are incredibly keen on identifying the ways in which to use someone’s psychology to manipulate them.

Epstein’s power over Wexner’s financial affairs suggests either a very close, interpersonal relationship or one hallmarked by strategic manipulation—I just tend to believe it contains elements of both speculations. Of course, Les Wexner’s relationship with Epstein has bloomed many conversations surrounding his sexuality. While I hold the personal interpretation that Les Wexner is not entirely heterosexual, Columbus journalist, Tim Feran maintained that Wexner was relatively serious with a woman in Columbus before his marriage to Abigail Koppel. According to Feran, Bella Wexner highly disapproved of her son being with a non-Jewish woman, saying her grandchildren were “not going to have a shiksa for a mother”. The relationship reportedly ended shortly after—again revealing a woman who wielded a large amount of control over her son’s life. This revelation was a significant one to me, and I think it somewhat relates to what I believe to be the most strategically arranged partnership for him: the marriage to his lawyer wife, Abigail Koppel in 1993.

This marriage adds another layer of intrigue to his already complex web of business and political ties. Koppel’s father, Yehuda Koppel, cemented Les Wexner’s power within pro-Israel circles. Yehuda was born in Poland in 1917 and later settled in Palestine at the age of 16, where he later joined the British Army serving the Jewish Brigade in World War II and retired with the rank of Major. As a leader in the Haganah, the precursor to the Israeli Defense Forces, Yehuda played a key role in founding the state of Israel. This role in the early days of the state of Israel ties Wexner directly to Zionist interests and the Israeli government through his marriage to Abigail.

Yehuda Koppel also played a critical role in the expansion of El Al Airlines, the national airline of Israel, by establishing the first American office for the company in the 1950s after moving to New York. Koppel’s involvement in the airline’s U.S. operations was significant in building ties between Israel and the U.S. through air travel. El Al has close ties to the Israeli government and military. It’s been reported that the airline has served as a carrier for weapons, equipment, and personnel linked to Israeli defense forces, making it a target of criticism due to its potential role in military operations. He is also present in the Epstein Flight logs, listed as “Yehura Koppel”, alongside his wife Zipora and Steven and Judy Tuckerman on a flight from Teterboro, New Jersey to Paris, France on September 3rd, 1997.

Koppel’s influence extended beyond the aviation industry, as he was deeply involved in various Zionist causes and the Israeli political establishment up until his death. According to his obituary, family asked on his behalf to make donations to the Friends of the IDF in lieu of flowers. Les Wexner’s connection with his father in law unquestionably provided him with access to high-level political and business networks within both the U.S. and Israel, further solidifying his position as a global power player.

The Wexner Foundation reveals itself to be an integral player in pro-Israel interests and is strategically used as a vehicle to strengthen ties with Israel through the development of leadership within the Jewish community. Through the Wexner Israel Fellowship, Israeli public officials to earn a master’s degree at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government while the Wexner’s Senior Leaders Program is designed for high-ranking Israeli public sector officials. Notably, The Wexner Foundation cut all ties with Harvard in October 2023 after what they perceived to be failed response in leadership addressing the “support of Hamas’ October 7th massacre” resulting in the dissolve of these programs. Still, the fellowships were widely successful and much of the Alumni community is composed of individuals serving in different areas of Israel’s public service. These programs have placed figures such as Aviv Kohavi (former IDF Chief of Staff), Ami Ayalon (former Shin Bet head), and Yair Golan (former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff and politician) into influential roles. As stated on their website, amongst the 650 individuals are “Director Generals of government ministries, senior officers in the IDF, judges, hospital directors, municipality and third sector NGO’s director generals”.

Wexner’s involvement in Ohio politics alone is so extensive that it raises concerns about the concentration of power within the state, with business, politics, and education all under the sway of a select few individuals—but his involvement in Zionist projects and ideology implementation in the U.S. should be met with equal concern. The Wexner Foundation hosts a “thoughtfully curated list of articles, podcasts, and videos that can help leaders make sense of this extremely challenging and fateful moment” on their website since October 7th 2023 that features articles denying genocide and denying crimes of war and against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, the website also hosts videos on “The Art of Zionist Thought and Israeli Identity”. Beyond that, both Les Wexner and Abigail Wexner’s political contributions to candidates who are largely pro-Israel speak for themselves.

Les has historically always donated more to republicans, though his federal and state donations to Democrats increased since he left the GOP in 2018. Abigail Wexner, on the other hand, has lessened her donations to republicans and largely increased her donations to democrats—particularly in the year of 2020. In the past, Les Wexner has supported AIPAC recipients such as Mitt Romney, Mike DeWine, and Jeb Bush and in the beginning of last year he donated $100,000 directly to AIPAC.

Les Wexner’s commitment to Israel began long before in 1991, when he and Charles Bronfman co-founded an informal assembly of wealthy influential Jewish philanthropists known as the “Study Group,” informally referred to as the “Mega Group.” The group has been instrumental in sponsoring numerous pro-Israel initiatives, including the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, Birthright Israel, and support for the renewal of Hillel International. If the Bronfman name sounds familiar, that’s because the same family funding Birthright Israel was also funding a criminal enterprise trafficking and branding women. Charles Bronfman’s nieces, Clare and Sara, became notorious for their involvement in NXIVM, the sex trafficking cult led by Keith Raniere.

Even though he stepped down as CEO of his original empire, L Brands, in 2019 after Epstein’s disgusting legacy and allegations against Ed Razek’s tarnished the company’s integrity, Les Wexner still leverages his dominance in the world we live in today. As of January 2035, Wexner remains the richest man in Ohio with an estimated net worth of $7.9 billion and is ranked #367 on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest individuals in the United States as of last year.

Despite the web of wealth, influence and power surrounding Les Wexner, there remains a troubling absence of accountability for his involvement in various controversial and potentially illegal activities. This is a man protected by forces that most certainly include intelligence agencies and powerful figures in government and private sector positions whom he forged strategic and long standing relationships with long before Epstein’s operations were exposed, suggesting that Wexner is not just a bystander but an active participant in shaping events that align with his own interests and those of the elite circles he inhabits.

I am sure there will be a time that the general population discovers just how interwoven Les Wexner was into the fabric of the mass hypersexualization and exploitation of women, seedy shell companies, money laundering foundations and the active integration of Zionism into U.S. politics. At the same time, It is easy for me to imagine that the full extent of Les Wexner’s influence and his role in these profoundly insidious activities will not come to light until his death, much like the revelations surrounding his friend, Jeffrey Epstein. But perhaps one day, the public will be forced to confront the reality of how deeply these corrupt structures have permeated society, and the role that figures like Wexner have played in perpetuating them.

-Cal