Goldman Sachs exec, 54, plans to ‘spiritually and physically’ make over Epstein’s $51m townhouse before moving in
- Australian financier Michael D. Daffey, 54, and his American wife, Blake Daffey, plan to do extensive remodels to newly purchased Upper East Side 28,000 square-foot mansion that once belonged to Jeffrey Epstein
- The mansion was raided by the FBI in July 2019 in connection to Epstein’s sex crimes and agents found child sex abuse images in a safe inside
- ‘The first order of business is a complete makeover – physically and spiritually,’ a spokesperson for the Daffeys said in a statement. The renovations are expected to last 18 months
- The couple recently put their 6,350-square-foot, four-bedroom penthouse at 25 Bond Street in Noho on the market for $30 million
Former Goldman Sachs executive Michael D. Daffey is planning to ‘spiritually and physically’ renovate Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion in New York City after purchasing it for $51 million.
Daffey, 54, purchased the seven-story, 40-room property on Manhattan’s Upper East Side earlier this month for $37 million less than its original $88 million asking price.
But the Australian financier and his American wife, Blake Daffey, plan on making extensive renovations for up to 18 months before they move in.
‘The first order of business is a complete makeover — physically and spiritually,’ the couple’s spokesman Stu Loeser told the New York Times.
The couple has enlisted interior designers Timothy Haynes and Kevin Roberts to remodel the mansion, which Loeser says they see as ‘a place with a lot of potential’
The 28,000 square-foot, 40-room mansion is considered the largest single-family home in New York City. It has 10 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms.
Former Goldman Sachs executive Michael D. Daffey has enlisted interior designers Timothy Haynes and Kevin Roberts to remodel the mansion. One of the rooms in the 28,000 square-foot property is pictured as it is currently decorated
The 40-room mansion is considered the largest single-family home in New York City. It has 10 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms
Michael D. Daffey, 54, is ‘spiritually and physically’ renovating his newly purchased $51 million Upper East Side mansion that once belonged to Jeffrey Epstein
The home had been previously raided by the FBI in connection to deceased American financier Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex crimes
The mansion was infamously owned by pedophile Epstein, who was found dead in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
He had pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing girls as young as 14 and young women in New York and Florida in the early 2000s.
The home was raided by the FBI in July 2019 as part of a sex trafficking sting.
During the raid, federal authorities reportedly found thousands of graphic photos including of underage girls and a locked safe filled with compact discs labeled as ‘nude girls’.
They also found Epstein’s massage room set up just as several of his young victims had described it from years earlier, with a table and assortment of sex toys.
Hundreds of pinhole surveillance cameras were also found installed throughout the home so he could monitor his victim’s ‘private moments’ in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Epstein and his alleged madame Ghislaine Maxwell also entertained the rich and powerful at the home.
Multiple women claim Maxwell procured them for Epstein when they were underage and were taken to the mansion. Maxwell has denies the allegations.
The Daffeys are distancing themselves from the home’s former owner, clarifying they have no connection to Epstein.
‘Mr Daffey had never previously been in the home nor ever met its owner, but he is a big believer in New York’s future and will take the other side of all the people who say the city’s best days may be in the past,’ Loeser said.
Before moving in to the property the Daffeys plan on making extensive renovations that are expected to last 18 months
The Australian financier and his American wife, Blake Daffey, plan to move in to the seven-story, 28,000 square-foot, 40-room mansion he recently purchased for $51 million
Who is Michael Daffey?
Daffey recently retired as Chairman of the Global Markets Division at Goldman Sachs
Michael D. Daffey, was born and raised in Australia, and built his career in Goldman’s trading division.
He worked at the investment banking company from 1994 until retiring earlier this month.
Daffey rose to top roles including running equities sales globally as well as fixed income and foreign exchange sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
He was promoted last year from global co-chief operating officer of Goldman’s equities franchise to the newly-created role global markets chairman.
His Goldman salary is not public.
He also reportedly made serious profits as early investor in cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
The mansion entered the market with an $88 million asking price in July 2020 which was lowered to $65 million in January. The Duffeys closed on the house in early March for the discounted price of $51 million.
The property was sold by the Modlin Group. Founder Adam D. Modlin told the New York Times he could not discuss details of the sale due to a nondisclosure agreement.
Loeser told the Times that Daffey used a bridge loan and cash to purchase the property through the limited liability company Back to New York 71.
Daffey recently retired as Chairman of the Global Markets Division at Goldman Sachs.
He had worked at the investment banking company since 1994.
Daffey reportedly made serious profits as an early investor in Bitcoin and recently cashed in on his investment in the cryptocurrency.
In the wake of the purchase, the couple put their 6,350-square-foot, four- bedroom penthouse at 25 Bond Street in Noho on the market for $30 million.
The couple, who are believed to have four children together, are relocating from London where they have been based for the past 15 years.
Real estate broker Dolly Lenz, who was among those trying to sell Epstein’s property, told the New York Post the purchase price was probably about ‘half off’ what the mansion might have fetched.
‘It is 28,000 square feet. That’s less than $4,000 a foot for the most magnificent mansion on the best block, just off Fifth Avenue. It’s the very best in New York,’ Lenz said.
Even at the relatively low price, the home was a difficult sell, according to Lenz.
‘We offered it to a lot of people who said, “We don’t want to go near that place,”‘ Lenz said. ‘Fancy international people who are always in for a deal said “No way”.’
Lenz said she believed Daffey’s purchase was a good decision.
‘I think he made a smart move, however, it will be a long time before people forget it was a place were children were abused,’ Lenz said. ‘But he’s betting on it long term. That’s what some people do.’
The funds from the sale will be transferred to the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program, an attorney for the estate Dan Weiner said in a statement to CNN.
New claims will begin to be issued after claim payouts were suspended from the program on Feb. 4 by the independent administrator of the EVCP, Jordy Feldman.
Feldman plans to lift the suspension once she evaluates the financial situation surrounding the sale of the mansion.
‘We are eager to resume issuing compensation offers as soon as possible,’ Feldman said. ‘Once we have more information about the amount of funds that will be made available to the Program and when, I will decide when we can lift the suspension and get back to full Program operations.’
The mansion was previously owned by Epstein client and Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner.
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