Newly disclosed correspondence from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reveals that Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted financier, explored purchasing a private aircraft from Mark Rovan, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, approximately eight years ago. The documents, published late last week, underscore the extensive network Epstein maintained within the U.S. financial elite.
In January 2016, an Epstein representative contacted Rovan’s office regarding a Gulfstream G450 that Rovan had listed for sale, according to the emails reported by Bloomberg. The inquiry sought flight hours, photographs, and other essential details for the aircraft, which was based at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
Details provided by Hagerty Jet Group indicated the Gulfstream G450 was in "impeccable condition" and slated for a sale price near $18.95 million. While the transaction ultimately did not materialize, the exchange serves as a marker of the significant capital Epstein commanded, even following his prior guilty plea in Florida related to sex offenses.
This revelation gains context given Apollo’s ongoing reputational scrutiny stemming from the close ties between its former CEO, Leon Black, and Epstein. Rovan, who later succeeded Black as Apollo CEO, reportedly maintained correspondence with Epstein on various matters, including financial and accounting issues.
Further documents confirm that Rovan organized meetings with Epstein on multiple occasions, including at least two instances in 2016, coinciding with the jet purchase inquiry. These interactions occurred after Epstein’s initial conviction, suggesting his status as a desirable contact persisted within certain high-net-worth circles.
The DOJ released these materials following a Congressional mandate to disclose records related to cases of significant public interest. While the files offer granular detail on Epstein’s dealings, a substantial portion of the newly released material remains redacted or entirely blacked out.
