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Belarusian-born dentist Karyna Shuliak, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime companion and heir to his USD 100 million estate, was among his closest confidantes, managing his properties and personal affairs in his final years.
Jeffrey Epstein and Karyna Shuliak met in 2011, when she was 21 and he was 58. (Photo: US Justice Department)
Karyna Shuliak, a Belarusian-born dentist and Jeffrey Epstein's longtime companion and the primary beneficiary of his final trust, has returned to public attention as scrutiny deepens into around three million pages of US Department of Justice files released in early 2026, shedding fresh light on her relationship with the disgraced financier. Just before his death, Epstein named Shuliak as the heir to his assets worth up to USD 100 million, including luxury properties and a multi-million-dollar diamond ring.
Latest records portray Shuliak as one of the closest figures in Epstein's inner circle during the final eight years of his life. They show her not only as his romantic partner but also as a confidante, property manager and financial dependent. The files also reveal how Epstein shaped nearly every aspect of her adult life, from her education and immigration status to her professional career and financial security.
NAMED HEIR TO EPSTEIN'S MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR ESTATE
According to the documents, Epstein amended his will just days before his death by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019, naming Shuliak the chief beneficiary of a trust estimated to be worth up to USD 100 million (around Rs 962 crore). The estate included his Manhattan townhouse, an apartment in Paris, a ranch in New Mexico, private islands in the US Virgin Islands and a 32-carat diamond ring purchased for USD 1.2 million "in contemplation of marriage," the New York Times reported.
Despite being designated as the principal heir, Shuliak is unlikely to receive the inheritance. Large portions of Epstein's estate, estimated to be worth between USD 120 million and USD 200 million, have been frozen and are being used to fund compensation for victims of his sex-trafficking and abuse.
The Justice Department files identify Shuliak as the last person Epstein spoke to before his death. While they place her at the centre of his personal and financial world, investigators have not accused her of participating in Epstein's criminal activities. Nor has she been identified as one of his victims.
FROM BELARUS TO NEW YORK
Shuliak's association with Epstein began after she moved from Belarus to New York. Originally a dental student at Minsk University, she travelled to the US on a student visa to study English while working as a dental assistant. Epstein, who was known to favour women from Eastern Europe, invited her to the US, promising to help her continue her education and secure her immigration status.
The two met in 2011, when Shuliak was 21 and Epstein was 58. Their relationship continued until Epstein's death in 2019.
The documents suggest Epstein played a decisive role in shaping Shuliak's professional future. After Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine initially rejected her application, Epstein used his wealth, donations and influential associates to help secure her admission through what investigators described as an irregular admissions process.
According to the records, Epstein arranged a donation of about USD 210,000 to the university and enlisted prominent alumni connected to the dental school to support her application. He also financed her tuition, allowing Shuliak to complete her dental education and later obtain licences to practise in the US Virgin Islands, Florida, New Mexico and eventually New York.
A SHAM MARRIAGE TO SECURE US RESIDENCY
The files further reveal how Epstein helped Shuliak remain in the US by arranging a same-sex marriage with one of his female associates after she overstayed her student visa.
The marriage took place in October 2013, just days before Shuliak's scheduled deportation hearing. According to congressional investigators, the union was potentially "illusory" and designed to help her obtain permanent residency. The couple also maintained joint bank accounts and travelled together to reinforce the appearance of a genuine marriage.
Shuliak became a naturalised US citizen in May 2018 before divorcing her spouse the following year. Although congressional investigators later questioned the legitimacy of the marriage, US immigration authorities have not challenged her citizenship.
MANAGING EPSTEIN'S ASSETS, EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCE
Beyond their personal relationship, the newly released files show that Shuliak became deeply involved in Epstein's day-to-day affairs. Emails and investigative records indicate she managed household staff, supervised renovation and interior design projects, coordinated deliveries and oversaw logistics across several of Epstein's residences.
Her responsibilities extended to Little St James, Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, where she oversaw the installation of a fully equipped dental office after qualifying as a dentist. Staff members viewed her as one of the most trusted managers within Epstein's organisation because of her extensive involvement in his personal affairs, the NYT reports.
The documents also describe a relationship marked by emotional dependence and substantial financial support. Epstein is found to have transferred nearly USD 1 million to Shuliak during their relationship and sent tens of thousands of dollars to her parents in Belarus. He is also said to have paid for her mother's medical treatment in New York and helped improve her family's living conditions.
Emails released by investigators show Shuliak expressing affection for Epstein and thanking him for supporting both her education and her family. In one message cited in the files, she described him as "the purest man out of all men."
SHULIAK AWARE OF EPSTEIN'S DEALS
At the same time, the records suggest Shuliak was aware of aspects of Epstein's conduct. She was a frequent passenger aboard Epstein's private jet, commonly known as the 'Lolita Express' and regularly visited several of his properties, including Little St James.
Private correspondence indicates that while she objected to Epstein's relationships with other young women, she did not directly challenge the conduct itself. Instead, she asked that such encounters be kept away from her.
In one 2012 email cited in the documents, she wrote, "If that is not a lot to ask, please enjoy it but keep me away from it. I will stay with you no matter what, as long as you are happy".
Despite these revelations, investigators have not identified Shuliak as a co-conspirator in Epstein's sex-trafficking operation and the files contain no indication that the FBI formally interviewed her during its investigation.
LIFE AFTER EPSTEIN'S DEATH
Following Epstein's death, Shuliak largely withdrew from public life while continuing her dental career. She completed additional training at Columbia University, received her New York dental licence in November 2025 and began working part-time at a dental practice in Brooklyn under the name "Dr Karyna."
That anonymity ended after the Justice Department released its cache of investigative records in early 2026, including thousands of emails and photographs documenting her years with Epstein.
According to the documents, patients recognised her following widespread media coverage of the files. She stopped reporting to the Brooklyn dental clinic shortly after the records became public.
FORTUNE OUT OF REACH DESPITE BEING NAMED BENEFICIARY
The newly released documents stop short of alleging criminal wrongdoing by Shuliak. Instead, they portray a woman whose education, immigration status, career and lifestyle were heavily shaped by one of the most notorious sex offenders in modern American history.
Although Epstein intended to leave her a fortune worth up to USD 100 million and named her as the principal beneficiary of his trust, the freezing of his estate means the wealth that once appeared destined for Shuliak is expected to instead go towards compensating the survivors of his abuse.
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Published On:
Jul 27, 2026 09:00 IST
