Epstein Island - Little Saint James

The Island That Exposed a Global Network

Seen from above, Little Saint James is a teardrop of land in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Barely 70 acres in size, it is fringed with white-sand beaches, sharp coral reefs, and turquoise shallows that conceal steep drop-offs into the deep Atlantic.

From the air its manicured paths, private dock, solar arrays, and helipad stand out against the rugged tropical terrain, marking it as more than just another speck of paradise.

Geographically, the island sits at the meeting point of major sea lanes, close to the deepwater port of Charlotte Amalie and within sight of neighboring Great Saint James, which Epstein also purchased. Its isolation, yet proximity to transport hubs, made it ideal for both seclusion and access.

The compound itself included villas, guesthouses, maintenance facilities, and the much-discussed blue-and-gold “temple” structure, a geometric landmark visible from the sea and air that has drawn endless speculation.

From a technical perspective, aerial imagery shows carefully terraced landscaping, infrastructure for desalinated water and power generation, and high-security perimeters designed to keep prying eyes out.

Yet the island’s very visibility from satellites and passing aircraft ensured it could never remain completely hidden.

To most it is a tropical island. To others, it is the heart of a scandal that revealed how wealth and secrecy can conceal even the darkest crimes.