British billionaire Sir James Goldsmith warned decades ago that Jeffrey Epstein was a sexual deviant, according to recent revelations. Goldsmith, a prominent financier and politician, reportedly told a confidant that Epstein was recruiting children for illicit activities, long before federal authorities caught up with the predator.
For Epstein, the Goldsmith family was a gateway to elite society, and he desperately wanted to be in their circle. The disgraced financier, who died in prison in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges, longed for a billionaire’s lifestyle and cultivated the family’s friends, bankers, business associates, and advisers. But Sir James Goldsmith, who was knighted by the Queen in 1976, remained wary of Epstein and even “despised” him, his daughter Jemima recently told the Guardian.
Goldsmith’s Early Warning About Epstein
Two decades before Epstein came under federal investigation, Goldsmith – who died in 1997 – told a confidant that Epstein was a “sexual deviant” who was recruiting children for illicit activities. Goldsmith “told me not to have anything to do with him, that he was a pervert, and he didn’t want him near any of us. He had four daughters to protect,” recalled the famous French architect Robert Couturier, who designed opulent homes for Goldsmith in New York and Mexico.
Goldsmith’s alleged warning came around 1987, years before complaints about Epstein’s solicitation of young girls for sex began filtering into federal law enforcement. Epstein’s network of pretty “girls” evolved into what authorities describe as a global sex-trafficking ring that catered to the ultra-rich and powerful. It would become a scandal that touched royals, politicians, business leaders, and celebrities.
The Goldsmith Family’s Elite Connections
The Goldsmith family’s elite connections provided Epstein with access to some of the most powerful people in the world. Sir James Goldsmith was a billionaire businessman and politician who moved in the highest circles of British and international society. His daughter Jemima Goldsmith was married to Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his son Zac Goldsmith is a prominent British politician.

Epstein’s association with the Goldsmiths allowed him to infiltrate a world of wealth and privilege that would have otherwise been out of reach. Despite Goldsmith’s warnings, Epstein managed to cultivate relationships with many of the family’s friends and associates, further expanding his network of influence.
Timeline of Warnings and Investigations
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Sir James Goldsmith warns that Epstein is a “sexual deviant” |
| 1997 | Sir James Goldsmith dies |
| 2005 | Federal investigation into Epstein’s solicitation of minors begins |
| 2008 | Epstein pleads guilty to state charges, registers as a sex offender |
| 2019 | Epstein arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges; dies in prison |
Key Takeaways
- Sir James Goldsmith warned about Epstein’s predatory behavior as early as 1987.
- Goldsmith described Epstein as a “sexual deviant” and “pervert” who recruited children.
- Epstein used the Goldsmith family to gain access to elite society.
- Despite warnings, Epstein continued his abuse for decades before facing justice.
FAQ
Who warned about Jeffrey Epstein being a sexual deviant?
British billionaire Sir James Goldsmith warned a confidant that Jeffrey Epstein was a “sexual deviant” who was recruiting children for illicit activities, according to French architect Robert Couturier.

When did Sir James Goldsmith issue the warning?
Goldsmith’s warning came around 1987, two decades before Epstein came under federal investigation for sex trafficking.
Why did Goldsmith warn about Epstein?
Goldsmith had four daughters and wanted to protect them from Epstein, whom he considered a pervert and did not want near his family.
