The Hidden Legacy of Jeffrey Epstein: A Diamond Ring and a Controversial Relationship
A Surprising Inheritance
Within the will of Jeffrey Epstein lies a remarkable 33-carat diamond ring, intended for a woman he planned to marry. This woman, as reported by various sources, is Dr. Karyna Shuliak, a 37-year-old dentist from Belarus who spent nearly eight years alongside Epstein and was the last person he spoke to before his death in 2019. Under Epstein's will, Shuliak could inherit up to $100 million, in addition to the diamond ring. For a long time, she managed to keep her association with Epstein largely under wraps. However, this changed in late January when the Justice Department unveiled three million pages of documents from its investigation into Epstein, revealing thousands of private messages and photographs that exposed a relationship she had kept secret for nearly a decade.
Not a Victim, Not a Co-Conspirator?
Not a Victim, Not a Co-Conspirator?
The review of these documents by various outlets portrays Shuliak as a unique figure in Epstein's life. She has never identified herself as one of his victims, nor have prosecutors classified her as part of his trafficking network. Instead, the messages indicate a relationship heavily influenced by financial support and dependency. Epstein referred to her as his favorite, provided her with a credit card for personal use, financed her travels around the globe, and transferred nearly a million dollars to her over the years, along with additional funds for her family in Belarus. Eventually, she took on significant responsibilities, overseeing his staff and properties, and even assisted in his attempt to acquire a Moroccan palace shortly before his arrest in 2019.
Their Initial Encounter
How They Met
Their paths first crossed in March 2011, just nine months after Shuliak arrived in New York from Belarus on a student visa. At that time, she was earning approximately $15 an hour as a dental assistant while striving to complete her dental education that she had started in her home country. A young woman from Siberia introduced them, who later mentioned that she had sometimes been asked to bring other women to Epstein for similar reasons. Epstein employed a familiar strategy, offering gifts and promising to assist her in achieving her dream of becoming a dentist. Initially, Shuliak declined his help, stating in a message weeks after their meeting that she could not accept his assistance, though she did not elaborate on her reasons. Epstein dismissed her reluctance as mere rumors and continued to pursue her. Within months, she had visited both his New Mexico ranch and his private island.
Education and Legal Maneuvers
Columbia, Citizenship, and a Marriage of Convenience
By 2012, Shuliak consented to Epstein's assistance in gaining admission to Columbia's dental school after an initial rejection. He reached out to a dentist who was an alumnus of Columbia and offered a donation to the university, ultimately contributing around $210,000. Reports indicate that school officials provided her with advance information regarding her transfer exam. Once she was admitted, Epstein covered her tuition for three years and arranged for her mother to visit from Belarus. Their relationship was not without its challenges, particularly concerning Epstein's ongoing interactions with other young women, which Shuliak requested to be shielded from, despite her insistence on remaining with him. With her visa expired, Epstein facilitated a marriage between Shuliak and one of his assistants from Minnesota in 2013, which provided her with a pathway to legal status. This marriage resulted in a green card, and by 2018, she obtained U.S. citizenship. The couple divorced within a year, and a congressional report released this year claims that the assistant felt pressured into the marriage without fully understanding its implications for Shuliak's deportation case.
Epstein's Last Days
Epstein's Final Days
By 2019, Shuliak was effectively cohabiting with Epstein and managing his households, despite having earned her dental license years earlier. In June, they traveled to Paris together. Epstein returned home in July and was arrested upon his arrival. Weeks later, during a phone call from jail, he informed her that the legal proceedings would take longer than anticipated and encouraged her to remain strong. He died by suicide the following morning. Shortly before his passing, Epstein amended his will to bequeath Shuliak a substantial portion of his estate, which was once valued at nearly $600 million. After compensating his victims, the estate's current worth is estimated between $120 million and $200 million, with numerous other beneficiaries also identified.