Documents contained in recently released Epstein files show that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein quietly helped finance the development of a luxury Manhattan condominium building that later attracted high-profile buyers, including Chelsea Clinton, NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, and entertainer Jennifer Lopez, as reported[1] by The New York Post.
The building, located at 21 East 26th Street in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood overlooking Madison Square Park, was converted from a historic structure into a boutique luxury residence known as the Whitman.
According to records and emails reviewed in the Epstein files, Epstein invested in the project years before the building’s units were offered for sale.
Chelsea Clinton lives in an A-list NYC condo building that Jeffrey Epstein secretly funded.
— Epstein File Search (@epsteinsearchin) March 6, 2026[3]
The five-story Neo-Georgian building was redesigned into four full-floor residences along with a duplex penthouse. The limited number of units and full-floor layouts were marketed as luxury features when sales launched in 2013.
According to reporting first highlighted by The Real Deal, developer David Mitchell offered Epstein an opportunity to participate in the project in 2011 through an early investment structure.
Emails show Mitchell pitching the opportunity directly to Epstein.
“I think this is attractive because most of the risk of approvals and asbestos removal is behind,” Mitchell wrote in a 2011 email discussing the deal. “No guarantees, but should be good.”
Documents indicate Epstein invested approximately $920,000 into the development through a stake in the project’s sponsor entity, along with a smaller limited-partner position.
That structure provided him access to profit participation typically reserved for developers involved in the project.
Correspondence included in the files suggests Epstein moved quickly to finalize the investment.
Conceptual editorial image showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on the screen. For editorial use only. New York U.S 24.07.2025
“I’m closing today on your deal, with no due diligence. I am merely relying on your representations. thanks and good luck,” Epstein wrote in a message to Mitchell.
Additional emails show Epstein even expressed interest in acquiring the building’s penthouse rather than receiving a share of the project’s profits.
“I would like to do a similar Soho House type deal, take the penthouse instead of profit, but only if convenient,” Epstein wrote in one email reviewed in the documents.
Mitchell responded that such an arrangement would be difficult because the investment structure had already been finalized and included other participants.
Financial projections distributed among investors at the time suggested the development, which cost roughly $32 million, could generate more than $54 million in total sales.
The projections reflected a strengthening Manhattan luxury real estate market following the financial crisis.
The building’s units were quickly purchased once sales opened in 2013.
Jeff Gordon purchased the second-floor unit for $10 million that year. According to StreetEasy records, Gordon later sold the residence in 2023 for $13.5 million.
Chelsea Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, also purchased a residence in the building in 2013 for $9.25 million. The couple continues to own the apartment.
The Clinton-Mezvinsky residence spans roughly 5,000 square feet and includes four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and an additional powder room.
1) Hillary Clinton “I never met Jeffrey Epstein — I knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually as an acquaintance”
This is a lie
2) Here’s Ghislaine Maxwell at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding. Maxwell was supposed to be in a court hearing but she got “excused” and showed up at this wedding the… pic.twitter.com/znjjxsRWtG[5]
The apartment stretches the length of an entire city block and features ceilings rising more than 12 feet.
The building’s most prominent unit was the duplex penthouse, which contains roughly 6,000 square feet of interior living space along with several thousand square feet of outdoor terrace areas.
That penthouse eventually sold to Jennifer Lopez for nearly $20 million. Lopez later sold the unit in 2024 for $23 million after the property remained on the market for nearly seven years.
Documents reviewed in the Epstein files indicate Epstein’s investment was projected to produce a return of more than $1.6 million, representing nearly an 80 percent gain depending on the final sale prices of the units, particularly the penthouse.
Additional records show the building was used for events before the residential units were publicly marketed.
A 2012 invitation circulated by Jamie and David Mitchell promoted an election-night gathering at the address following the presidential election that year.
“Jamie and David Mitchell invite you to celebrate the 45th presidential election! LIVE FREE DANCE FREE,” the invitation read. The event was scheduled for Nov. 6, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at 21 East 26th Street.
Documents do not confirm whether the event took place. The election occurred shortly after Superstorm Sandy struck New York City, leaving large areas of Manhattan without electricity.
The building’s location fell within the “south of power” zone, which experienced widespread outages.
Emails included in the documents indicate Epstein continued communicating with the developer as the project progressed. In one brief message responding to Mitchell, Epstein wrote simply: “Call my cell.”
