Palm Beach Man Mistaken for Jeffrey Epstein Lookalike

Peter, known as "Palm Beach Pete," clarifies he is not the late financier and sex offender.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 7:21am

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A viral video of a man resembling the late Jeffrey Epstein sparked speculation that Epstein might still be alive. However, the man in the video, identified as Peter or "Palm Beach Pete," has come forward to clarify that he is not Epstein and is simply a lookalike. Peter is a former Division 1 tennis player and gold medalist who previously lived in New York City and made a brief appearance on "The Real Housewives of New York City."

Why it matters

The viral video highlighting the uncanny resemblance between Peter and the late Jeffrey Epstein fueled conspiracy theories that Epstein may have faked his own death. This case highlights the power of social media to spread misinformation and the need for individuals to verify facts before jumping to conclusions.

The details

Peter, also known as "Palm Beach Pete," took to social media to address the viral video and clear up the confusion. He explained that he was simply driving on I-95 in Florida when someone filmed him, unbeknownst to him, leading to the video going viral and sparking speculation that he was Epstein. Peter is a former Division 1 tennis player and gold medalist who previously lived and worked in New York City, even making a brief appearance on "The Real Housewives of New York City." He has confirmed that he has met Epstein at a party in the past, but the two never had a conversation.

  • On March 19, 2026, a viral video of Peter driving on I-95 in Florida sparked speculation that he was Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Peter, also known as "Palm Beach Pete," took to social media on the same day to clarify that he is not Epstein and is simply a lookalike.

The players

Peter

Also known as "Palm Beach Pete," he is a former Division 1 tennis player and gold medalist who previously lived and worked in New York City, even making a brief appearance on "The Real Housewives of New York City." He has confirmed that he has met Jeffrey Epstein at a party in the past, but the two never had a conversation.

Jeffrey Epstein

The late financier and sex offender who was found unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges on August 10, 2019. His death was ruled a suicide.

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What they’re saying

“Hey everybody, this is Palm Beach Pete. And my video went viral because some dude randomly filmed me while I was driving on I-95, unbeknownst to me. And the next thing I know, I'm a viral sensation. I had my phone down for about four hours and didn't know my phone was blowing up with all these comments from that video. So, it got a lot of traction. It's pretty crazy. Thanks. I'm not Jeffrey Epstein.”

— Peter, Also known as "Palm Beach Pete"

The takeaway

This case highlights the power of social media to spread misinformation and the need for individuals to verify facts before jumping to conclusions. While the viral video highlighting the uncanny resemblance between Peter and the late Jeffrey Epstein fueled conspiracy theories, Peter has come forward to clarify that he is simply a lookalike and not Epstein himself.