Art World Power Players Facing Fallout From Epstein Files

Collectors, museum leaders, and artists named in newly unsealed documents are resigning and facing investigations.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Justice's release of roughly 3 million additional Epstein files is triggering a new wave of fallout, as fresh details about the financier's ties to prominent figures in politics, finance, and the art world prompt investigations and resignations. Individuals who maintained contact with Epstein, especially after his 2008 conviction, are now facing renewed public and institutional accountability.

Why it matters

The art world, long intertwined with global wealth and power, has not been immune to the fallout from the Epstein scandal. The newly released files have intensified scrutiny of arts figures who were associated with the convicted sex offender, leading to high-profile departures from leadership positions at museums, auction houses, and other arts institutions.

The details

The newly unsealed Epstein documents help map the financier's extensive network of powerful associates and connections. While inclusion in the files is not proof of wrongdoing, the revelations have prompted investigations and resignations among individuals who maintained contact with Epstein, especially after his 2008 conviction. In the art world, figures named in the files include collector Thomas Pritzker, New York Academy of Art board chair Eileen Guggenheim, and artists Andres Serrano and Jeff Koons.

  • The DOJ released roughly 3 million additional Epstein files in early 2026.
  • Epstein was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in July 2019 and died by apparent suicide in August 2019.
  • Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, was sentenced to 20 years in U.S. prison for child sex trafficking in 2025.

The players

Thomas Pritzker

A former board chair of the Art Institute of Chicago who resigned as executive chairman of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation in February 2026, citing "terrible judgment" in maintaining contact with Epstein and Maxwell.

Jack Lang

The former French culture minister who resigned as president of the L'Institut du Monde Arab in February 2026 over his ties to Epstein, which were revealed in the latest document release.

David A. Ross

A curator who has helmed major museums, including the Whitney and ICA Boston, and stepped down as chair of the MFA art practice program at the School of Visual Arts in New York in February 2026 after his correspondence with Epstein came to light.

Kimbal Musk

The younger brother of Elon Musk, who appeared more than 100 times in the latest Epstein files and faced calls for his resignation from the Burning Man Project board in January 2026.

Leon Black

The billionaire who stepped down as chair of MoMA's board in March 2021 after revelations about his $158 million in payments to Epstein, and who later faced further scrutiny in the 2026 document release.

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What they’re saying

“I have exercised terrible judgment in maintaining a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.”

— Thomas Pritzker, Former Board Chair, Art Institute of Chicago

“I am ashamed that I fell for his lies.”

— David A. Ross, Former Chair, MFA Art Practice Program, School of Visual Arts

“I was naive, foolish, and gullible for trusting the late sex offender.”

— Les Wexner

What’s next

The FBI and other authorities are continuing to investigate the newly released Epstein files and their connections to prominent individuals in the art world and beyond.

The takeaway

The fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate through the art world, as powerful figures are forced to reckon with their ties to the convicted sex offender. This underscores the need for greater accountability and transparency among the elite circles of wealth and influence that have long dominated the art industry.