Jeffrey Epstein Look-Alike 'Palm Beach Pete' Goes Viral After NY Post Coverage

The 71-year-old Florida man says the comparisons started when The Post ran a photo of the powerful pedophile on its front page in 2019.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:04am

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A Jeffrey Epstein look-alike known as 'Palm Beach Pete' has gone viral on social media after someone filmed him driving his convertible in Florida, sparking conspiracy theories that the convicted sex offender was still alive. The 71-year-old Florida resident says the comparisons to Epstein started after The New York Post began extensively covering the sex trafficking case against the powerful financier in 2019. Pete, a former real estate executive and avid tennis player, says he has been constantly mistaken for Epstein while out in public, with tourists often circling around him.

Why it matters

The viral video of 'Palm Beach Pete' highlights the enduring fascination with Jeffrey Epstein and the conspiracy theories surrounding his death. It also demonstrates the power of the media, particularly tabloid outlets like The New York Post, to shape public perception and fuel speculation about high-profile figures. The story raises questions about the ethics of comparing ordinary citizens to notorious criminals based solely on their physical appearance.

The details

According to Pete, the comparisons to Epstein ramped up after The New York Post began extensively covering the sex trafficking case against the powerful financier in 2019. Pete, who was born on the Upper East Side and moved to Florida about two and a half years ago, says he would frequently be mistaken for Epstein while out in public, with tourists circling around him. This week, a video of Pete driving his convertible in Florida went viral, sparking fresh conspiracy theories that Epstein was still alive. Pete says he was simply on his way to a tennis match when the video was taken.

  • In 2019, The New York Post began extensively covering the sex trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein.
  • In the summer of 2019, Epstein died by suicide while in jail on sex trafficking charges.
  • In the last week, a video of 'Palm Beach Pete' driving his convertible in Florida went viral on social media.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender and financier who died by suicide in 2019 while in jail on sex trafficking charges.

'Palm Beach Pete'

A 71-year-old Florida resident who bears a striking resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein and has been frequently mistaken for him in public.

The New York Post

A prominent tabloid newspaper that extensively covered the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“It was the 'it' story, and I looked like him and I would be walking down Fifth Avenue, and tourists would circle around me and I felt that vibe, because I'm a New Yorker, so you get that vibe when people are doing stuff like that around you, and the Post was definitely part of that ammunition.”

— 'Palm Beach Pete'

“I don't feel good about it – I don't want to be associated with him. He was a monster, a terrible human being and I have nothing to do with that. It's kind of amusing that all this is going on because of how I look, but it's not who I am, obviously, and he's dead and he was just a bad, bad human being.”

— 'Palm Beach Pete'

The takeaway

This story highlights the power of the media, particularly tabloid outlets, to shape public perception and fuel speculation about high-profile figures. It also raises ethical questions about comparing ordinary citizens to notorious criminals based solely on their physical appearance, and the lasting impact that can have on individuals.