Jeffrey Epstein had a way of getting what he wanted. And in 2011, he wanted a Maserati.
Records released by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January show the convicted sex offender parlayed his connections to titans of industry and finance to amass a network of elites. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors – his second arrest for sexual misconduct.
The files suggest that Epstein attempted to build relationships with automotive executives, including John Elkann, the chairman of Stellantis and the CEO of Exor, Stellantis’ largest investor. One of Epstein’s associates, whose identity was redacted by the Justice Department, described Elkann as a “target,” though in emails included in the files Elkann doesn’t appear to have ever communicated with Epstein. A spokesperson for Elkann has declined to comment to the Detroit Free Press.
Epstein also sought Axel Dumas, the CEO of fashion house Hermès and a director of Exor. Dumas, who was approached several times by email with invitations to dinners, said earlier this year he also felt “targeted” by Epstein. A spokesperson for Dumas told the Free Press that he “systematically rejected” Epstein over the years.
Epstein makes auto industry connection
But one man connected to the Stellantis family of brands was quite close, the files show.
Eduardo Teodorani-Fabbri, a former board member of Maserati, Exor and Exor’s largest investor, Giovanni Agnelli B.V., maintained a years-long friendship with Epstein. In 2011, when he was a board member of Maserati, Teodorani-Fabbri helped Epstein purchase a brand-new Italian luxury car on the cheap, emails show.
How Epstein got a deal on a Maserati
When Epstein wanted a new Maserati then, he asked his people to work out a deal with Teodorani-Fabbri.
Teodorani-Fabbri’s assistant sent a message on Nov. 17, 2011, to Epstein’s assistant under the subject line “Maserati for Jeffrey Epstein.”
“I had a message from Maserati HQ in Modena (Italy) yesterday, stating that this was going to be dealt with by the President’s office,” she said.
In the same time period, Epstein received emails from his pilot, who appears to have been brokering the purchase of a vehicle from Maserati of Manhattan.
Over the next few days, the pilot forwarded emails to Epstein from Michael Bellina, the general manager of Maserati of Manhattan.
Bellina said in the emails that the president of Maserati would be setting the price, saying that the largest discount the brand could usually offer on a 2012 model year car – the newest batch of vehicles at the time – was $5,000. At the time, new Maseratis cost between $150,000 and $200,000.
“I have a feeling you are going to get a much larger discount than that,” Bellina wrote, adding that the “president of Maserati is going to give me your price once we pick a car.”
Four days later, Bellina returned with the details of the bargain, according to an email forwarded to Epstein.
“Maserati will sell any in stock car for you at invoice,” Bellina wrote, offering a discount of over $15,000.
Bellina, who is now the general manager at a different Maserati dealership, told the Free Press recently in an email he does not recall the transaction.
“I honestly don’t recall selling a car to Mr. Epstein or doing a deal on his behalf and up until recent news I had no idea who he was,” Bellina said, adding that “there is nothing specific that I remember about a transa(c)tion.”
Bellina said it was not uncommon at the time to dole out referral deals and discounted prices for special clients at Maserati of Manhattan.
“We were never given instructions on pricing but invoice pricing for a referral or previous clients was not uncommon,” Bellina said.
A spokesperson for Stellantis and Maserati declined to comment. Efforts to reach Teodorani-Fabbri were unsuccessful.
Liam Rappleye covers Stellantis and the UAW for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him: LRappleye@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Epstein needed a fancy car. So he called on pal in the auto industry.
Reporting by Liam Rappleye, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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