Two titans clashed in Palm Beach in 2004, each vying for the ultimate prize: the Maison de l’Amitie, an opulent oceanfront manse dripping with grandeur.
Unknown to many, this property became the centerpiece of an intense rivalry forged between former President Donald Trump and the disgraced late financier, Jeffrey Epstein.
Before Epstein’s notoriety exploded onto the world stage, he and Trump moved within the same elite circles, hobnobbing at lavish parties, jetting between destinations and sharing Florida neighborhood space.
However, their relationship took a dramatic turn when both set their sights on acquiring the Maison de l’Amitie, which ironically means “the House of Friendship” in French.
As bankruptcy loomed over this coveted property, which had been owned by nursing home magnate Abe Gosman, Trump and Epstein engaged in a fierce bidding war. Only one man would come out on top — Trump.
News of this 2004 fallout comes back into discussion, specifically those of Epstein’s network, as previously sealed court documents related to his criminal dealings were released last week.
Joseph Luzinski, the trustee handling the case, vividly remembered the high-stakes lobbying efforts made by both camps to sway the auction in their favor, the Washington Post reported.
Trump, then in the limelight with NBC’s “The Apprentice,” declared himself intent on winning “the finest piece of land in Florida and probably the US,” envisioning it as a crowning jewel in his portfolio.
His plan was to create “the second greatest house in America, Mar-a-Lago being the first” for ultimate resale.
In contrast, Epstein, known for his penchant for lavish properties, seemed keen on making this his home, attorney Harley Riedel told the outlet.
The auction day in November 2004 unfolded as a tense courtroom drama, with Trump deciding to participate directly via phone, which had come as a shock to the judge and the lawyers present, the court transcript obtained by The Post shows.
Attempts by Epstein’s lawyer to disqualify Trump by questioning his demands regarding title insurance were swiftly rejected by Judge Steven Friedman, setting the stage for a head-to-head bidding war.
Epstein made an opening bid of $37.25 million, but as the stakes escalated, he ultimately bowed out after Trump trumped his offer with a staggering $41.35 million bid.
Trump “had made up his mind to get it no matter the price,” Charles Tatelbaum, a lawyer for one of Gosman’s creditors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, told The Post at the time.
Luzinski likened the showdown to “two very large Palm Beach egos going at it,” underscoring the intensity of their rivalry.
Following Trump’s successful acquisition, speculation arose about any potential post-sale interactions between him and Epstein. Sources told the outlet that their relationship went south after the auction and their paths appeared to diverge drastically post-sale.
Four years later, Trump eventually sold the mansion to Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev for a staggering $95 million in 2008 — doubling his initial investment.
“I love breaking records,” Trump told the Palm Beach Post at the time. “And this is a record.”
A record, in fact, for a property that no longer exists.
A decade later, in 2016, the French Regency-style estate, which once held the title as one of the largest and most expensive homes in the United States — occupying a whopping 62,000 square feet — was demolished.
The property had 18 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms, a ballroom, a media room, an art gallery and three outbuildings: a barn and two houses for guests. There was also a pool and a hot tub.
A new, modern-style property was later built in its place.
Meanwhile, by late 2007, reports surfaced that Epstein had been banned from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort over alleged unsavory conduct involving underage girls.
“He would use the spa to try to procure girls. But one of them, a masseuse about 18 years old, tried to get her to do things,” an insider previously told Page Six. “Her father found out about it and went absolutely ape-[bleep]. Epstein’s not allowed back.”
Following Epstein’s second arrest in 2019, Trump, 77, acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein soured decades ago.
And without getting any into any specifics, Trump merely stated: he “was not a fan of his,” adding from the Oval Office at the time, “the reason doesn’t make any difference, frankly.”