From Final Call To Fortune: Who Is Karyna Shuliak In Jeffrey Epstein's Will?

Details of Jeffrey Epstein’s will have resurfaced following the latest release of documents by the US Department of Justice, throwing fresh light on Karyna Shuliak, the Belarusian woman who was dating the disgraced financier at the time of his death and later emerged as the primary beneficiary of his estate.

Epstein’s will, signed just two days before his death by suicide in August 2019, created what is known as the “1953 Trust”, named after his year of birth. While Epstein’s estate was initially valued at around $450 million, recent court filings estimate its current worth at about $120 million after taxes, legal fees and restitution payouts.

The documents place Shuliak firmly at the centre of Epstein’s final days and financial legacy, raising

questions about her relationship with him and what she ultimately stands to inherit.

Who Is Karyna Shuliak?

Karyna Shuliak, now 36, is a dentist and was described in the newly released documents as Epstein’s closest confidante at the time of his death. According to reports cited in the filings, she was the last person to speak to Epstein on the phone before his suicide.

Also Read: ‘Not Witch Hunt’: US Lawmakers Say 6 ‘Likely Incriminated’ Names Found In Unredacted Epstein Files

The documents identify Shuliak as Epstein’s girlfriend and reveal that he had contemplated marrying her. Epstein wrote that he wanted her to receive his 33-carat diamond ring, which he intended as an engagement band.

Shuliak is believed to have met Epstein while living in Minsk, Belarus, before moving to the US in 2010 at the age of 20. Emails included in the document release show Epstein advising her on how to enter the US by presenting herself as a “cleaning lady”. In one email from 2012, Shuliak wrote to him, “I love you! You are the purest man out of all men.”

Epstein later funded her dentistry studies at Columbia University in New York. Her CV, also included in the files, listed her address as the headquarters of the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation. She later ran a dental practice on St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, close to Epstein’s private island, Little St James.

Epstein also hired a New York-based immigration lawyer to help Shuliak secure a green card and later US citizenship, which she obtained in 2018. The documents further state that Epstein financially supported Shuliak’s parents, sending them more than $20,000 a month and covering her mother’s cancer treatment. Shuliak is currently reported to be living in a Manhattan apartment owned by Epstein’s brother, Mark.

What Did Epstein Leave Her?

Under the terms of the 1953 Trust, Epstein directed that Shuliak receive $100 million from his estate, including a $50 million annuity set up for her benefit. He also intended to leave her a significant portion of his property holdings, including his New Mexico ranch, a Paris apartment, his New York townhouse and his two private islands.

Handwritten notes in the will indicate that the 33-carat diamond ring was meant for Shuliak “in contemplation of marriage”.

However, much of Epstein’s wealth has since been used to fund a compensation programme for his victims, which has paid out $121 million. Several of his remaining assets remain tied up in legal proceedings in the US Virgin Islands, meaning Shuliak is unlikely to receive the full extent of what Epstein originally intended.