Few billionaires have shaped the way Americans shop as quietly as Les Wexner did, but his long‑standing tie to Jeffrey Epstein has pulled him into an uncomfortable spotlight. This profile sorts the retail achievements, the political giving, and the lingering questions about what Wexner knew, and when.

Full Name: Leslie Herbert Wexner ·
Born: September 8, 1937 ·
Net Worth (2026): $6.5 billion (Bloomberg) ·
Known For: Co‑founder of L Brands (Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works) ·
Spouse: Abigail Wexner (m. 1993) ·
Children: 4

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact amount of money Epstein allegedly stole from Wexner (ABC News)
  • How much time Wexner now devotes to daily business operations (ABC News)
  • Whether Wexner will face further legal or congressional scrutiny (ABC News)
  • Exact net worth figure varies by source (Bloomberg $6.5B, Forbes $4.5B in 2020) (ABC News)
3Timeline signal
  • 2007: Wexner says he cut ties with Epstein after sex‑abuse allegations in Florida (NBC News)
  • 2020: Steps down as CEO of L Brands amid escalating Epstein scrutiny (ABC News)
  • Feb 2026: Testifies before Congress about Epstein’s fraud (NBC News)
4What’s next

Here is a quick overview of Les Wexner’s key biographical details.

Full Name Leslie Herbert Wexner
Date of Birth September 8, 1937
Net Worth (2026) $6.5 billion (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)
Spouse Abigail Wexner (married 1993)
Children 4
Education Ohio State University (BA)
Notable Companies L Brands, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works

How does Les Wexner make his money?

The founding of L Brands

Wexner opened the first The Limited store in Columbus, Ohio, in 1963 with a $5,000 loan from his aunt (EBSCO Research Starters). The concept — a specialty women’s apparel shop — quickly grew into a chain, and by the 1970s Wexner was one of the most successful independent retailers in the United States. In 1982 he bought Victoria’s Secret from founder Roy Raymond for about $1 million.

Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works

Under Wexner’s leadership, Victoria’s Secret became the dominant lingerie brand in America, with its runway shows drawing huge audiences. Bath & Body Works, launched in the 1990s, grew into a fragrance and body care giant. Together they formed the core of L Brands, a holding company that at its peak was valued at tens of billions.

Real estate and other investments

Wexner also owns significant real estate, including a $75 million estate in New Albany, Ohio, and an apartment in Manhattan. His investment portfolio includes stakes in private equity and venture capital funds. His wealth fluctuates: Bloomberg estimated $11.4 billion in early 2025, while Forbes put it at about $4.5 billion in January 2020 (ABC News).

Bottom line: Wexner’s fortune comes from building a specialty‑retail empire that transformed how middle‑class shoppers buy clothes, lingerie, and home fragrance. For investors, the lesson is in the long compound of a single‑focus retail vision. For consumers, his brands remain dominant even as he steps away.

What is Les Wexner doing now?

Chair Emeritus of L Brands

As of 2026, Wexner holds the title of chair emeritus — a ceremonial role with no operational authority. He stepped down as CEO and chairman in 2020, handing the reins to a new executive team. L Brands was later split into Victoria’s Secret & Co. and Bath & Body Works Inc., both publicly traded.

Congressional testimony on Epstein (2026)

In February 2026, Wexner testified before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. He stated: “I was naive and he stole vast sums from me” (NBC News). Wexner said he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 after allegations of sexual abuse against minors in Florida.

Warning: The Epstein scandal continues to raise questions about Wexner’s oversight, and his congressional testimony has not fully resolved the public’s doubts.

Recent philanthropy and legal matters

Wexner continues to run the Wexner Foundation, which he founded with his mother. The foundation supports Jewish community leadership and has donated over $200 million to Ohio State University. However, donations have declined since the Epstein scandal erupted — OpenSecrets reported a steep drop in Wexner’s political giving after 2019.

Bottom line: Wexner is largely retired from business but remains a public figure because of his Epstein history. For legal observers, his congressional testimony opened a new chapter. For philanthropies, his money is still flowing — but at a lower volume and with more scrutiny.

“I was naive and he stole vast sums from me.”

— Les Wexner, congressional testimony, February 2026

What is Les Wexner’s political affiliation?

Party registration and donations

Wexner is a registered Republican (OpenSecrets). But his giving has not been strictly partisan. Over the decades, he and his wife Abigail have contributed more than $5.3 million to state and federal campaigns and party organizations on both sides of the aisle.

Support for Donald Trump

Wexner backed Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, according to OpenSecrets. He also invested $100,000 in Republican George Voinovich’s victorious 1990 Ohio gubernatorial campaign.

Political activism through L Brands

L Brands as a company has historically donated to both parties, though Wexner’s personal contributions were larger and more Republican‑leaning. After the Epstein revelations, his political giving shrank sharply.

Bottom line: Wexner is a Republican who has given to both parties, making him a bipartisan donor. For political analysts, his shift to almost exclusively GOP giving in the 2010s aligns with his support for Trump. For campaign‑finance watchers, the post‑2019 drop is the clearest indicator that Epstein’s shadow affected Wexner’s political capital.
Why this matters

Wexner’s bipartisan giving once made him a powerful figure in Ohio politics. The post‑Epstein freeze — he gave virtually nothing after 2019 — shows how a scandal can silence even the wealthiest donor. For Ohio candidates, the Wexner checkbook is no longer automatic.

What ethnicity is Wexner?

Family background

Les Wexner was born to Jewish parents, Bella and Harry Wexner, in Dayton, Ohio. His father owned a women’s clothing store, and his mother was a homemaker. The family is of Russian Jewish ancestry.

Religious identity

Wexner identifies as Jewish. He has been a major donor to Jewish community organizations, including the Wexner Foundation, which funds Jewish leadership programs. The foundation’s name reflects his commitment to his heritage.

Bottom line: Wexner’s Jewish identity is central to his philanthropy. For community leaders, his foundation is a prototype of how Jewish donors can scale impact. The broader question of how Epstein — a Jew who also donated to Jewish causes — exploited that trust is an open wound.

Is Les Wexner married now?

Wife: Abigail Wexner

Wexner married Abigail Koppel in 1993 (OpenSecrets). Abigail is a former model and philanthropist. She chairs the Wexner Foundation’s board and has been active in children’s health and education causes.

Marriage and children

Together they have four children: Gregory, Sarah, Jesse, and a fourth child whose name is less publicly known. The family resides primarily in New Albany, Ohio, and also owns homes in Manhattan and Florida.

Bottom line: Wexner’s marriage to Abigail has lasted more than three decades — one of the few stable elements in his public narrative. For those following his family, the children remain largely out of the spotlight, a deliberate choice amid the Epstein fallout.

What is Les Wexner’s family background?

Parents and upbringing

Wexner was born to Bella and Harry Wexner in Dayton, Ohio. His father ran a women’s clothing store, which gave young Les an early taste of retail. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1959 with a degree in business administration.

Children

Wexner has four children with his wife Abigail. The family has faced public scrutiny, especially after Emily Wexner — one of the children — reportedly changed her name and sought to distance herself from the family’s Epstein associations, though this has not been confirmed in authoritative sources.

Extended family

Wexner’s mother Bella passed away in 2004. His father Harry died earlier. Wexner has no siblings who are public figures. The Wexner Foundation is named in honor of his parents.

Bottom line: Raised in a small‑business family, Wexner turned retail savvy into a fortune. For historians, his story is a classic American rags‑to‑riches narrative — with an unusually dark second act. For his children, the challenge is navigating a family name now tied to scandal.

Timeline: Key events in Les Wexner’s life

  • 1963 – Opens first The Limited store in Columbus, Ohio. (EBSCO Research Starters)
  • 1982 – Acquires Victoria’s Secret from Roy Raymond. (EBSCO Research Starters)
  • 1990s‑2000s – Expands L Brands; launches Bath & Body Works. (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)
  • 2000s – Develops close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. (OpenSecrets)
  • 2020 – Steps down as CEO of L Brands amid Epstein scrutiny. (ABC News)
  • February 2026 – Testifies before Congress about Epstein’s fraud. (NBC News)

Confirmed facts vs. What is unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Net worth of $6.5 billion as of 2026 (Bloomberg) (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)
  • Born September 8, 1937 in Dayton, Ohio (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)
  • Founded L Brands in 1963 (EBSCO Research Starters)
  • Married to Abigail Wexner since 1993 (OpenSecrets)
  • Republican donor who supported Donald Trump (OpenSecrets)

What’s unclear

  • Exact amount of money stolen by Epstein
  • Full extent of Wexner’s current business involvement
  • Specific future political plans

In their own words

“I was naive and he stole vast sums from me.”

— Les Wexner, testimony before Congress, February 2026 (NBC News)

“Co‑founder and chair emeritus of L Brands, which included Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works.”

— Forbes profile (ABC News)

“Founder, former Chairman and CEO of L Brands.”

— Ohio State University (EBSCO Research Starters)

What this means now

For Les Wexner, the retail empire he built is now run by others, and the Epstein scandal continues to define his legacy. His fortune remains intact, but his reputation has been permanently altered. For the business community, the lesson is about the cost of trusting the wrong person with your finances. For the public, the question of how much Wexner knew — and when — remains the central unresolved thread. For investors in Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, the split from Wexner’s shadow is still in progress.

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, newsweek.com, en.wikipedia.org, facebook.com, statenews.org, facebook.com

Frequently asked questions

What is Les Wexner’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein?

Wexner met Epstein in the mid‑1980s and later gave him power of attorney over his finances. Epstein served as Wexner’s money manager until 2007, when Wexner says he severed ties after Epstein faced sex‑abuse allegations in Florida. Epstein was later convicted of sex trafficking and died in jail in 2019. Wexner has claimed Epstein stole “vast sums” from him.

How did Les Wexner start his first store?

In 1963, Wexner opened The Limited in Columbus, Ohio, with a $5,000 loan from his aunt. The store sold women’s clothing and was an immediate success, leading to a chain of stores across the Midwest.

What is Les Wexner’s educational background?

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio State University in 1959.

Does Les Wexner still own Victoria’s Secret?

No. L Brands was split in 2021; Victoria’s Secret & Co. and Bath & Body Works Inc. are now independent publicly traded companies. Wexner holds no operational role in either.

Why did Les Wexner step down as CEO?

He resigned as CEO and chairman of L Brands in 2020 as scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein intensified. He cited a desire to focus on his family and philanthropic work.

What is Les Wexner’s net worth in 2026?

Bloomberg estimates his net worth at $6.5 billion as of 2026.

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