Jeffrey Epstein’s Eugenic Fantasies

Amongst the most disturbing elements of the Epstein case was his vision for his New Mexico estate, Zorro Ranch, which he described to associates as a potential site for personal eugenics experiments. Eugenics is a set of beliefs and practices – used, for instance, by the Nazis during the Third Reich – that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population. According to multiple accounts, Epstein intended to impregnate numerous women with his sperm in order to propagate his DNA across generations – a plan he tended to frame in quasi-scientific language.

Epstein acquired Zorro Ranch in 1993 from the family of former New Mexico governor Bruce King. The property spans more than 7,000 acres south of Santa Fe and includes a roughly 26,000-square-foot mansion, a private airstrip, extensive underground areas, and numerous auxiliary buildings. Epstein reportedly referred to the property as a future “baby ranch,” telling some acquaintances that as many as 20 women could be housed there at a time. While there is no hard evidence that such a program was ever implemented, the idea itself is documented mainly in journalistic reporting and in recollections of those who knew him.

Survivors have long alleged that Zorro Ranch was a site of sexual abuse. Annie Farmer, the sister of Marie Farmer, stated that she was sexually abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a visit to the ranch in the mid-1990s. Virginia Giuffre has also said she experienced abuse connected to Epstein and his network there.

Epstein cultivated relationships with prominent scientists and intellectuals in fields including genetics, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and physics, and he provided funding to several research institutions. In conversations, some of which were later reported by journalists, he expressed admiration for ideas associated with heredity, intelligence, and human enhancement. The New York Times reported that Epstein spoke explicitly about wanting to “seed the human race with his DNA”.

After Epstein’s death in 2019, federal authorities executed search warrants at several of his properties, but notably there was no FBI raid on Zorro Ranch. The absence of a comprehensive forensic search has remained a point of controversy. The ranch itself sat largely unused for several years. It was publicly listed in 2021, failed to sell at the asking prices reported at the time, and was ultimately sold at auction in August 2023 to San Rafael Ranch LLC for an undisclosed sum.

The buyer was later identified as members of the family of Don Huffines, a former Texas state senator and real-estate developer. The new owners renamed the property Rancho San Rafael and announced plans to convert it into a Christian retreat centre, installing religious signage at the entrance. The symbolic transformation of the site has drawn criticism from some survivors and advocates, who argue that the property’s past has not been adequately investigated.

In early 2026, the New Mexico Attorney General reopened an investigation into alleged crimes connected to the ranch, citing survivor testimony, newly reviewed records, and unresolved questions about prior law-enforcement inaction. Among the allegations under review are claims of long-concealed criminal activity on the property.