Karyna Shuliak, 37, known as the longtime girlfriend of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, stands to inherit a significant portion of his estate, potentially receiving up to $100 million. Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, reportedly named Shuliak as a major beneficiary in an amended will shortly before his death. Despite the estate’s estimated value shrinking to between $120 million and $200 million after settlements with Epstein’s victims, Shuliak remains among the principal heirs.

Shuliak met Epstein in 2011 in New York City, shortly after moving to the United States from Belarus on a temporary student visa. At the time, she was working modestly as a dental assistant and pursuing her goal of becoming a dentist. Investigative files released by federal authorities reveal that Epstein played a considerable role in advancing her dental career, including facilitating her admission to Columbia University’s dental school. Although initially rejected, Shuliak was accepted after Epstein leveraged his influence, with evidence showing he enlisted Columbia alumni and administrators to assist her application. Epstein also supported her financially, paying for her tuition, managing property, and providing nearly $1 million over several years.

In addition to academic support, Epstein helped Shuliak obtain U.S. citizenship through a same-sex marriage arranged primarily to circumvent immigration obstacles. The marriage took place in 2013 to a former Epstein assistant, but ended in divorce in 2019. Congressional Democrats have criticized the arrangement as a possible exploitation of the immigration system, although U.S. authorities have not challenged Shuliak’s citizenship status.

While their relationship spanned nearly eight years, federal authorities have not identified Shuliak as a victim or co-conspirator in Epstein’s offenses, and there is no public record of FBI interviews or legal depositions involving her. The extensive trove of emails and documents showcase both personal and professional interactions, including correspondence about their intimate relationship, discussions of birth control, and shared travel. Epstein often referred to Shuliak with affection, describing her as his "favorite," and provided her with access to significant financial resources, including a credit card for personal spending and luxurious trips.

Following Epstein’s 2019 arrest, Shuliak appeared to maintain a relatively low profile, working part-time as a dentist in Brooklyn and residing in a New York condominium linked to Epstein’s family. In recent years, she resumed efforts to practice dentistry, completing a postgraduate residency program at Columbia University and obtaining a New York dental license in late 2025. Two Columbia officials who facilitated her admission faced institutional repercussions after the release of investigative files, though the university stated Shuliak met all admission qualifications.

Despite her professional focus, Shuliak’s connection to Epstein emerged publicly when federal authorities released millions of pages of previously sealed documents earlier this year. The revelations prompted unease among some of her dental patients, one of whom expressed feeling misled after learning of Shuliak’s relationship with Epstein.

Shuliak has declined to comment publicly through her legal counsel. Mark Epstein, Jeffrey Epstein’s brother, acknowledged familiarity with Shuliak but offered only a brief statement wishing her well. Meanwhile, some individuals close to Shuliak have described her as genuinely affectionate toward Epstein throughout their relationship.