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Epstein documents reveal shadowy intermediary
Millions of pages released by the US Department of Justice this year have spotlighted David Stern, a German businessman who spent nearly a decade connecting Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, and Jeffrey Epstein in China.
From gala dinners to royal circles
Stern's final public appearance with the Duke of York came in spring 2019 at a Shenzhen gala for Pitch@Palace China, the prince's startup contest. Dancers performed as investors watched, unaware the event would mark the initiative's last chapter. Within months, Prince Andrew withdrew from royal duties following a widely criticized BBC interview about his ties to Epstein, the American financier convicted of sex offenses.
Stern, captured briefly in official footage, had spent years operating behind the scenes. Emails in the DOJ files show Epstein introduced him to the Yorks in 2010, describing him as a well-connected China specialist. Ferguson later emailed someone identified only as "A," likely Andrew, praising Stern's advice and "great rolodex" for Chinese opportunities.
Financial troubles and derogatory remarks
Stern played a central role in managing Ferguson's debts, which she estimated at £6 million. While publicly assisting, he and Epstein privately mocked her in emails. Epstein suggested treating her "like a girlfriend who has cheated," to which Stern replied the tactic was "working."
The files also reveal Stern's frequent use of the abbreviation "P" in messages to Epstein, believed to stand for a vulgar term for women. In one 2009 email, he described a Beijing dinner where five women performed on the table, calling it "welcome to the new China."
Business ambitions and royal access
Stern positioned himself as a bridge between Epstein's financial network and Prince Andrew's royal influence. He proposed a London venture targeting wealthy Chinese investors, suggesting they "discreetly" involve Andrew to leverage his "aura and access." Though the plan stalled, Stern deepened his ties to the prince, accompanying him on official trade missions to China.
By 2016, Stern joined the board of Pitch@Palace and later St George's House, a charity founded by Prince Philip. Some trustees reportedly questioned his appointment due to his opaque background, but the role proceeded. The same year, he asked Epstein to be his child's godfather; Epstein declined, citing a prior promise to his goddaughter.
China connections and unfulfilled deals
Stern's appeal to both Epstein and Andrew hinged on his claimed ties to China's elite. Emails show him boasting of friendships with Ping An's president and relatives of former Chinese leaders, though no evidence confirms these relationships. Epstein, barred from China due to his conviction, relied on Stern to navigate opportunities there.
In 2015, Stern represented Evergrande in a failed bid for UK housebuilder Cala Homes. He also co-invested in the electric vehicle startup Canoo, which collapsed in 2025. Other schemes-including a quixotic plan to take over Deutsche Bank with Qatari backers-never materialized.
Whereabouts and unanswered questions
Stern's current location is unknown. In 2023, he updated his Companies House records to list the United Arab Emirates as his residence. The BBC's repeated attempts to contact him, as well as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, have gone unanswered. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
The DOJ files show their correspondence continued until late 2018, with Stern frequently asking Epstein, "When can I call you?"-a refrain echoing their decade-long dynamic.
