Dr. Karina Shuliak with Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Photo: U.S. Department of Justice
It happened last December. At a dental clinic in downtown Brooklyn, New York, a young female dentist was speaking politely with a smile. She was wearing a jacket, and her long hair was clipped back. An assistant introduced her to the patient simply as Karyna. However, the patient—Yunhe Kim—was unaware that the person treating her was Karyna Shuliak, the girlfriend of the notorious sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Before committing suicide in his jail cell in 2019, the last phone call Jeffrey Epstein made was to Shuliak. Investigation documents released by US federal authorities this year revealed that Shuliak stands to inherit assets worth up to $100 million from Epstein’s estate. These assets include a 33-carat diamond ring.
Despite being the heir to such vast wealth, Karyna Shuliak was working as a part-time dentist at that ordinary clinic in downtown Brooklyn—a fact confirmed by several current and former dentists there. However, her attempt to return to a normal life was short-lived. Shortly thereafter, the US Department of Justice released 3 million pages of documents and emails gathered during the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents, released in late January of this year, contained thousands of personal emails exchanged between Shuliak and Epstein, as well as several photographs—some showing them together and others featuring Shuliak alone. These revelations brought their relationship, which had spanned nearly eight years, into the public eye. Shuliak subsequently stopped working at the clinic.
A review of these emails revealed that Shuliak would occasionally send links to pornographic videos to Epstein. Furthermore, some emails mention discussions between them regarding birth control pills, acne medication, and various medical treatments. However, despite their closeness, Shuliak also clashed and argued with Epstein over his sex life.
A detailed review of documents and conversations with individuals familiar with the situation reveal that 37-year-old Karyna Shuliak is a complex and unique figure in Epstein’s world. She was 21 years old when she met Epstein; she was born in Belarus.
Shuliak never portrayed herself as a victim of Epstein’s abuse. Nor did US federal authorities ever consider her a co-conspirator in Epstein’s sex-trafficking activities. There is no record of the FBI ever questioning Shuliak; furthermore, lawyers representing Epstein’s victims never sought her testimony or a deposition.
Epstein once referred to Karyna Shuliak as his “dearest” and frequently spoke of his love for her. Shuliak held a credit card that allowed her to make purchases at her own discretion, and the two traveled together to various countries on private jets.
According to investigative records, Epstein paid her approximately $1 million over the years. He also sent thousands of dollars to her parents in Belarus.
Over time, Shuliak gained enough of Epstein’s trust to assist in managing his assets and staff. She even played a key role in the effort to purchase a palace in Morocco just weeks before Epstein’s arrest in 2019.
While Epstein held the reins of the relationship, there is little doubt that Shuliak benefited significantly—professionally, personally, and financially.
Emails released last January revealed new details, including how Epstein helped Shuliak gain admission to Columbia University’s dental school. He also facilitated a marriage between Shuliak and another woman to help her quickly obtain US citizenship.
In one email, Epstein wrote that a same-sex marriage was the fastest way to secure a green card.
Earlier this year, Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress alleged that Epstein had abused the US immigration system. They describe Shuliak’s marriage to an American woman (which later ended in divorce) as a sham. However, US immigration authorities have not raised any objections regarding the process by which Shuliak obtained US citizenship.
Until the spring of this year, Shuliak was living in a condominium building on New York’s Upper East Side. Epstein’s brother, Mark Epstein, holds a financial stake in that building.
Through her lawyer, Karina Shuliak stated that she is unwilling to comment on the matter.
A friend of Shuliak in Belarus, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they believe Shuliak genuinely loved Jeffrey Epstein. This friend had once shared an apartment with Shuliak in Brooklyn but did not disclose their name for the sake of privacy.
How They Met
When Karyna Shuliak met Epstein in late March 2011, she had been in New York for only nine months, having arrived from Belarus on a student visa. Alongside studying English at a Manhattan institution, she worked as a dental assistant earning about $15 an hour and was simultaneously applying for jobs as a waitress. Her goal was to continue the dental studies she had begun in Belarus here in the United States.
According to investigative records, a young woman from Siberia introduced Shuliak to Epstein. This young woman told *The New York Times* that she was occasionally asked to bring other young women to Epstein; it is believed he wanted them to provide sexually suggestive massages. It is thought that he had similar intentions regarding Shuliak.
The young woman from Siberia described herself as a victim of Epstein’s abuse and asked *The New York Times* to keep her identity confidential. She said she had sent Epstein a photograph of Karyna Shuliak, noting that Shuliak was beautiful. After several exchanges, it was arranged that the young woman, Shuliak, and a roommate of Shuliak’s (also from Belarus) would visit Epstein’s Manhattan mansion to meet him.
In one email, the young woman advised Epstein to “take it slow.”
According to investigative records, Epstein employed the same tactics with Shuliak that he used with other women. He complimented her, offered various perks, and tried to win her over. Shortly after their initial meeting, he offered to help Shuliak fulfill her dream of becoming a dentist.
However, the emails reveal that for at least the first few months of their acquaintance, Shuliak objected to various proposals and overtures made by Epstein and did not readily agree to them.
A few weeks after meeting him, Karina Shuliak sent an email to Epstein. In it, she wrote that she considered him an “extraordinary person.” However, she added, “Due to certain deeply held beliefs, I cannot accept your help, no matter how irrational that may seem.”
Shuliak concluded by writing, “I wish you well. I apologize if I have wasted your time.”
Shuliak did not explicitly state what exactly had bothered her. However, they met after serious allegations had already surfaced against Epstein. He had previously been convicted on charges of soliciting a minor in Florida for sexual purposes. Additionally, he faced accusations of sexually abusing several other teenage girls.
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In response to the email, Epstein urged Shuliak not to “listen to rumors.”
Shuliak then wrote, “This world can be very cruel at times. Often, we have to pay the price for our actions. I must say, I have read some information about you.”
Epstein was 58 years old at the time. He did not accept Shuliak’s “no” as a final answer. Emails released by federal prosecutors reveal that Epstein arranged tickets for the Broadway musical *The Lion King* and dinner reservations at various restaurants for Karina Shuliak and her roommate. He also took Shuliak on a helicopter tour over Manhattan.
By July 2011, Shuliak had visited Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico. A few months later, she also visited his private island residence in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How Epstein assisted Shuliak
Shuliak had dreamed of becoming a dentist since childhood. *The New York Times* reviewed an essay she wrote regarding her dental school application; in it, she stated that the dental issues faced by her family members and the poor oral health of people in Belarus inspired her to pursue this profession. She had completed four years of a five-year dental program in Minsk before moving to New York.
In 2012, Shuliak sought Epstein’s help to gain admission to dental school. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine initially rejected her application. Epstein then instructed his personal dentist, Thomas J. Magnani, to contact the dean of the dental school on her behalf.
Magnani was an influential alumnus of the institution. Epstein hinted at donating up to $10 million to the university; however, university records show that he ultimately donated approximately $210,000. That contribution played a significant role in advancing the admission process.
After passing the exams and enrolling at Columbia, Epstein arranged for Shuliak’s mother to relocate from Belarus to the United States. He also covered the full cost of tuition for her three-year course of study.
In a message sent to Epstein in June 2012, Shuliak wrote, “There is no one as pure-hearted as you.”
Shulyak also wrote, “Thank you so much for your love and care—for my parents, my education, the apartment—for everything.”
According to emails, the two frequently clashed over Epstein’s insistence on having sexual relations with other women in their twenties. These women included a few assistants who helped with Epstein’s personal affairs; he referred to them as his “family.”
In an email sent in August 2012, Shulyak wrote to Epstein, “I understand you need this. But these things don’t feel normal to me. They seem a bit sordid.”
Shulyak asked Epstein to keep his relationships with those women out of her sight.
In one email, Shulyak wrote, “I’m not asking for much; do whatever you want. Just keep me out of it. If you’re happy, I’ll stand by you, no matter the situation. I love you.”
**How she obtained the Green Card**
By the time Karina Shulyak applied to Columbia University in 2012, her student visa had expired, yet she was still residing in the United States.
According to investigative documents, Epstein devised a plan in early 2013 to allow Shulyak to remain in the U.S. He decided to arrange a marriage between Shulyak and an American woman—a move made possible because New York had legalized same-sex marriage just two years prior.
Epstein believed that a marriage between two women in New York would pave the way for U.S. citizenship and reduce the likelihood of suspicions that the union was merely a sham to avoid deportation.
He selected a 30-year-old woman from Minnesota—one of his personal assistants—to be Shulyak’s spouse.
Brad Edwards, the lawyer representing that woman, stated that his client was one of the women victimized by Epstein and, therefore, could not comment on her personal circumstances. However, lawyers generally state, “No one had the courage or opportunity to disobey Jeffrey Epstein’s orders.”
Emails reveal that Epstein instructed the woman to meet Shuliak at the New York City Marriage Bureau on the morning of September 16, 2013. She had been told to pack her bags in advance so that she could fly to the Virgin Islands immediately after obtaining the marriage license. Meanwhile, Shuliak was instructed to remain in New York to attend dental school classes.
Three weeks later, the two women were married at the City Clerk’s office. Photographs of the ceremony were taken; one image shows Shuliak smiling and holding the hand of a woman standing beside her—though that woman’s face was obscured in the photo. A man in a suit is also visible in the background.
Following the marriage, a Brooklyn-based immigration lawyer working for Epstein filed an application with U.S. immigration authorities. The application sought to register Karina Shuliak as his wife and beneficiary. The application was approved.
A few months after the wedding, Shuliak received a Green Card, granting her the status of a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Outwardly, their marriage appeared legitimate. The two women lived together in an Upper East Side apartment—a building partially owned by Jeffrey Epstein’s brother, Mark Epstein. Epstein had arranged for many of his personal assistants to reside there.
In May 2018, Shuliak officially became a U.S. citizen. A year later, she and her partner legally divorced.
By early 2019, Karina Shuliak and Jeffrey Epstein appeared to be an intimate couple. Shuliak spent most of her time at Epstein’s New York mansion. Whenever the two traveled, they would take their pet cat, Blueberry, along with them. After completing dental school in 2015, Shuliak obtained licenses to practice dentistry in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, and New Mexico. However, investigative records show no evidence of her actively practicing the profession. While records indicate that dental equipment was installed at several of Epstein’s residences, Shuliak spent most of her time managing Epstein’s various properties and staff.
Epstein Amends His Will
In mid-June 2019, Shuliak and Epstein traveled together to Paris, where Epstein owned an apartment. Although Epstein returned to the United States on July 6 of that year, Shuliak remained in Europe. Federal agents arrested Epstein as soon as his private jet landed at a New Jersey airport.
About a month after his arrest, during a 20-minute phone call from a Lower Manhattan jail, Epstein told Shuliak that resolving the sex trafficking charges against him would take longer than anticipated. He therefore advised her to make arrangements to stay elsewhere for the time being. Shuliak’s attorney, Maurice Sercarz, disclosed this information in a transcript of the call provided to federal authorities.
Epstein was found dead in his prison cell on the morning of August 10, 2019. Authorities stated that he had committed suicide.
Shortly before his death, Epstein amended his will to bequeath a significant portion of his assets—valued at $600 million at the time—to Schuliak. This included a large 33-carat diamond ring he had given her in anticipation of marriage. These details were revealed through handwritten notes found in relevant documents. However, the exact value of the assets Schuliak would ultimately receive remained uncertain.
According to the documents, after paying substantial compensation to the women who were victims of Epstein’s abuse, the current value of his estate stands at approximately $120 million to $200 million. Apart from Schuliak, Epstein has dozens of other heirs, including the children of his brother, Mark Epstein; they are expected to inherit assets worth approximately $10 million.
**Pursuing the Dream of Becoming a Dentist**
Despite the prospect of inheriting a substantial fortune under Epstein’s will, Karina Schuliak did not abandon her dream of becoming a dentist. In 2023, she applied to a postdoctoral dental program at Columbia University. It is believed she sought admission to this program to fulfill a requirement for obtaining a dental license in New York State.
According to Schuliak’s admission records, the two dentists who had helped her gain admission to Columbia in 2012 once again supported her.
Documents show that James Fine, who oversaw Columbia’s postgraduate residency program, arranged a special “faculty internship” for Schuliak at the Midtown Manhattan dental clinic he co-owned with dentist Thomas Magnani. Both dentists provided strong recommendations for her.
Schuliak completed the program in May 2025 alongside six other students. In November of the same year, she obtained her license to practice dentistry in New York State. Following the release of the Epstein-related documents, Columbia University authorities demoted James Fine, while Magnani was removed from various alumni leadership roles. Neither of them agreed to comment on the matter.
University officials stated that Shuliak met the necessary qualifications for admission; therefore, no action was recommended against her.
Shortly after obtaining her dental license in New York, Shuliak applied for a part-time position at a dental clinic in downtown Brooklyn after seeing a job advertisement. A dentist at the clinic, who wished to remain anonymous, provided this information. It was there that Shuliak treated a patient named Yunhe Kim; Kim underwent a teeth cleaning last December and a filling procedure in February.
Kim said she was unaware that the dentist was Karyna Shuliak until she saw the photograph released alongside the Epstein documents. She felt deceived, as Shuliak’s full identity had not been disclosed to her. Kim contacted *The New York Times* to warn other patients.
“I was absolutely shocked. I couldn’t believe it,” Kim said. “A lot of things have happened in my life—I never won the lottery, but I ended up meeting Epstein’s girlfriend.”
February 12 was Shuliak’s last day at the Brooklyn clinic. Although she was scheduled to return on February 16, she took leave citing illness and never came back.
The clinic’s dentist believes that the widespread publicity following the release of the Epstein documents made it difficult for her to continue working there. However, her lawyer declined to comment on whether Shuliak had secured employment elsewhere.
