(b. July 24, 1941) The Canadian Jeffrey Epstein. A Finnish-Canadian former fashion executive rated the 70th richest Canadian by Canadian Business Magazine in 2009 with a net worth of $817 million. He founded Nygard International, a company that makes women’s apparel, in 1967. He resigned as chairman in 2020 after FBI raided company headquarters in its investigation of sex trafficking accusations against him by multiple women. Nygård has been accused of abusive labor practices, tax evasion, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, and rape.
A February 2020 class action lawsuit against Peter Nygard, has earned this case against the women’s fashion mogul the title of ‘Epstein 2.0.’ Eerie similarities have been drawn between this multimillionaire’s private estate, Nygard Cay, and Epstein’s Little St. James, prompting inquiring minds to wonder – who is this ‘Canadian Jeffrey Epstein’?
The Finnish-Canadian fashion executive was born in Finland and raised from childhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His first big break came in the late 60’s when he used his savings to buy a 20% stake in a company that sold women’s jeans and Nygard International was founded that same year. He later bought the entire company and renamed it Tan Jay. Over the decades, the Nygard International Empire grew, becoming the largest producer of women’s apparel in Canada, and maintaining a presence in 30 states in America. In 2009, Canadian Business Magazine appraised Peter Nygard’s wealth, rating him the 70th richest Canadian with a net worth of $817 million.
Since the early days of his success, Peter Nygard and his companies have been no stranger to legal battles that date as far back as 1978, when Nygard struck a verbal deal with a sportswear company. His partner in the 50-50 deal claimed, “He literally ruined my life,” after the fashion executive verbally agreed to finance the design and production of a line of sportswear, but instead, fired his partner and threw her out. Nygard’s ousted business partner testified in court that Nygard told her, “I have all your patterns, I have everything. I own everything. . . . I never intended to put anything in writing. . . . You have nothing, and I am a millionaire.” Nygard’s version of the story described a mutual agreement to part ways. The judge, in this legal bout that spanned 12 years, found the ousted partner, Ebker, to be highly credible while Nygard’s testimony was ruled to be “utterly lacking in credibility.” However, Ebker failed to prove in court that she was damaged by Nygard’s actions.
The fashion executive has faced countless claims of mistreatment, sexual harassment, abuse, and rape over the decades. In 1980, Nygard was reportedly charged by Winnipeg authorities for the rape of an 18 year old girl, which Nygard has denied. The charges were later dropped after the victim refused to testify. In the 90’s, Nygard settled three sexual harassment complaints against him by employees. In the span of four decades, Nygard has faced allegations by nine women in Canada and California who sued or filed reports with local authorities.
A former stewardess, who worked on board Nygard’s private plane, described his volatile temper and insatiable appetite for girls on a Canadian Broadcasting Company report. According to his former stewardess, Nygard, draped in a bathrobe and surrounded by an entourage of topless women, reportedly berated a staff member aboard the plane, shouting, “You are nothing! You are garbage!” adding, “I am God! Do you not understand!?…This is my plane. I can do whatever the hell I want!” Nygard has since denied the former stewardess’ claims and sued the media outlet and former employees who contributed to the report for inducing a breach of their employee contracts.
The Island
In 1984, the fashion mogul purchased an estate on the tip of New Providence Island for $1.76 million, which he later named “Nygard Cay.” The Mayan-themed luxury resort featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show” was as grandiose as Peter Nygard himself, decked with sculptures of roaring lions, dragons, and nude women inspired by his former girlfriends. Nygard proudly referred to his estate as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The resort came complete with what he described as the world’s largest sauna, a 32,000 square foot grand hall with a glass ceiling, and a “human aquarium” where topless women in mermaid tails swam about. This extravagant Vegas-style resort was the home for wild bashes and “pamper parties,” drawing in celebrities, politicians, and royalty alike. According to a class action lawsuit filed by ten alleged victims, Nygard and Nygard Companies used Nygard Cay “to promote the Nygard Companies” brand by renting it out and having events and parties with celebrities and politicians including, among others, Oprah Winfrey, George H.W. Bush, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery.” Nygard also hosted Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith at the resort in the 90s during a period while the two were a couple. Prince Andrew and his family visited the disgraced fashion exec’s resort in 2000, after the settlement of three sexual harassment suits against Nygard. Local Bahamian officials and politicians were frequent guests to the estate as well.
