Jeffrey Epstein was a key reason for tensions at the top of Apollo Global Management that recently spurred the exit of two of its three remaining co-founders — and the awkwardness began a decade ago, The Post has learned.
It was in 2011 that billionaire Leon Black — who on March 22 revealed he was stepping down from the helm of the giant buyout firm sooner than expected amid controversy over his Epstein ties — first floated the idea of working with the now-dead pedophile to his fellow co-founders Josh Harris and Marc Rowan, according to sources close to the situation.
That’s despite the fact that Epstein had been convicted three years earlier for soliciting prostitution from a 14-year-old girl. In the meantime, Black had continued to associate with him — and was prodding Harris and Rowan to hire Epstein to do some work for them and possibly for Apollo, according to the sources.
“Leon affirmatively recommended Epstein — it was more than a passing comment,” one source said. “He wanted Apollo to hire him.”
Leon Black is stepping down from Apollo Global Management amid controversy over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
Harris and Rowan — repelled by
