The meetings Epstein, then an employee of Bear Stearns, had with Obregón in New York opened doors to wealthy Spanish families, including the Obregón family. The actress, who was already successful in Spain, was 27 when she met Epstein. She recounted in her 2012 memoir, This is Me, that he impressed her by speeding through Manhattan in a Rolls Royce. Years later, she would describe him as "the perfect man I never fell in love with" and her "guardian angel in New York." This relationship continued even when both were involved in other relationships; Obregón was then dating Miguel Bosé.
The connection with these families was crucial for Epstein's fortune, as it helped them recover millions of dollars lost in a bankrupt investment fund. The financier spent over a year investigating the whereabouts of the funds, enlisting the help of a friend and former federal prosecutor, Bob Gold. Gold discovered that the money had ended up in a branch of a Canadian bank in the Cayman Islands. Epstein flew on a private jet and, threatening legal action, managed to secure an immediate transfer of the capital.
The "generous reward" he received for this rescue, along with a $450,000 scam against a businessman for a non-existent oil operation, propelled him to become a millionaire.
After the pyramid scheme of Epstein's sexual exploitation was exposed, Obregón has "completely" distanced herself from him, denying any intense romance. The actress has stated that she "is disgusted to have been his friend" and that it "makes her blood boil." Although she said he tried to kiss her and was "the most beautiful person in the world," a "sixth sense" prevented her from having anything serious with him. The Times report details how Epstein went from being a "mediocre" math teacher to mingling with Wall Street executives, despite being an "impostor."