Debunked: Claims of Jeffrey Epstein’s Fortnite Activity After Death Found to Be False

Social media platforms erupted with speculation in early February 2026 after users claimed that Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019, had been playing the popular video game Fortnite both before and after his death. The rumors gained significant traction following the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of a new trove of Epstein-related documents.

The claims spread rapidly across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), with former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene amplifying the speculation by reposting content that purportedly provided evidence of Epstein’s continued existence.

At the center of the controversy was a Fortnite account using the handle “littlestjeff1” – a username that appeared in recently unsealed Epstein files as one of his YouTube handles. Social media posts pointed to an active Fortnite player account with the same name, allegedly located in Israel, suggesting Epstein had faked his death and was living abroad.

The viral posts also referenced a $25.95 purchase of V-Bucks, Fortnite’s in-game currency, supposedly made by Epstein on May 7, 2019, months before his death in August of that year. Screenshots of the player’s statistics page circulated widely before the account’s privacy settings were changed from public to private.

However, Fortnite’s official channels quickly debunked these claims. The game’s status account on X explained that an existing player had opportunistically changed their username to “littlestjeff1” after the Epstein files were released, creating the illusion of a connection.

“Hey Official Fortnite here – this was a ruse by a Fortnite player,” the statement read. “A few days ago, an existing Fortnite account owner changed their username from something totally unrelated to littlestjeff1, following the revelation of littlestjeff1 as a name on YouTube.”

The statement further clarified that none of Epstein’s email addresses documented in the case files exist in Fortnite’s account system. Cat McCormack, a spokesperson for Epic Games (Fortnite’s developer), confirmed to fact-checkers that the company did not make the user’s stats private – the player themselves changed their account status to private amid the growing attention.

Regarding the alleged V-Bucks purchase, a closer examination of the emails in the Epstein files revealed the transaction actually involved a mother buying in-game currency for her child. While the names in the email were redacted, other related communications in the files showed the same family discussing Xbox purchases in 2013, 2016, and 2017, with a 2018 email specifically mentioning the child playing Fortnite.

The files did reveal that Epstein himself owned an Xbox gaming system in 2014, though his Xbox Live account had been permanently banned in December 2013 due to his status as a registered sex offender.

This is not the first time conspiracy theories have emerged from the Epstein files. Fact-checkers previously debunked rumors claiming that a Wayfair receipt found in the documents confirmed the furniture retailer’s involvement in child trafficking.

The case highlights how quickly misinformation can spread when fragments of legitimate information are taken out of context and combined with speculation, particularly in high-profile cases that generate significant public interest. The Department of Justice’s release of Epstein-related documents, which reportedly totals around 3 million pages, continues to be scrutinized by both journalists and the public.

Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide on August 10, 2019, while in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, according to the medical examiner’s official ruling.