Céline Dion Property Manager Terminated Over Secret Estate Showing for Jeffrey Epstein
Newly released emails from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that a property manager working for Canadian music icon Céline Dion was fired in 2014 after attempting to arrange a discreet, off-the-record showing of her Florida estate for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Abrupt Termination Following Estate Showing Attempt
The correspondence shows John Christensen, who identified himself as Dion's director of properties, wrote to Epstein on November 14, 2014, explaining his sudden dismissal. "I was terminated today for not having Céline's best interests in mind," Christensen stated in the email, which was among approximately 3 million files released by U.S. authorities.
Christensen detailed how he had arranged with the estate manager at Dion's Jupiter Island home to view the property "off the record" during Thanksgiving. "Apparently, that was a breach of contract," he wrote, adding that he had been explicitly warned not to proceed with the showing. "It was made clear to me not to do the showing. My fault ... I should have listened."
Property Promotion and Subsequent Employment
The emails indicate Christensen first contacted Epstein earlier in 2014 to promote Dion's Jupiter Island estate, describing the property as "spectacular" and suggesting the price might be negotiable. After his termination from Dion's employment, where he was given "five minutes to clear my office," Christensen continued communicating with Epstein about the property in 2015.
Epstein ultimately visited the estate that year but was unimpressed, writing in an email that it would have been "impossible to sell" and would require extensive work to make it livable. The property was eventually sold in 2017 to a trust for significantly less than its original asking price.
Post-Termination Employment with Epstein
Following his dismissal from Dion's team, Christensen told Epstein he had "a whole lot of time on my hands" and inquired about potential estate-management work. Epstein responded, "I will keep you in mind," and the emails indicate Christensen later worked for Epstein as a property manager for a period.
In a statement to Danish media outlet TV2, Christensen claimed he was unaware of Epstein's criminal background at the time. "There was so little public about him 10 years ago. I had never heard of him before," he said, noting Epstein had business relationships with prominent figures like Bill Clinton and Bill Gates. "If I had known what he had done, I would, of course, not have worked for him."
No Indication of Dion's Awareness
The released documents contain no indication that Dion herself was aware her representative was communicating with Epstein or that she had any personal relationship with the convicted sex offender. The Montreal Gazette attempted to reach both Christensen and a representative for Dion for comment but did not receive responses before publication.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution and died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. The email correspondence provides another glimpse into Epstein's network of professional connections and how individuals interacted with him before his crimes became widely known.
