Apollo, Paul Weiss and Epstein: How a Star Client Brought Down a Big Law Boss
The Epstein-related revelations had a significant impact on the stock prices of companies associated with Apollo and Paul Weiss. Apollo Global Management experienced a rapid, multi-wave sell-off after each new piece of reporting, with a cumulative effect of approximately 15% decline from Feb 1 to Feb 23, 2026, wiping out around $12 billion of market value.
The broader market reacted to the scandal’s spill-over onto other listed firms, such as Hyatt Hotels Corp., with modest single-digit declines, underscoring the contagion risk when a high-profile client is implicated.
Paul Weiss, as a private partnership, suffered reputational damage but had no direct stock-price impact. The firm’s exposure was reputational rather than market-price driven, with its star client Leon Black stepping down amid the scandal.
Sources
- Legal: Class action accuses Apollo of hiding Epstein ties in SEC filings (Investment News)
- How Wall Street’s Apollo got tangled up again in the Epstein files (CNN, 21 Feb 2026)
- Apollo’s 0.15% Rally Contrasts 211th Volume Rank as Epstein Lawsuit (AINVEST, 2026)
- APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, INC. Securities Fraud Lawsuit (Business Wire, 24 Mar 2026)
- Inside Paul Weiss’ Relationship With Apollo Global Management (Business Insider, 2021)