VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Epstein basks in riches of Las Vegas

Who is Jeffrey Epstein, and why has he been prowling around Las Vegas?

He is one of the world's richest money managers -- he reportedly only handles billionaires as clients.

According to a source who was with him during his recent Vegas sojourn, Epstein said: "There is money to be put to work here and to be made here. It's time for me to put Vegas in my sights."

Efforts to reach Epstein about his visit were unsuccessful.

The effect the presence of Epstein -- and the billions he controls -- could have on the Strip is incalculable.

The mystery financier emerged in the public spotlight in September 2002 when it was reported in a New York Post gossip column that he had flown former President Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker to Africa on his customized Boeing 727.

Subsequent articles in New York magazine and Vanity Fair revealed a bit more about the 54-year-old Epstein. The bachelor financier lives in New York's largest private residence. He owns an $18 million, 7,500-acre New Mexico ranch and Little St. James, a 70-acre island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

His client list remains a mystery, but his dinner companions, the articles said, include such moneyed types as real estate magnate and publisher Mort Zuckerman, banker Louis Ranieri, Revlon Chairman Ronald Perelman, former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold, Hyatt Hotels executive Tom Pritzker, Donald Trump and Limited Brands chairman Leslie Wexner.

Epstein flew in and out of Vegas Friday, apparently his first visit here.

He arrived with six blonde "assistants." Their first stop was dinner at Le Cirque (Bellagio). Epstein knows the restaurant well -- the New York Le Cirque is on the same block as his J. Epstein and Co. offices.

After a brief stop at the gaming tables, the group saw "O." An unconfirmed report says that among Epstein's clients is Cirque du Soleil and its founder, Guy Laliberte.

Afterward the group wound up anonymously at the opening of Tangerine at Treasure Island. Then they cruised the Strip.

They ended up back at the executive terminal at McCarran International Airport, where Epstein and friends flew back to his New Mexico spread.

Our source said that when Epstein got to the airport, he playfully turned from his vehicle to face the Strip and said in his best mock- Arnold Schwarzenegger voice, "I'll be back."

We guess that if you have a billion or so dollars to invest, Epstein will find you.

Done deal

We hear that a deal has been inked to bring "The Phantom of the Opera" to The Venetian next year.

Rumors about this have been swirling for ages, but our source, who is in the office of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Group, tells us that the deal is finally done, although the opening is still about a year away.

He also tells us to look for one of the female leads from "Jubilee" at Bally's to move to "Phantom."

More reality

The Fertitta family is about to have another reality show under its belt.

The family owns Station Casinos; the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino is the setting for the current Discovery Channel offering "American Casino."

Now, according to the Hollywood Reporter, Spike TV is producing a 13-part reality series on the Ultimate Fighting Championship, to be shot in Las Vegas.

Lorenzo Fertitta, Frank Fertitta and Blake Sartini created Zuffa Entertainment as a limited liability company to operate UFC when they bought it in 2001.

Each episode is an hour long, and the series will begin airing in January.

Craig Pilgrim and Robert Rosenberg are producing the show, which will chronicle 20 would-be fighters. The winner will be awarded a chance to participate in the main UFC event. The next series of matches is Aug. 21 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Promoter

Penn Jillette is on a national book tour this week to promote his recently published novel, "Sock" (St. Martin's Griffin, $12.95).

There was a big story on Jillette and the book Sunday in the Boston Globe, he was all over radio and TV in New York on Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday's Philadelphia Daily News also ran a laudatory feature.

The book is an opinionated thriller, to coin a term, narrated by a philosophical, slightly twisted and often-angry sock monkey called Dickie, owned by a member of the New York City police scuba diving unit.

Penn & Teller's headline show at The Rio resumes Saturday.

Meet and greet

Flamboyant Vegas entertainer Michael Cagle got to meet one of his heroes -- Celine Dion -- Thursday night.

Cagle, who hosts a karaoke night at Stardust every Friday and stars in the upcoming local Fox television show "Singsations," and Diva Las Vegas have a mutual friend, transgendered entertainer Carolyn Kelly, who was also at the dressing room powwow at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

"I feel giddy, like a little kid," Cagle said. "But what can I say? Meeting Celine is a dream come true."

Pack

According to several film-related Web sites, Denzel Washington will direct the film version of Wil Haygood's recent book, "In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr."

No casting decisions have been made yet on that one.

It is the second Davis project now in the works. Eddie Griffin has been reported to star in a film based on Davis' memoir, "Yes I Can."

VegasBits

Ball: New Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey had an intimate dinner Wednesday night with a lady friend at Charlie Palmer Steak (Four Seasons) ...

More ball: Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens dined at N9NE (Palms) on Wednesday night. Comic and Westin Casuarina headliner David Brenner was in a few nights earlier ...

Croon: Randy Martin brings his popular "Martinis With Martin" show to Capos Fine Italian Dining restaurant at 5795 W. Tropicana Ave. starting tonight. Martin's show, which will play every Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., is a romantic and musical tribute to Dean Martin (Randy is no relation to Dean) ...

Return: Vintage Vegas entertainers Buddy Greco and wife Lezlie Anders will return to UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre from Aug. 19 to Aug. 29 for another run of their hit Peggy Lee tribute show, "Fever!"

From Sun wires

Bowie recovering: Musician David Bowie, 57, underwent an emergency angioplasty to open a blocked heart artery in Germany and is recuperating, his spokesman said today. Doctors discovered the blockage when Bowie sought treatment after performing in the German town of Scheesel June 25.

Arnold to represent U.S.: President Bush tapped California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday to represent the United States at the funeral of Austrian President Thomas Klestil.

Rowling honored: "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling was praised for making reading "cool" as she received an honorary degree from Edinburgh University in Scotland on Thursday.

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