Leon Black, former Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Global Management, told the US House Oversight Committee on June 26, 2026, that he paid $21 million to a woman he accused of blackmailing and extorting him. Black said the payment was made to keep an affair secret after the woman demanded $100 million, claiming he had “ruined her life.”

The payment was part of a settlement negotiated to avoid public disclosure, with Black agreeing to pay the amount in installments over 15 years. He acknowledged the sum was substantial but noted it was less than the initial $100 million demand.

Black also revealed that he had discussed the financial arrangement with Jeffrey Epstein, who was involved in overseeing some of Black’s estate planning. This testimony was part of a broader congressional investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The original $100 million demand matches that sought by Black’s former mistress, Guzel Ganieva, in 2015. Black stated, “I had a wife and children and was the chair of a public company. I agree with you it was a lot of money. And I viewed it as total blackmail and extortion but didn’t want it to be public, and so we negotiated a settlement.”

This disclosure adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s connections and the financial dealings of those associated with him.

Sources