Barclays reportedly withholds $29 million from former CEO amid Epstein probe

Jes Staley
(Image credit: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Barclays is reportedly withholding almost $30 million from its former CEO amid a regulatory investigation into the way he characterized his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .

The bank in an annual report said it has suspended bonus and share payments to former CEO Jes Staley that are worth roughly $29 million, CNN reports. The payments have been suspended "pending further developments in respect of the regulatory and legal proceedings related to the ongoing FCA and PRA investigation," Barclays said.

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"It should be noted that the investigation makes no findings that Mr. Staley saw, or was aware of, any of Mr. Epstein's alleged crimes, which was the central question underpinning Barclays' support for Mr. Staley following the arrest of Mr. Epstein in the summer of 2019," Barclays said at the time.

When British regulators opened the investigation, Barclays acknowledged that Staley "developed a professional relationship with Mr. Epstein" earlier in his career. Staley has said he developed this relationship with Epstein when he worked for J.P. Morgan beginning in 2000.

"Obviously I thought I knew him well and I didn't," Staley said. "For sure, with hindsight with what we know now, I deeply regret having any relationship with Jeffrey."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.