‘I’m not Jeffrey Epstein’: Viral Palm Beach lookalike speaks out
Documents that were included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files are photographed Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
by Katie Bente
PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A man now known online as “Palm Beach Pete” is speaking out after a viral video filmed on I-95 sparked a wave of conspiracy theories — all centered on his striking resemblance to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The video shows Pete driving a convertible through South Florida when someone nearby begins filming — saying, “Epstein is alive!” — a moment that quickly spread across social media platforms and racked up massive attention.
Within hours, Pete says his life changed.
“Some dude randomly filmed me while I was driving on I-95, unbeknownst to me, and the next thing I know, I’m a viral sensation,” Pete said in a video posted online. “I had my phone down for about four hours didn’t know it was blowing up.”
He quickly addressed the speculation head-on:
I’m not Jeffrey Epstein. I’m Palm Beach Pete.
In a follow-up video, Pete doubled down — calmly but clearly distancing himself from the comparisons that fueled the viral moment.
“I’m just Palm Beach Pete gonna play some tennis today, going into town, have lunch,” he said. “I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. He’s a very bad person, and he is dead — and I’m alive.”
Pete says the video was taken while he was simply heading out to play tennis — an ordinary moment that turned into a global conversation overnight.
Pete is reportedly a former Division I tennis player and a former real estate executive.
Reaction on Palm Beach Island
CBS12 News took the viral video to Palm Beach Island to gauge reaction from beachgoers — and found a mix of humor, skepticism, and discomfort.
Some immediately leaned into conspiracy theories.
“That’s Epstein,” one person said, while another added, “Epstein did not kill himself.”
Some beachgoers echoed similar ideas.
“I think he’s still living. He could still be back on the island, honestly,” one said. “There was too much out there, so they said, ‘we’re going to fake your death.’ He could still be out there.”
Others focused on the resemblance itself.
“It is a creepy resemblance. I don’t want to see Jeffrey Epstein around here,” one woman said.
Another parent downplayed it, saying, “Everybody’s got a lookalike.”
But not everyone found the situation funny.
“It’s just not something to joke about. I feel bad for the guy,” one man said. “People shouldn’t joke about that.”
Why this went viral
The clip’s rapid spread highlights how quickly social media can turn a chance moment into a full-blown narrative — especially when it taps into an already controversial figure.
Epstein, who died in a Manhattan jail in 2019, remains at the center of ongoing public fascination and conspiracy theories surrounding his death, despite it being officially ruled a suicide.
That backdrop, combined with Pete’s appearance — gray hair, facial features, and sunglasses — created what many online described as an “uncanny” resemblance.
A viral moment — and a reality check
For Pete, the attention appears to be both surreal and unexpected.
“It’s a crazy phenomenon that went really viral,” he said.
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