Palm Beach Pete
Palm Beach Pete | |
|---|---|
 Simel in 2026 | |
| Born | Peter Simel 1955 (age 70–71) |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupation | Social media influencer |
| Instagram information | |
| Page | |
| Years active | 2026–present |
| Followers | 317k |
| TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Years active | 2026–present |
| Followers | 1M |
| Last updated: July 18, 2026 | |
| Website | voteforpalmbeachpete |
Peter Bart Simel (/saɪˈmɛl/, sy-MEL; born 1955),[1] nicknamed Palm Beach Pete, is an American social media influencer and political candidate. In 2026, he went viral for his physical resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein.
Life and career
Peter Simel is originally from New York.[2] He is Jewish.[3] He attended Syracuse University, from which he graduated in 1977.[4] He worked in commercial real estate in New York City prior to retirement[5] and played in the NCAA Division I men's tennis championships.[6]
In 2011, Simel had an appearance in The Real Housewives of New York City season 4, where he attends a party and greets Sonja Morgan.[5] He went viral due to his resemblance to the sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein,[2][5] who was also a Jewish New Yorker that lived in Palm Beach, Florida.[3]
Simel went viral again in March 2026 due to the resemblance.[7] He has been referred to as Epstein's doppelgänger.[8] A video posted to TikTok by another user showed Simel driving in a car on the I-95 in Florida, while the user says "Epstein is alive".[6][7][8] The video garnered over 10 million views on TikTok,[9] and had been posted during discussions surrounding the Epstein files.[10]
Users on social media dubbed Simel as "Palm Beach Pete".[11] The video fueled conspiracy theories relating to Epstein's death, which happened in August 2019.[11] Following the virality, Simel created an Instagram account under the moniker and clarified that he was not Epstein.[7][12] Simel has stated that he believes Epstein is dead and also called him "such a vile human being".[13] On March 24, he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as himself.[5] In an interview with NewsNation, Simel stated that his social media following were mostly members of Generation Z.[2]
2028 Palm Beach mayoral campaign
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In May 2026, Simel announced his intentions to run for mayor of Palm Beach, Florida, in the 2028 elections.[4] On a podcast, Simel stated that as mayor, he intends to fund expansion projects for pickleball and padel courts, offer free dog-walking, Botox, and "mother-in-law therapy", and lease residents a convertible vehicle for a year, free of cost.[7] He also launched merchandise to support his campaign.[4] On June 25, 2026, Simel went on The Alex Jones Show, hosted by Alex Jones, to discuss his 2028 mayoral campaign.[14]
See also
References
- ↑ Simel, Peter Bart (June 21, 2026). "Matan Gets Heated While Confronting Jeffrey Epstein" (Interview). Interviewed by Matan Even. Archived from the original on June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 3 Soriano, Ashley (April 25, 2026). "Jeffrey Epstein lookalike 'Palm Beach Pete' talks viral fame". NewsNation. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- 1 2 Moraña, Aiza (March 20, 2026). "Jeffrey Epstein lookalike "Palm Beach Pete" breaks silence: 'I am not the billionaire pedo"". International Business Times United Kingdom.
- 1 2 3 Marr, Madeleine (May 28, 2026). "A South Florida man who looks like Jeffrey Epstein makes big announcement". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Marr, Madeleine (March 25, 2026). "This guy really looks like Jeffrey Epstein. Meet 'Palm Beach Pete'". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- 1 2 ""My phone exploded": Florida frenzy over Epstein lookalike". The Jerusalem Post. March 22, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Bell, Mary McCue (May 28, 2026). "Epstein lookalike announces run for Palm Beach mayor". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Harrell, Gershon (May 27, 2026). "Palm Beach Pete, described as Jeffrey Epstein lookalike, launches run for mayor in 2028". WPEC. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ McBride, Jessica (March 21, 2026). "'Palm Beach Pete' Goes Viral for Wild Jeffrey Epstein Likeness". Men's Journal. Yahoo News. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Scott, Katie (March 20, 2026). "Florida man who looks like Jeffrey Epstein speaks out: 'I'm so not Jeffrey Epstein'". Global News. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Giacomazzo, Bernadette (March 20, 2026). "A Man Dubbed 'Palm Beach Pete' Is Going Viral for His Jeffrey Epstein Resemblance". Complex Magazine. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Levine, Cecilia (March 20, 2026). "Epstein Lookalike Driver Goes Viral: Meet 'Palm Beach Pete'". Daily Voice. Archived from the original on March 21, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (March 21, 2026). "Palm Beach Pete Shuts Down Viral Jeffrey Epstein Theory: 'He's Dead'". Complex Magazine. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ Palm Beach Pete (June 24, 2026). "The establishment is trying to silence my mayor campaign. They know I'm capable of winning and are trying to stop me. I will be going on @RealAlexJones tomorrow at 1pm ET to explain everything". Retrieved June 25, 2026.
External links
- "'Have I Got News For You' reacts to Jeffrey Epstein look-a-like 'Palm Beach Pete'". CNN. Retrieved May 29, 2026.