Who else?! Who maintained close ties with Epstein, and who visited his notorious private island? As more Epstein documents are unsealed and released, increasingly detailed accounts of the real interactions between various celebrities and this disgraced tycoon—who died under mysterious circumstances in 2019—have come to light. Numerous email exchanges reveal that even after Epstein was convicted of sexually assaulting underage girls, these elites from politics, business, academia, and entertainment clearly had no qualms about associating with him privately. They were still keen to visit his private island (Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands). Notable tech figures involved include the Musk brothers, Bill Gates, Sergey Brin, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel.
On January 30th, the U.S. Department of Justice released over 3.5 million pages of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. This is the largest document disclosure to date, containing 180,000 images and 2,000 videos. The release was mandated by the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" passed last November, though it significantly missed the original December 19th deadline. The documents involve numerous political leaders, business elites, sports and entertainment stars, and academic luminaries, exposing their private dealings with the sex offender and significantly impacting the reputations of these prominent figures.
So, which Silicon Valley tech luminaries are implicated in the scandal within this latest batch of Epstein files? Elon Musk Actively Sought an Island Invite Global billionaire Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk are among the most scrutinized tech figures in these documents. Previously, Musk had taken a righteous stance on Epstein, even pointing out that former President Trump was also named in the files. It seemed Musk must have had zero connection to Epstein or the so-called "Lolita Island" to speak with such confidence.
Musk has publicly stated multiple times that Epstein invited him to the island, but he refused. In a 2019 interview, he said he found Epstein to be a "creep," claiming Epstein "made multiple attempts to get me to visit his island," all of which he declined. Furthermore, Musk has enjoyed using the insinuation of "having visited a certain island" to mock figures like Bill Gates and Reid Hoffman.
However, newly released emails paint a different picture. Between 2012 and 2013, Musk exchanged 16 emails with Epstein, on several occasions directly and proactively expressing a desire to visit Epstein's private island—a far cry from the narrative of him sternly refusing. The most controversial email, from November 2012, shows Musk bluntly asking Epstein: "What is the wildest party on our island?"
Other evidence also appears to challenge Musk's credibility. Years ago, media reports suggested Musk had given Epstein a tour of SpaceX. Musk publicly denied this in 2020, stating Epstein had never visited SpaceX and calling the claim nonsense.
Yet, newly released emails between him and Epstein show that in February 2013, Epstein thanked Musk for a tour of a certain location and hinted Musk would have a merry Christmas. Musk replied in a friendly tone: "Got it."
Then, in December 2013, Musk contacted Epstein again, stating he would be in the British Virgin Islands and St. Barts over Christmas and inquiring when he could visit Epstein's island. Epstein replied, "There is always a place for you if you want." He later added, "I will send a helicopter for you (Musk)." Furthermore, Epstein's calendar for December 2014 indicates he personally arranged for Musk's island visit.
While there is no evidence linking Musk to Epstein's sex crimes, the release of these emails has sparked online debate questioning Musk's integrity. Notably, Epstein was arrested for assaulting a minor as early as 2005, and by 2008 had accepted a plea deal, making him a registered and notorious sex offender—the very type of pedophile Musk claims to despise, a term he has used to insult others, including the British diver involved in the Thai cave rescue.
It appears that Musk, who often positions himself on a moral high ground, exhibited no such scruples when dealing with an actual pedophile like Epstein. He not only eagerly associated with Epstein but also repeatedly initiated requests to visit his island. But did Musk actually go to Epstein's "Lolita Island"? There is currently no evidence confirming he did. It's worth noting that around 2012-13, Tesla Motors and SpaceX were just entering a stable growth phase but remained financially fragile, requiring continuous funding. Musk was still in the phase of trying to break into the global super-elite social circuit. At that time, he likely hoped that a well-connected intermediary like Epstein could help him access top-tier global political and business networks to secure funding and political support for his ambitious ventures. Therefore, he seemingly had no issue with Epstein's pedophile record and was keen to meet with him.
Musk Mocked as Naive and Foolish Facing a wave of criticism, Musk has been busy recently trying to salvage his reputation. He has been reposting messages from fans defending his character on X while also issuing clarifications asserting his innocence. Musk stated he is "very aware that some email exchanges with Epstein could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name." But he emphasized he "never attended any of Epstein's parties" and claimed "no one has pushed harder for the release of the Epstein files than I have."
Additionally, Musk attempted to explain the "wildest party" query: "To be honest, I was initially dumb enough to think he actually meant chatting with UN diplomats 🤣🤣 But even after he clarified it was a party with women 'under 25,' I chose to keep working on rockets and cars."
However, netizens don't seem to be buying his explanation, widely mocking it as "naive and foolish." They commented under Musk's posts that by 2013, everyone knew Epstein had sexually assaulted minors and was a notorious sex offender. Who would believe his "wildest party" involved UN diplomats? They accused him of practically begging Epstein for an island invite, suggesting he simply wasn't invited.
The Epstein investigation files are still being released. At least for now, there is no evidence Musk ever set foot on Epstein's island or was involved in his sex crimes. However, the disclosed evidence indicates Musk is not the paragon of moral purity he claims to be; when利益 (interests) are at stake, he is willing to associate closely with a notorious sex offender and actively seek entry into his circles.
Musk's estranged transgender child, Vivian Wilson, came forward, stating that during the Christmas of 2013 mentioned in the emails, they did accompany their father, Musk, to St. Barts when they were a 9-year-old boy. Vivian indicated a willingness to testify if needed, saying, "History will remember how you reacted in this moment." Due to transgender issues, they have cut ties with Musk, who has even stated his son is "dead."
Furthermore, Musk's brother, Kimbal Musk, is also implicated in the Epstein files, potentially more seriously. An October 2012 email shows Dr. Boris Nikolic jokingly warning Kimbal to "be nice to Epstein's girl." Kimbal replied that he was having a great time with her and that she was "awesome." These emails were carbon-copied to Epstein, hence their appearance in the files.
Nikolic has publicly stated his relationship with Epstein was purely business, but numerous emails suggest a more complex connection. Before his "suicide," Epstein even named Nikolic as one of the executors of his will. Nikolic was also an advisory partner for Bill Gates's investments in biomedicine and maintained a very close relationship with Gates.
Gates's Reputation Takes Another Hit Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is another billionaire significantly impacted by the latest Epstein document dump. Even before the files' release, online rumors about his connection to Epstein's sex scandal were widespread. Although Gates has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes, stating their interactions were solely business-related, this hasn't quelled the speculation.
Musk himself questioned on X: "If Bill Gates cares so much about the well-being of children, why did he frequent Epstein's residence?" Over the past two years, Musk has repeatedly shared related exposes, implying Gates's association with the "island parties."
The relationship with Epstein not only severely damaged Gates's reputation but also contributed to the end of his marriage. Gates and his ex-wife Melinda announced their divorce in 2021, ending their 28-year marriage. Without a prenuptial agreement, Gates split over $70 billion in assets with her. Melinda revealed in 2022 that Gates's dealings with Epstein were a major reason for their split.
In the newly released files, Bill Gates's name appears hundreds of times. One of the most explosive entries is a draft email from Epstein to himself dated July 18, 2013. This email alleged Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) from a "Russian girl" and requested antibiotics to be "secretly given" to his then-wife, Melinda Gates.
It is crucial to note that this is solely from Epstein's own email notes. Another draft mentions, "In my role as his right-hand man, I was repeatedly asked to participate in things ranging from morally inappropriate to ethically unsound and was repeatedly asked to do other things that came close to or possibly crossed the line of illegality." It is unclear if these emails were ever sent to Gates or anyone else, and there is no reply from Gates to verify them.
The Gates Foundation subsequently responded: "These allegations, sourced from a proven, disgruntled con man, are completely absurd and outright lies. The only thing these documents prove is Epstein's frustration at being unable to sustain a continued relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to frame and defame."
Gates's connection to Epstein was first exposed by media in 2019. Reports indicated Epstein attempted to blackmail Gates in 2017 after discovering Gates had an affair in 2010 with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova. It is confirmed that Gates met with Epstein multiple times and flew on his private jet. Gates has emphasized he was seeking to leverage Epstein's network for the Gates Foundation's outreach.
Gates later admitted in interviews that his association with Epstein was a "huge mistake." His ex-wife Melinda revealed after the divorce that after meeting Epstein in 2013, she found him particularly "evil" and strongly objected to Gates maintaining contact, which caused a major trust crisis in their marriage. After Epstein was arrested again on sex charges in 2019, Melinda decided to begin seeking lawyers to proceed with the divorce.
Epstein died by mysterious "suicide," and there is no evidence Gates was involved in his sex crimes. However, maintaining a long-term association with a notorious pedophile has severely tarnished the reputation of the world's leading philanthropist and destroyed his family.
Brin Actually Visited the Island Also notable is the appearance of Google co-founder Sergey Brin in the documents, revealing a closer relationship with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell than previously known. Maxwell was publicly Epstein's girlfriend but acted as his procurer, finding and grooming sex slaves for the financier.
Documents show that as early as 2003, before Epstein's underage sex crimes became public, Brin had interactions with Epstein and Maxwell. That year, Maxwell invited Brin to a screening of the film "To Rome with Love" in New York. Weeks later, Maxwell invited him again to a "pleasant and relaxed" dinner at Epstein's home. Brin expressed willingness to bring along then-Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Two months later, Brin even informed Maxwell that an aircraft carrier was for sale, thinking Epstein might be interested.
If one could claim ignorance in 2003 before Epstein's crimes were known, by 2007 Epstein had been arrested and was under prosecution, yet Brin continued maintaining close ties. Testimony from one victim indicates that in early 2007, Brin took his wife to Epstein's private island. This victim alleges being sexually abused and held captive on the island by Epstein and others, with her passport confiscated.
Unlike other celebrities who have issued public apologies, Brin has chosen a strategy of silence regarding Epstein, offering almost no formal personal explanation—neither admitting nor denying. It must be stressed that no victims have accused Brin, and there is no other evidence linking him to Epstein's sex crimes against minors. However, it is certain that Brin continued associating with Epstein without hesitation even after his arrest and indictment for heinous crimes, and he visited the notorious private island.
Additionally, a photo of Brin visiting Epstein's home was displayed in Epstein's residence. Clearly, Epstein valued his relationships with super-billionaires. As a financial intermediary, he introduced ultra-wealthy clients like Gates and Brin to bank clients like JPMorgan Chase, earning substantial commissions.
Currently, no files indicate that the other Google co-founder, Larry Page, had direct contact with Epstein or visited the island. Unlike Brin, who returned to Google to advance AI efforts, Page has been largely reclusive in recent years, rumored to be living on a Fiji island in the Pacific.
Hoffman Also Went to Epstein's Island Another tech billionaire who visited Little St. James is LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Numerous files show Hoffman met Epstein in 2013 (by which time Epstein was a registered sex offender) and subsequently had multiple meetings and Skype calls with him.
Most notably, a schedule entry from November 2014 shows Hoffman planned to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on a Virgin America flight, then take a 9 PM flight to "LSJ"—Epstein's private island. Documents also indicate Hoffman and MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito planned to travel from Palm Beach to the island for the weekend before flying to Boston.
Musk shared a 2014 email from Epstein, proving Hoffman did visit the private island, and has repeatedly used this to publicly mock Hoffman. Although both were founding members of PayPal, they have completely severed ties due to political differences. Hoffman is one of the Democratic Party's largest donors and supporters in Silicon Valley.
It's worth noting that Epstein donated millions of dollars to Joi Ito for the MIT Media Lab and his personal investment fund, while Ito helped the already notorious Epstein connect with American academic elites. After the scandal broke, Ito was forced to resign from all his positions at MIT, Harvard, The New York Times board, and virtually disappeared from mainstream elite circles.
Furthermore, a December 2014 record shows Hoffman planned to stay overnight at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse and attend a "breakfast party" the next morning with Epstein and Bill Gates. In return, in 2015 Hoffman hosted a dinner in Palo Alto, inviting Epstein, Ito, Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Peter Thiel, among other Silicon Valley luminaries.
Hoffman has consistently stated that his interactions with Epstein were limited to fundraising for the MIT Media Lab. He said, "My few interactions with Epstein were at the request of Joi Ito for the purpose of fundraising for the MIT Media Lab. Before these interactions, Joi told me that Epstein had passed MIT's vetting process, which was the basis for my participation. My last interaction with Epstein was in 2015. Nonetheless, by agreeing to participate in any fundraising activity where Epstein was present, I helped repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice. For this, I am deeply sorry."
However, investigation reports suggest Hoffman was more than a passive participant; in 2016, he advised Ito on whether Epstein should attend a certain meeting, expressing concern that many people "might see Epstein," potentially causing negative fallout. This indicates Hoffman was well aware of Epstein's infamy yet still engaged with him.
PayPal co-founder and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel also appears in the解密 (decrypted) files. Email exchanges show their communication lasted for years, up until Epstein's second arrest in 2019. Thiel had planned meetings with Epstein in 2014, including possible dinner arrangements. Additionally, Epstein invested $40 million in two funds managed by Thiel's co-founded Valar Ventures, becoming a limited partner in Thiel's funds.
In May 2014, Epstein wrote to Thiel: "That was fun, see you in three weeks." Four years later, in November 2018, Epstein asked Thiel if he liked Los Angeles. After Thiel replied, "Can't complain so far," Epstein responded: "Come to my Caribbean (island) in December."
A Thiel spokesperson denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing he never visited Epstein's island. They did not provide further explanation. (Note: Thiel is openly gay and presumably not interested in Epstein's targets.)
Branson's Ill-Timed Joke Perhaps the most shocking revelation in this batch of Epstein files involves British billionaire and Virgin founder Richard Branson's joking emails. This billionaire adventurer, once featured among the iconic figures in Apple's "Think Different" campaign and a pioneer in commercial space travel with Virgin Galactic, is highly respected in tech and business circles. He also owns a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, not far from Epstein's.
Email exchanges show Epstein visited Branson's private island in September 2013. Branson wrote in a reply email, welcoming Epstein to visit his island again, "as long as you bring your harem." In another email, Branson even offered Epstein public relations advice for a comeback. Branson suggested that Epstein had "made a mistake years ago with a 17-and-a-half-year-old woman, been punished, and learned his lesson thoroughly," had no offenses since, and as a single man, liking women was "not wrong."
These flippant emails placed Branson in the media spotlight. Branson's PR team quickly responded, stating Branson had minimal contact with Epstein, didn't know him well, and wouldn't have joked like that if aware of his vile actions. The statement added that Branson later found Epstein's actions "abhorrent" and supports justice for victims. There is no evidence Branson participated in any illegal activities.
Although the U.S. government has released several batches of Epstein case files, a massive volume remains undisclosed. The DOJ previously identified over 6 million potentially relevant pages but has only released about 3.5 million. Congress is pressuring the DOJ to release all files. Nineteen Epstein case survivors issued a statement saying some alleged abusers "remain hidden in the shadows, protected." They demand "full disclosure of the Epstein files." Perhaps subsequent releases will expose more prominent figures, revealing their hypocritical true colors.
It's noteworthy that although Epstein was well-connected with top figures in American politics, business, academia, and entertainment, not all Silicon Valley titans were part of his social circle. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Nvidia founder Jensen Huang, for instance, have no record of direct email exchanges or meetings with Epstein.
Additionally, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg only attended the 2015 dinner hosted by Hoffman where Epstein was present; the documents show no direct or independent contact between Zuckerberg and Epstein. Zuckerberg became a billionaire early on, and his negative press has centered on business practices and political maneuvering; so far, there are no significant personal scandals. He met his wife, Priscilla Chan, at Harvard, have been together for 23 years, have three daughters, and he is known as a devoted "girl dad."
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