Tech billionaire Elon Musk has for years said that he didn’t know convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein very well. In 2019, shortly before Epstein died in a New York jail cell, Musk told Vanity Fair magazine that he considered Epstein a “creep” and said that Epstein “tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island” but that Musk had declined to do so.
Documents released Friday by the Justice Department provide another perspective on their acquaintanceship. The records include at least 16 emails between Musk and Epstein in 2012 and 2013, including multiple instances in which Musk expressed interest in visiting Epstein’s Caribbean island, which has since become notorious as an alleged location for Epstein’s abuse of women and girls.
“What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” Musk wrote in an email to Epstein in November 2012, according to the newly released files.
Musk sought to visit the island at least twice, in late 2012 and again in late 2013, according to the emails, indicating that the interest in him visiting was not entirely one-sided.
The emails do not say whether Musk ultimately visited the island and do not indicate any wrongdoing by Musk.
Musk did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring an underage girl for prostitution and then registered as a sex offender, although the allegations involving him and activities at his island did not begin to receive wide attention until about 2015.
A copy of Epstein’s daily schedules released Sept. 26 by House Democrats showed that Musk was tentatively expected to visit Epstein’s island in December 2014 — the third winter in a row when either he or Epstein raised the possibility of a visit. Musk said in a post on X later that day that the schedule entry was “false,” without elaborating. The following day he wrote on X: “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED.”
The emails released Friday also showed that Musk and Epstein emailed about subjects other than potential island visits, including solar energy and the importance of sleep. Their respective administrative assistants were also in contact to organize possible meetings, such as a planned lunch at SpaceX’s office near Los Angeles in February 2013, according to the emails. It’s unclear if that meeting took place.
Musk has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
The Justice Department’s release of millions of pages of additional Epstein files was required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in November and signed into law by President Donald Trump that same month. The files are helping to shed light on Epstein’s relationships with rich and influential people including Trump.
The earliest email between Epstein and Musk included in the files from Friday appears to be from late September 2012, where Musk writes that they had a “very enjoyable conversation!”
“Hopefully the first of many,” Epstein responded.
Ten days later, Epstein emailed to ask Musk about electrifying his island or his New Mexico ranch with solar power. Musk at the time was chairman of SolarCity, an energy startup co-founded by two of his cousins. Tesla, where Musk is CEO, later acquired SolarCity.
Musk sounded doubtful about the idea, replying, “SolarCity is just in US major markets right now,” but he said he’d send the company a note.
In November 2012, they emailed about a possible Caribbean meetup, with Epstein asking how many people would be in Musk’s group for a “heli to island,” meaning helicopter. Musk replied that it would probably be only him and actress Talulah Riley. (Musk and Riley had recently divorced but would remarry the next year before divorcing again in 2016.)
Representatives for Riley did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
In an email on Dec. 25, 2012, Musk wrote to Epstein that he wanted to “hit the party scene” in Saint Barthélemy, a Caribbean island near Epstein’s.
“Do you have any parties planned?” Musk asked. “I’ve been working to the edge of sanity this year and so, once my kids head home after Christmas, I really want to hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose. The invitation is much appreciated, but a peaceful island experience is the opposite of what I’m looking for.”
An email exchange from January 2013 showed Musk and Epstein discussing possible lunch plans on Saint Barthélemy, where Epstein said he planned to fly from his own island. Musk emailed the day of the planned lunch to cancel, saying he was not feeling well.
Musk and Epstein planned to have lunch the next month, on Feb. 25 at SpaceX’s office, according to an email released Friday. The next day, Feb. 26, Epstein wrote Musk to say “thanks for the tour” and added “you would have had fun at xmas.” Musk replied, “I see,” with a smiling-face emoji.
In a July 4, 2020, post on X, Musk denied that Epstein ever toured SpaceX and added, “Don’t know where that comes from.”
They tried again for a Caribbean holiday at the end of 2013, according to another email exchange. Musk emailed Epstein in December 2013, saying: “Will be in the BVI/St Bart’s area over the holidays. Is there a good time to visit?” They discussed several possible days for a visit during the new year, with Epstein writing, “play it by ear if you want. always space for you,” adding that he would send a helicopter to pick up Musk.
A few days later, at the end of December, Epstein wrote again saying he had to cancel.
“Bad news- Unfortunately , my schedule will keep me in New York,” he wrote. “I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda. so i am very disappointed. Hopefully we can schedule another time in the near future.”
