Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files show that Elon Musk had a much closer relationship with the convicted sex offender than he previously admitted. The emails, dated between 2012 and 2013, show Musk and Epstein discussing travel plans to Epstein’s private island and potential business deals involving Musk’s companies.
These records directly contradict Musk’s earlier claims. In September, Musk posted on his platform, X, that he “REFUSED” to visit the island. However, the documents tell a different story. In one 2013 email, Musk asked Epstein, “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” He also coordinated with Epstein to take a private helicopter to the island with his then-partner, actress Talulah Riley.
The Department of Justice released these files on Friday following a new federal law that forced the government to make all Epstein-related documents public. The dump included millions of pages, thousands of videos, and over 180,000 images.
The emails also show that the two discussed business. In 2012, Epstein reached out about installing solar power at his private island and his ranch in New Mexico. Musk forwarded these requests to his cousin, Peter Rive, who co-founded SolarCity. Musk sat on the board of SolarCity at the time and later folded the company into Tesla.
This isn’t the first time Musk’s name has come up in this investigation. In 2023, the U.S. Virgin Islands subpoenaed him because they suspected Epstein tried to refer Musk as a high-value client to JPMorgan Chase.
Interestingly, Musk previously used the Epstein files as a weapon against his rivals. In June, he claimed that the government was hiding files to protect Donald Trump. He later apologized for those comments, but these new documents show that Musk himself was a regular contact in Epstein’s circle during the height of his business expansion at SpaceX and Tesla.
