Elon Musk expressed interest in visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s island, newly released emails show

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has said for years that he didn’t know convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein very well. In 2019, shortly before Epstein died in a New York prison cell, Musk told Vanity Fair magazine that he considered Epstein a “dirty guy” and said that Epstein “tried repeatedly to show me around his island” but that Musk refused to do so.

Documents released Friday by the Justice Department offer another perspective on their knowledge. The records include at least 16 emails exchanged between Musk and Epstein in 2012 and 2013, including several instances in which Musk expressed interest in visiting Epstein’s Caribbean island, which has since become known as an alleged location of Epstein’s abuse of women and girls.

“Which day/night will the craziest party on your island take place? » 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 late 2013, according to the emails, indicating that interest in his visit was not entirely one-sided.

The emails do not say whether Musk ultimately visited the island and do not indicate any wrongdoing on Musk’s part.

Musk did not respond to requests for comment Friday. In a series of messages published on Saturday, Musk called for justice for the victims and legal action against those who participated in Epstein’s sex trafficking. He did not name any specific person.

In a message, Musk denied having attended Epstein’s parties.

“I never attended parties with Epstein and have repeatedly called for the prosecution of those who committed crimes with Epstein,” Musk wrote. “The litmus test for justice is not the release of the records, but rather the prosecution of those who committed heinous crimes with Epstein.”

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to recruiting an underage girl for prostitution and then registered as a sex offender, although allegations about him and his activities on his island did not begin to receive widespread attention until around 2015.

A copy of Epstein’s daily schedules released Sept. 26 by House Democrats showed that Musk was tentatively scheduled to visit Epstein’s island in December 2014 — the third consecutive winter in which he or Epstein raised the possibility of a visit. Musk said in a post on X later in the day that the calendar entry was “fake,” without elaborating. The next day, he wrote on X: “Epstein tried to convince me to go to his island and I REFUSED.”

Emails released Friday also show that Musk and Epstein sent emails on topics other than potential visits to the island, including solar energy and the importance of sleep. Their respective administrative assistants were also in touch to arrange possible meetings, such as a planned lunch at SpaceX’s office near Los Angeles in February 2013, according to the emails. It is unclear whether this 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 help shed light on Epstein’s relationships with wealthy and influential people, including Trump.

The first email between Epstein and Musk included in Friday’s files appears to be from late September 2012, in which Musk wrote that they had a “very pleasant conversation!” »

“I hope this is the first of many,” Epstein responded.

Ten days later, Epstein emailed asking Musk to electrify his New Mexico island or ranch with solar power. At the time, Musk was president of SolarCity, an energy startup co-founded by two of his cousins. Tesla, of which Musk is CEO, then acquired SolarCity.

Musk seemed dubious about the idea, responding, “SolarCity is currently only in major U.S. markets,” but said he would send the company a note.

In November 2012, they sent an email about a possible meeting in the Caribbean, with Epstein asking how many people would be in Musk’s group for a “helicopter to the island”, that is, a helicopter. Musk responded that it would probably just be him and actor Talulah Riley. (Musk and Riley had recently divorced but would remarry the following year before divorcing again in 2016.)

Representatives for Riley did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

In a December 25, 2012 email, Musk wrote to Epstein that he wanted to “party” on St. Barthélemy, a Caribbean island near Epstein’s.

“Have you got any parties planned?” » asked Musk. “I’ve worked myself to the limit this year and so once my kids come home after Christmas, I really want to head out to the party scene in St. Barts or wherever 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 in St. Barthélemy, where Epstein said he planned to fly from his own island. Musk sent an email on the day of the scheduled lunch to cancel, saying he wasn’t feeling well.

Musk and Epstein planned to have lunch next month, on February 25, at the SpaceX office, according to an email released Friday. The next day, February 26, Epstein wrote to Musk saying “thanks for the visit” and added “you would have had fun at Christmas.” Musk replied, “I see” with a smiley face emoji.

In a July 4, 2020 post on X, Musk denied that Epstein ever visited SpaceX and added, “I don’t know where that came from.” »

They tried again to vacation in the Caribbean in late 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 in the new year, with Epstein writing, “play it by ear if you want. There’s always room for you,” adding that he would send a helicopter to pick up Musk.

A few days later, in late December, Epstein wrote again to say he had to cancel.

“Bad news. Unfortunately my schedule will keep me in New York,” he wrote. “I was really looking forward to finally being able to spend time together with just fun as the goal. So I’m very disappointed. Hopefully we can plan another time in the near future.”