Elon Musk has said he will pay legal defense to anyone who “tells the truth” about Jeffrey Epstein and is prosecuted for doing so.
But the backlash was predictable. People on social media shouted: Musk is a bully! He does this to cover his tracks. As one commenter put it on our Facebook page, “He made that statement to make himself look innocent.”
But what do the actual documents show? They released literally every email that Musk and Epstein exchanged, so we have an answer. Musk had little to do with Jeffery Epstein.
Is Elon Musk Connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s Sex Trafficking Ring?
The answer is no. But the documents that prove it give you a very interesting glimpse into Musk’s world, and how Jeffrey Epstein tried to lure people to his island.
Email Evidence Shared and Analyzed
In this email exchange from Christmas Day 2012, Epstein offers to send a helicopter to pick up Musk and bring him to the island. Musk refuses, saying “the peaceful island experience is the opposite of what I want.” Musk wanted to throw a party in St. Barts instead. Epstein then plays his card: “the scale on my island would make Talulah uncomfortable” to try to lure her in. Epstein talks about the ratio of women to men. Musk’s answer? “Measurement is not a problem for Talulah.” Then he didn’t go.
Then in another email from last month, Epstein asked Musk how many people he would need by helicopter to get to the island. Musk replies: “Maybe just Talulah [his wife at the time] and me. What day/night would be an unusual party on your island?” This is an email that has launched thousands of articles. Out of context, it sounds bad. But read it alongside the Christmas exchange and use common sense, Musk isn’t asking for anything bad. He says: I don’t want to be bored on the island with you. What are the days when things will happen? Musk also brings his wife. But even this time he doesn’t stop walking.
Then there’s this exchange from Christmas 2013, a full year later, and Epstein is still trying. This time they are actually getting closer to making it happen. They go back and forth on dates, settling on January 2nd, and Musk even starts setting things up: “I can fly back on the morning of the 3rd. We’ll be in St. Bart’s. When should we check out your island on the 2nd?” But on December 30, Epstein released: “Bad news. Unfortunately, my schedule will keep me in New York. I was looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun on the agenda.” Musk says: “No problem.”
This is the closest they’ll ever come to meeting on the island, and it’s still not happening. And to be clear, Musk is not flying to the Caribbean to visit Epstein. Like the rest of the billionaire and celebrity class, he is already in St. Barts in the new year, he is just thinking about a quick silence about what was revealed in his email for less than 24 hours. Epstein cancels on him, but Musk doesn’t show excitement or interest, or suggest he’ll be around much longer.
The last email exchange is from September 2014. Epstein drops Reid Hoffman to entice Musk to visit: “Welcome to the island. Reid is coming with Joi Ito on December 6th. Come visit.” It shows Epstein’s playbook: he uses one high-profile word to attract another. Musk’s answer: “I don’t know.” Musk doesn’t just visit him.
So what is the truth about Elon Musk and Jeffery Epstein?
Whether you love Elon Musk or hate him, the above emails are what he used to say that “Elon Musk had more to do with Epstein than ever.” I will include more trades below so you can draw your own conclusion. But even in the most aggressive interpretation of these texts, even the New York Times it does not say that Musk was involved in any criminal activity or wrongdoing. Although reading the email exchange above is proof that they were “using friendly terms.” I read it mostly as Epstein invited him to his island while Musk was already in the Caribbean, and Musk casually opened up but would like to do other things as well. always he does other things.
A “wild party” email takes the story out of context. Musk didn’t want Epstein Island, he wanted to party with his wife in the lively St. Barts. The one time they almost met on the island, Musk only committed less than 24 hours there. And even if that doesn’t happen, Epstein cancels, probably because Musk wasn’t committed to being there long at all.
You can read into this whatever you want, and think that the two were closer than Musk wants to make it out to be. But with the full context in mind, that speculation doesn’t have much air to breathe and there’s no reason, even reading Musk’s opposite, to connect Musk with Epstein’s criminal behavior.
How many times did Elon Musk meet with Jeffrey Epstein?
Here are the known conventions:
- 2009: Townhouse visit (Manhattan, NYC): Musk says he visited Epstein’s home “for about 30 minutes during the afternoon” with Talulah Riley, “who was curious to meet this stranger about a novel he was writing.” He said they saw “strange art” but nothing wrong (Musk’s account, not in the released documents).
- February 25, 2013: SpaceX HQ tour/lunch (Hawthorne, CA): Emails show Epstein arranging lunch at SpaceX and later writing to thank Musk for “the trip.” It is not known if Musk was on the trip, but Epstein sent him an email thanking him for it.
- August 2015: Dinner (California): Epstein emailed a photo of himself and described himself having dinner with “zuckerburg” and “mu=k” (confirmed by documents; photo shows Musk and Zuckerberg sitting next to each other).
What other links and books are there?
- September 25, 2012: Epstein writes “come visit me on my island … bring your friend or friends.” Musk replies: “Sounds good, I’ll try to do it.”
- October 2012: Musk writes “The world needs more love” to Epstein and forwards Epstein’s questions about electrifying his farm and island to his cousin Peter Rive, founder of SolarCity (Musk’s solar company).
- January 2013: Musk cancels lunch with Epstein in St. Barts, saying he is sick.
- March 2013: Epstein congratulates Musk on the launch of SpaceX, saying “now it’s time to have fun.” Musk responds that he should “focus on Tesla.” Epstein also asks if Musk has ever tried Nuvigil, a stimulant.
- November 2013: Epstein invited Musk to the Caribbean, saying that Woody Allen was with him.
- December 2014: Epstein’s calendar shows the entry: “ELON MUSK TO ISLAND DEC. 6TH.” A follow-up email from Epstein on December 11 asking “do you think you’ll be in the carib for xmas?” means Musk didn’t show.
