Sun Feb 15, 2026 | Updated 08:53 AM IST
During the early and mid-2010s, deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein maintained ties to the world's most powerful figures in technology, as evidenced by emails within a new batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice. The emails reviewed by HerZindagi and other news organisations document how a host of influential tech executives appeared within Epstein's inbox for a number of years.
It is crucial to reiterate that not all named individuals are alleged to have engaged in Epstein's sex trafficking or abuse. A mention in the files does not indicate culpability.
Emails dated Sept 28, 2012, show Epstein writing, ‘are you guys talking to demis hassabis?’ Musk replies, ‘yes we are’ while referring to Hassabis as ‘the AI guy in London that you thought was smart.’Hassabis would later co-found and become the CEO of Google DeepMind. Epstein later invited Musk to visit him on his private island in the Caribbean. On Nov 9, 2012, Musk responded, ‘What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?’ Musk claims he ‘declined repeated invitations and never visited the island or flew on his plane.’ He also said that no one has fought for the full release of the Epstein files harder than he has. In a Jan 30, 2013 email from Epstein to Musk, he wrote, ‘the girls and i are going to see elon musk at space x tomorrow.’
Bill Gates's name appears 2,527 times in the files. Epstein sent him emails in July 2013 stating Gates requested he delete them, ‘regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda [French Gates], and the description of your penis.’ Gates's spokesperson responded to NPR, saying these claims are ‘absolutely absurd and completely false’ and that the documents demonstrate Epstein's frustration. His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, said that Epstein's relationship with Gates caused her pain during a period of distress in their marriage.
The name Reid Hoffman appears 2,638 times in the files. Hoffman admits visiting Epstein's island during a ‘fundraising visit’ connected with MIT, an organisation that had received $850,000 from Epstein between 2002 and 2017. In a Dec 24, 2014 email, Hoffman wrote he had sent gifts, saying, ‘1- ice cream. If you have any interest, you should try - else for the girls,’ but he does not clarify who "girls" refer to. He later said on X that ‘interacting with Epstein post-conviction is something I deeply regret.’
Jeff Bezos (194 mentions), occasionally CC'd on emails or noted as a guest at events.
Sergey Brin (265 mentions), including an early email with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Larry Page (293 mentions), appearing in forwarded emails and event guest lists.
Peter Thiel (2,273 mentions), reportedly maintains business ties and investments through Epstein-linked funds.
Mark Zuckerberg (280 mentions), including an email noting a conversation with Epstein during a dinner hosted by Hoffman and Thiel.
Tim Cook (152 mentions), mostly related to scheduling or news media discussing Apple.
The files mention ‘the girls’ more than 6,500 times, yet Epstein's will did not list biological dependents beyond his brother.
The documents suggest that even after his Florida conviction in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution (for which he served roughly 13 months and was registered as a sex offender), Epstein still cultivated ties to powerful figures within Silicon Valley. These records demonstrate that this happened at a time when social media, e-commerce, and AI were poised to revolutionise the global economy, and his conviction was already well-publicised, as outlets like The Daily Beast were reporting on his plea deal and behaviour as early as 2010.
In fact, The New York Times reports that well after his conviction, Epstein was ‘given access to startups, venture capital funds and their executives.’ The documents show he invested in cryptocurrency startup Coinbase in 2014. The files indicate that Epstein had aspirations not just to enjoy social proximity to tech titans but to gain leverage over them, through investments and introductions.
Legal experts caution that simply being named in emails or scheduling notes does not imply criminal culpability. Indeed, many instances consist solely of event invitations, article forwards, scheduling requests, or brief correspondence. Nonetheless, the documents offer a chilling snapshot of how Epstein continued to ingratiate himself with influential figures, even long after his conviction.
The contents also raise significant questions regarding how these powerful individuals remained engaged with him during a period of unprecedented transformation within the technology sector. Investigations and public scrutiny continue, and the true extent of these connections remains the subject of debate, with potential for more details to emerge as further document releases occur.
ALSO READ- Epstein Files: From Anil Ambani To Mira Nair, Indians Whose Names Appear In The Files
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Image Courtesy: Instagram/ Department of Justice/JMail
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