The detailed machinations of Jeffrey Epstein’s network, often involving the strategic deployment of women, are further illuminated by recently released Department of Justice emails. These communications suggest a deliberate effort to leverage a relationship involving Kimbal Musk, brother to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as a conduit to gain access to the burgeoning billionaire. This intricate approach underscores Epstein’s persistent attempts to insinuate himself into the orbits of the world’s most powerful figures.
The narrative begins in September 2012, around the time of Kimbal Musk’s 40th birthday celebration in New York. Invitations for a party at the Four Seasons restaurant on East 57th Street included a password, “pussy riot.” Concurrently, Epstein and an associate were arranging for a woman, identified as Sarah, to meet Kimbal Musk. This setup included coordinating club reservations and planning a lunch the following day at Epstein’s Upper East Side Manhattan mansion, intended for Kimbal, Elon Musk, and Elon’s then-wife, Talulah Riley. An email from Boris Nikolic, described by Epstein as a “good friend,” to Epstein prior to the party indicated, “I told him that you are coming with [Sarah] and that [Kimbal] might want to ditch his ex/or current to be.” Nikolic further instructed, “So please prepare [Sarah],” accompanied by a winking emoji. Kimbal Musk later apologized to Epstein for not attending the planned lunch.
Following the party, Sarah and Kimbal Musk commenced a relationship that spanned several months. Throughout this period, Epstein maintained a close watch, directing Sarah’s involvement and travel with Kimbal Musk. This oversight, as revealed in dozens of emails from the Epstein files, appears to have been part of an overarching strategy to draw closer to Elon Musk, who had just joined Forbes’ billionaires list. A former staffer at Epstein’s home corroborated that after the lunch at Epstein’s Manhattan residence, Epstein claimed he and Elon Musk were “talking all the time.” Kimbal Musk, it should be noted, serves on the boards of both Tesla and SpaceX.
The emails paint a picture of Epstein’s method: identifying high-value targets, utilizing women and intermediaries to establish connections, and then relentlessly attempting to embed himself within their social and professional spheres. Status updates on the progress of these endeavors were frequently exchanged among Epstein and his associates. The former staffer at Epstein’s home described a consistent pattern for these gatherings, noting, “There would be a magician or a movie actor, a business person like Musk or Gates, and beautiful women from his entourage.” Inside Epstein’s residences, the environment for his assistants was tightly controlled, often involving young women, many from Eastern Europe, who were seeking modeling or business opportunities. These women frequently found themselves dependent on Epstein for visas, housing, or financial support. One email from Epstein even referred to Sarah as one of his assistants.
Sarah had reportedly been under Epstein’s influence for approximately six years before her involvement with Kimbal Musk. Emails suggest she resided in one of Epstein’s many New York apartments and that her movements were often approved or monitored by him. Updates on her health and travel arrangements were routinely sent to Epstein, who often paid for her tickets. When Sarah began dating Kimbal Musk, their relationship itself became subject to Epstein’s close scrutiny, with updates on Kimbal’s invitations for her to meet him and travel to locations like New York, London, and Los Angeles. An email from Kimbal to Sarah, stating “The universe is conspiring for us to spend more time together,” was forwarded to Epstein. In one instance, Sarah asked Epstein for the “final call” on whether she should travel with Kimbal Musk or stay with him, to which Epstein instructed her to remain with Kimbal through Thanksgiving and “go somewhere romantic,” like Morocco, before returning to his island.
Despite Kimbal Musk’s public statement on X earlier this month claiming he met Sarah “through a friend” and that Epstein did not introduce them, a different account emerges from the emails. Two weeks after the party in 2012, Kimbal Musk sent an email to Epstein and Nikolic, thanking them for “connecting” him with Sarah, adding, “I believe you both played a role,” along with a smiley face. Nikolic responded by advising Kimbal Musk to “be nice” to Sarah, noting that Epstein “goes crazy when someone mistreats his girls/friends.” Kimbal Musk’s reply was “Message received wide and clear.” This exchange highlights the extent of Epstein’s perceived influence and the awareness of his associates regarding his control over the women in his network.
Epstein swiftly attempted to parlay Kimbal Musk’s new romance into an opportunity to approach Elon Musk. Weeks after the birthday party, Epstein directly emailed Elon, informing him he would be seeing “your brother and his new romance” in New York. While Elon Musk stated he would not be in New York at the same time, the two men began exchanging messages about a potential trip to Epstein’s Caribbean island. On Christmas morning 2012, Elon Musk wrote about needing to “hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose,” but the plans did not materialize. In February 2013, Epstein revisited the topic, asking Elon if his brother had mentioned Sarah’s “pregnant joke” before inquiring about Elon’s attendance at an upcoming TED conference. Elon Musk responded that he wouldn’t be at TED for long but offered that if Epstein “would like to talk,” the SpaceX factory near Long Beach, California, would be a suitable location. The emails suggest Epstein subsequently visited the facility on February 25, 2013, with three women, later thanking Elon for the tour. Elon Musk had previously denied in 2020 that Epstein ever toured SpaceX.
Ultimately, Epstein’s direct access to Elon Musk appears to have waned in April 2013, when Kimbal Musk ended his relationship with Sarah, citing personal commitments and a desire for a more casual arrangement. Sarah forwarded this email to Epstein, asking for his “Thoughts?” Epstein’s immediate response was, “ok, good news now i have you back again, full time,” instructing her to come to his New Mexico ranch. Three days later, Epstein acknowledged the loss of his connection to Elon, writing to an associate that since Sarah “broke up with kimbal therefore no elon and most of the fun things will be this afternoon.” Despite continued efforts to contact Elon Musk via email with invitations to visits and events, most received brief or no responses. While Elon Musk did initiate planning for a holiday visit to Epstein’s island in late 2013, Epstein ultimately cancelled due to his “schedule.” Apart from one reported dinner with Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, and Reid Hoffman, Elon Musk appears not to have attended other events with Epstein after the 2012 lunch. However, emails indicate Epstein continued to coordinate at least one other woman’s interactions with Kimbal Musk in June of that same year, telling a woman, identified as Alice, that “I gave another girl to kimball and he is thrilled.” Epstein’s attempts to cultivate relationships with the Musk brothers align with his broader strategy of befriending wealthy individuals, maintaining complex relationships, and leveraging them to sustain his influence and fortune, even after his 2008 sex offender registration.
