Newly disclosed emails and travel itineraries have unveiled that Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier convicted of sex offences, continued to mingle with Silicon Valley's most prominent billionaires at exclusive dinners for years after his release from prison. The documents, part of a trove released by the Department of Justice, indicate that as late as 2018, Epstein was invited to or attended events alongside tech luminaries including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and former Google vice-president Marissa Mayer.
Epstein's Ongoing Association with the Tech Elite
These gatherings were primarily orchestrated by the Edge network, a platform founded by literary agent John Brockman that hosted sumptuous dinners and exclusive conferences for what it termed "the rich, the smart, and the powerful." Despite Epstein's 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl for prostitution and his subsequent registration as a high-risk sex offender, the emails show his sustained connection to this elite circle. Notably, none of the attendees mentioned have responded to requests for comment regarding these revelations.
Financial Backing and Secrecy
Media reports and non-profit tax filings reveal that Epstein contributed approximately $638,000 to the Edge network between 2001 and 2015, making him its largest funder during that period. The emails emphasise the clandestine nature of these events, with attendees advising Brockman to maintain "radio silence" to preserve exclusivity. Epstein's involvement was often not publicised in retrospectives on the Edge website, particularly after his conviction, though he remained a frequent guest.
Key Events and Attendees
The dinners took place at upscale venues across North America's west coast, from Vancouver to Long Beach. For instance, in February 2004, Epstein attended the "Billionaires' Dinner" with figures like Page, Brin, Bezos, and journalist Michael Wolff. In subsequent years, invitations extended to Epstein included the 2011 dinner at L'Opera restaurant in Long Beach, with guests such as Musk, Bezos, Gates, and musician Peter Gabriel. By 2014, an email confirmed Epstein's attendance at a dinner in Vancouver, though his presence was omitted from public records.
Scandal and Continued Invitations
Even as scandals re-emerged in 2015 with allegations linking Epstein to Prince Andrew, Brockman continued to invite him to events. In one email exchange, Epstein expressed concerns about potential objections from female attendees, to which Brockman reassured him, noting he would check with other guests. This correspondence underscores the network's awareness of Epstein's notoriety yet willingness to include him. In 2018, Brockman even sought Epstein's assistance for networking favours, referencing connections in the Middle East.
Reactions and Implications
Elon Musk commented on social media, stating he had "very little correspondence" with Epstein and declined invitations to his island, but acknowledged the risk of misinterpretation. The emails provide the first detailed evidence of Epstein's prolonged ties to the Edge network and its members post-2011, highlighting how his conviction did not hinder his access to Silicon Valley's upper echelons. This revelation raises questions about the ethical boundaries within elite tech and academic circles, as they engaged with a known sex offender years after his legal troubles became public.
