In a new twist to the ongoing revelations surrounding the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, newly unsealed documents from a 2019 investigation suggest that tech billionaire Elon Musk may have once planned a trip to Epstein’s notorious private island, Little Saint James.

The documents—released as part of a court order following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit—includeflight manifests, email communications, and a redacted calendar entry that has now reignited questions about Musk’s past proximity to Epstein’s social circle.

While there isno evidence Musk ever visited the island, the documents suggest he may havebeen in talks to travel there in 2012 or 2013—raising eyebrows among observers, critics, and even some of Musk’s most loyal supporters.

The Documents: A Planned Visit That Never Happened?

The newly released files were part of a sealed deposition from a now-closed federal case in the Southern District of New York. Among hundreds of pages, one set of emails stands out—a brief 3-message thread between Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff, a private charter service, and a redacted recipient identified only as “E. Musk.”

The emails are dated June 18, 2013, and outline tentative travel arrangements from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, the closest major airport to Little Saint James.

One excerpt reads:

Mr. Epstein is pleased to accommodate Mr. Musk’s interest in visiting. We are coordinating guest arrangements for July 2–4. Please confirm his availability and preferred passenger list.”

The name “E. Musk” appears again in a flight itinerary draft, but there is no confirmation of a completed booking—nor any indication that Musk boarded the plane. Still, the connection, however indirect, is enough to set off alarms for those following the long list of Epstein’s high-profile associations.

Musk’s Response: “This Is a Smear Campaign”

When approached for comment by multiple outlets, aspokesperson for Elon Musk denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the documents asincomplete, misleading, and politically motivated.”

In a statement sent to Bloomberg:

Elon Musk never visited Epstein’s island, never confirmed any travel to it, and was never part of Epstein’s circle. This is part of a smear campaign to discredit voices that challenge mainstream narratives.”

The statement also reiterated that Musk had previously called for a full public list of Epstein associates to be released, tweeting in 2020:

Where is the ‘Epstein/Maxwell client list’? Shouldn’t at least one person go down for all that abuse?”

Critics argue, however, that intent and interest still matter, especially given the growing awareness of how Epstein lured powerful men into his orbit—whether or not they ultimately crossed criminal lines.

Context: Musk, Epstein & Tech’s Gray Shadows

Elon Musk has long maintained thathis only interactions with Epstein were minimal and non-personal.

In a 2019 New York Times piece, Musk admitted to one brief encounter with Epstein at a dinner organized by mutual contacts but claimed to have found Epstein “creepy” and said he left quickly.

I was at his house in Manhattan for about 20 minutes with Talulah [Riley]. He tried to pitch me on a science project. We bounced,” Musk said at the time.

But emails from Epstein’s archives, leaked in 2020, showed thatEpstein’s staff frequently referenced Musk in internal communications—raising suspicions about more extensive behind-the-scenes connections.

The newly released documents now suggest that Epstein may have at least attempted to court Musk for a deeper relationship, either personal, scientific, or business-related.

Was Epstein Recruiting Musk?

One theory among investigators and journalists is that Epstein sought to connect with influential tech figures in order to boost his own image, finance his pseudo-scientific projects, and maintain access to elite circles.

In the same document release, Epstein’s staff appear to have compiled a “Tech Influencer Outreach List” that included names like:

Elon Musk

Larry Page (Google co-founder)

Peter Thiel (PayPal co-founder)

Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn)

According to internal notes, Epstein believed that “aligning with futurists” would help him “reposition his legacy toward longevity science, AI, and philanthropy.”

Whether Musk was knowingly part of that strategy remains unknown—but the existence of planned travel documents and places him closer to Epstein’s influence than previously acknowledged.

Legal Experts Weigh In

Criminal attorney and former federal prosecutor Marla Steinberg commented on the revelations:

There is no legal implication here unless there’s evidence of criminal behavior. But reputationally, even the suggestion of an Epstein Island itinerary is explosive—especially for someone as high-profile and controversial as Musk.”

She added:

Many powerful people were drawn into Epstein’s web—sometimes unknowingly. But the public is now much less forgiving when patterns of proximity are exposed.”

The Internet Reacts: “Another One?”

Predictably, social media exploded after the news broke, with #ElonEpstein trending on X and TikTok. Some users expressed disappointment, others skepticism, and many were quick to point out the double standards in how Epstein-linked figures are treated based on their political or public affiliations.

One viral tweet read:

Elon Musk asked for the Epstein list. Turns out he might’ve been on the invite list himself.”

On Reddit, conspiracy threads speculated that this could explain Musk’s recent clashes with government agencies and media outlets, theorizing that this release is “retaliation” for his controversial statements on AI, space militarization, and political independence.

Others defended Musk, saying:

Thinking about going somewhere isn’t the same as going. Y’all cancel people on suspicion alone.”

Media and Political Fallout

Several outlets are now requesting additional transparency regarding how Epstein’s travel guest lists were curated—and why certain names were redacted or withheld during earlier investigations.

Democratic Senator Kara Woodson issued a statement calling for a special Senate review of all Epstein-related travel manifests, particularly regarding billionaires, lawmakers, and tech moguls.

The American people deserve to know who was connected to Jeffrey Epstein—and to what extent.”

Musk has yet to respond to the senator’s comments.

Conclusion: Guilt by Association or Missed Opportunity for the Truth?

As more documents from the Epstein case trickle into the public domain, the lines between guilt, association, and proximity are becoming harder to draw. For Elon Musk, a man often painted as a rebel genius or reckless visionary, these new revelations complicate an already polarizing image.

Did Musk truly intend to visit Epstein’s island? Or was this a casual inquiry misunderstood in hindsight?

What’s clear is that the Epstein scandal continues to drag more elite names into its web—sometimes by force, sometimes by fact, and sometimes by speculation. In the digital age, even a canceled flight can become a public reckoning.