Elon Musk has loudly called for the Epstein files to be released. It is now clear that he himself had contact with Jeffrey Epstein and asked for an invitation to his island. Image: AP
New Epstein documents put Elon Musk in need of explanation: After emails became public that indicate close contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the tech billionaire declares the affair a minor matter – and speaks of a “distraction.”
January 31, 2026, 11:00 p.mFeb 1, 2026, 9:11 p.m
Tesla billionaire Elon Musk is suddenly calling the Epstein files a “distraction” that “doesn’t matter” – after documents became public showing that he had asked to be invited to a party hosted by Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk wrote to Epstein: “A peaceful island experience is the opposite of what I am looking for.”.
The 54-year-old had long campaigned for the full publication of the Epstein files and for the late sex offender’s clients to be prosecuted. However, after releasing new documents on Friday, Musk changed his tone.
In a post on X on Saturday morning, he wrote: “What matters is not the publication of part of the Epstein files, but the prosecution of those who committed heinous crimes with Epstein.” He further added: “Only when there is at least one arrest will some justice be achieved. If not, it’s all just symbolism – nothing but a distraction.”
Emails with specific travel and party plans
The files released on Friday contain email correspondence between Musk and Epstein from November 2012. In it, Epstein asked Musk “how many people you will be on the helicopter to the island.” Musk replied: “Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night is the wildest party on your island?” This meant Musk’s then-partner Talulah Riley, whom he married twice in the 2010s and divorced just as often.
Musk was probably interested in Epstein’s wildest party.
A month later, Musk wrote to Epstein on Christmas Day and asked if he could help him “let loose” in the party scene. Another email exchange from 2013 shows Musk planning a visit to Epstein’s Little St. James island. Epstein replied that there was “always room” for him there.
Epstein “always has room” for Musk.
Contradiction to previous statements
The publication contradicts Musk’s previous statements. In 2019, he denied ever visiting Epstein’s island and portrayed it as a nuisance. He told Vanity Fair at the time that Epstein had “repeatedly tried to bring me to his island. I refused.”
Defense by Supporters – Musk agrees
After the files were published, users on
Malaysian influencer Ian Miles Cheong, who promotes MAGA on social networks, rallied behind Musk and collected posts in which he called for the Epstein files to be made public. Cheong wrote: “There was no one who demanded the release of the Epstein files more loudly than Elon Musk. If he had something to hide or was guilty of something, he wouldn’t have wanted to see these files publicly.” Musk shared the post and commented: “Absolutely.”
Epstein files as political leverage
At the same time, Musk had used the Epstein files in the past to build political pressure – including against Donald Trump. After the break between Musk and Trump in the summer of 2025, Musk wrote: “Time to drop the really big bombshell: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That’s the real reason they weren’t published.”
Musk also accused the Department of Justice of an “obvious” cover-up and complained that “so many powerful people” wanted to see this list suppressed.