How far are you willing to go to make a buck? For Tesla shareholders, looking the other way when two board members had close relationships with the head of a sex trafficking organization, and lied about it, is evidently on the table.
The newly released Epstein files contain extensive correspondence involving not one, but two current Tesla board members, CEO Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk. The documents directly contradict Elon’s public claims about his relationship with the convicted sex offender, reveal that Epstein was arranging women for Kimbal, and show the kind of conduct that would end careers at any company with functioning corporate governance.
But Tesla isn’t any company. And Tesla shareholders have made it abundantly clear that stock price is all that matters.
The documents
Let’s start with what’s actually in the files.
Elon Musk initiated visits to Epstein’s island
Despite Musk’s public claim that “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” the emails tell a very different story. In December 2013, it was Musk who reached out to Epstein:
“Will be in the BVI/St Bart’s area over the holidays. Is there a good time to visit?”
Epstein replied: “any day 1st – 8th. play it by ear if you want. always space for you.”
Musk responded: “Ok, probably the 1st then.”
By Christmas Day, Musk was actively coordinating the trip: “Actually, I could fly back early on the 3rd. We will be in St Bart’s. When should we head to your island on the 2nd?”
Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff even sent a reminder email on December 31, 2013: “Just a reminder Elon Musk was asking about coming to your island on Jan. 2…”
A Google Calendar notification from Epstein’s files shows an entry dated December 6, 2014: “ELON MUSK TO ISLAND DEC. 6TH”
It’s also unclear why the organizer of that calendar event was redacted. Only the victims’ names should be redacted.
“No one over 25 and all very cute”
Perhaps the most damning exchange occurred on September 11, 2013. Epstein was trying to lure Musk to New York for the UN General Assembly opening, promising “many interesting people coming to the house.”
Musk declined, citing work demands at SpaceX and Tesla.
Epstein’s response: “do you think i am retarded, . ? just kidding, there is no one over 25 and all very cute”
Let that sink in. Jeffrey Epstein explicitly told Elon Musk that his events featured young women, “all very cute.” This wasn’t a case of Musk being unaware of who Epstein was or what he was about.
“The ratio on my island might make Talulah uncomfortable”
In another exchange from Christmas 2012, Musk told Epstein he wanted to “hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose” after his kids went home.
Epstein’s reply: “Understood, I will see you on st Barth, the ratio on my island might make Talulah uncomfortable”
“The ratio.” Epstein was warning Musk that the proportion of young women on his island might make his then-wife Talulah Riley uncomfortable. Musk didn’t seem deterred.
Three girls’ passports
On February 22, 2013, Epstein’s assistant emailed Elon Musk’s office: “Hello Mary Beth…I have now sent you a copy of all 3 girls passports… Jeffrey will have his ID with him…”
Epstein’s assistant was sending copies of passports for three unnamed “girls” in connection with travel involving Musk. It appeared to be related to Musk giving Epstein a tour of SpaceX in California, something Musk also denied in the past.
The SpaceX tour and business discussions
The documents show Epstein thanking Musk for “the tour” in February 2013, confirming an in-person meeting at SpaceX or Tesla facilities. Epstein also asked Musk about having SolarCity “electrify the caribbean island” and “the new mexico ranch”, a direct reference to Epstein’s properties.
Musk forwarded this request to his cousin Peter Rive, SolarCity’s co-founder, asking “Are we in New Mexico?”
Third parties confirm the relationship
In August 2015, Sultan Bin Sulayem emailed Epstein: “Did you have your dinner with Elon Musk? and did you explain to him my proposal? what was his reactions?”
This shows that years into their relationship, Epstein was acting as an intermediary for business proposals with Musk, and others knew it.
Elon Musk lies about his involvement
Before the files were released, Musk claimed he “refused” Epstein’s invitation to his island.
For the first few days after the release, Musk again maintained that he “always refused” invitations, despite clear evidence that he himself had asked to come to the island on several occasions.
Today, Musk admitted for the first time that he did ask to come, but he claims that this is not a big deal because he was asking to come with his then-wife:
It’s important to note that he is only referencing one of three separate occasions in which he actively discussed visiting Epstein’s island, all of which were after he was already convicted, and two of which mention attending parties.
Kimbal Musk: The other Tesla board member
Elon wasn’t the only Musk in Epstein’s orbit. His brother Kimbal, who sits on Tesla’s board of directors, had his own extensive relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Scheduled meetings at Epstein’s house
Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff sent scheduling emails confirming: “Kimbal is now confirmed to come to your house at 11:30 on Sunday” and “11:30 Lunch w/Kimbal Musk and MAYBE Boris to come a bit later(?)”
“Jen’s schedule”
One document sent to Epstein details “Jen’s schedule for the rest of the year” alongside Kimbal’s whereabouts:
- Nov 7th-9th: Kimbal in NYC
- Nov 13th-15th: Kimbal in NYC
- Nov 16th-18th: Kimbal/Jen London
- Nov 19th-25th: Kimbal/Jen London to Morocco??? !!! 🙂
- Dec 26th – Jan 2nd: Kimbal/Jen St. Barts (assuming were not sick of each other by the end of NOV!)
This appears to show Epstein coordinating a woman’s travel schedule to accompany Kimbal Musk across multiple continents over several months.
In a separate email, Kimbal wrote to Boris Nikolic (who was later named as a backup executor in Epstein’s will), copying Epstein: “Jeffrey: Message received wide and clear. 😉 Seriously, I am very happy with my time so far with Jennifer. She’s great.”
Halloween plans with Epstein
Boris Nikolic, in an email to Kimbal cc’ing Epstein, suggested the three of them do Halloween together: “Jeffrey could be Holy Spirit (wise man), I would go as baby Jesus, and you Kimbal could go as Virgin Mary ;)”
This wasn’t a casual acquaintance. These were people planning holidays together.
What would happen at a normal company
At virtually any public company with functional corporate governance, these revelations would trigger an immediate response:
- An independent investigation into the extent of both board members’ involvement
- Board members recusing themselves from any governance decisions until cleared
- Potential termination for cause — lying to shareholders about involvement with a convicted sex offender, combined with evidence of Epstein arranging women for a board member, would be grounds for immediate removal
- Shareholder lawsuits over breach of fiduciary duty
The standard isn’t whether someone committed a crime. It’s whether their conduct reflects the judgment and integrity expected of a corporate director. Having a convicted sex trafficker tell you his events feature women “no one over 25 and all very cute”, and continuing the relationship, fails that standard spectacularly.
Why nothing will happen at Tesla
Tesla shareholders won’t demand accountability because Tesla’s shareholder base is Musk’s shareholder base.
Over the past decade, Musk has systematically built a corporate governance structure that exists to serve him rather than hold him accountable. The board is stacked with friends and family (including Kimbal). The shareholder base is dominated by retail investors who view Tesla stock as a quasi-religious movement rather than an investment.
These same shareholders will look at their CEO lying about refusing to visit a sex trafficker’s island, when emails show he initiated the visit, and conclude that it doesn’t matter. They’ll see a board member allegedly receiving women arranged by Epstein and decide it’s not relevant to Tesla’s business.
The stock is up. The stock is what matters. Everything else is FUD.
A question of character
The Epstein documents don’t prove that either Musk brother committed any crimes. But they do prove that both maintained a relationship with a man who, at the time, was already convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Top comment by DynamicPresence
Look, by the late 2000's, there was only one reason to reach out to Epstein, as his reputation was well-known among the wealthy at that time. The fact that Musk and the sitting President of the United States remained in touch with Epstein well into the 2010's says a lot about how much trouble these people expected by continuing to associate with Epstein.
While many other prominent people in the Epstein files claim to have hung out with him to seek funding for science or philanthropy, the Musk brothers can’t use that defense. Elon clearly wanted to hang out to “party,” and Kimball literally started a relationship with “one of Epstein’s girls”, according to their email exchanges.
Elon Musk received those emails. He continued the relationship. He asked to visit the island. And then he lied to the public about it, claiming he “REFUSED” when the emails show he initiated the plans.
Character matters in a CEO. Judgment matters in a board member. The ability to trust what leadership tells you matters to shareholders.
Unless, of course, the stock keeps going up because your CEO keeps promising the moon. Then apparently nothing matters at all.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments