Who’s Who of the Powerful Appears in Newly Released Epstein Files
New York. From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and foreign dignitaries, a who’s who of powerful men appears in a vast trove of documents released by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations of Jeffrey Epstein.
All have denied involvement in Epstein’s sexual abuse of girls and young women. Some, however, maintained friendships with Epstein, or formed new ones, even after he became widely known through news reports as an alleged serial abuser of underage girls.
None has been charged with a crime related to the investigation. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019.
Here is a primer on some of the notable names appearing in the Epstein files:
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
The man formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew has long faced scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein, including allegations by the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre that Epstein trafficked her and directed her to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17.
He has repeatedly denied the allegations. Nevertheless, his brother, King Charles III, stripped him of his remaining royal titles late last year, including the right to be called prince and the Duke of York.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s name appears hundreds of times in the document release, including in Epstein’s private emails. Among them are an invitation for Epstein to dine at Buckingham Palace, an offer to introduce Mountbatten-Windsor to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and photos that appear to show him kneeling over an unidentified woman lying on the floor.
Sarah Ferguson
In March 2011, Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, publicly apologized for allowing Epstein to pay off some of her debts. She and her former husband, Prince Andrew, had come under intense scrutiny for maintaining a friendly relationship with Epstein after his guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
Ferguson told London’s Evening Standard she would have “nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.” Two months later, however, she emailed Epstein seeking advice ahead of an appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show.
“I just want to make sure you are aware of this and seek your advice on how you would like me to answer,” she wrote.
Epstein replied that he had been “unfairly characterized as a pedophile” by the tabloid press and said he had “paid his debt to society.”
Elon Musk
The billionaire Tesla founder appears several times in the newly released documents, including emails from 2012 and 2013 discussing a possible visit to Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
It is unclear whether any such visit occurred. Spokespeople for Tesla and X did not respond to requests for comment.
Musk has said he rejected Epstein’s overtures. “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” he posted on X in 2025.
Richard Branson
The billionaire founder of the Virgin Group exchanged numerous emails with Epstein. In one 2013 message, Branson invited Epstein to his private Caribbean island, which hosts conferences and charity events.
“As long as you bring your harem!” Branson wrote in one email.
In another exchange, Branson suggested Epstein rehabilitate his public image by persuading Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to vouch for him publicly.
Virgin Group said Branson engaged with Epstein only in group or business settings more than a decade ago, declined a charitable donation and cut off contact after learning of serious allegations.
“Richard believes Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports justice for his many victims,” the company said.
Donald Trump
Epstein and Trump were known to be friends before a falling out. The documents contain thousands of references to Trump, largely consisting of shared news articles, commentary on his politics, and gossip.
The Justice Department also released a spreadsheet summarizing unverified tips alleging wrongdoing by Trump and other public figures. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI received hundreds of such calls that were “quickly determined to not be credible.”
Bill Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton associated with Epstein more than two decades ago, including flying on his private jet and meeting him at the White House. Clinton has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
His representatives say Clinton cut ties with Epstein after criminal charges were filed in 2006. None of Epstein’s victims has publicly accused Clinton of wrongdoing.
Steven Tisch
The New York Giants co-owner is mentioned more than 400 times in the files. Emails show Epstein offered to introduce Tisch to women.
In a 2013 exchange, Epstein promoted a woman’s appearance in crude terms. Tisch replied, “Pro or civilian?”
Tisch has acknowledged knowing Epstein but denied visiting his island. “He was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with,” he said.
Brett Ratner
The film director appears in photographs with Epstein and Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent who died by suicide in jail in 2022 while awaiting trial on rape charges.
Other images show Ratner sitting with Epstein and young women whose faces are obscured. Ratner did not respond to requests for comment.
Casey Wasserman
The president of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organizing committee exchanged flirtatious emails with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003.
Wasserman said he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein and regretted the correspondence, which occurred “long before her horrific crimes came to light.” Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Ehud Barak
The former Israeli prime minister appears frequently in the files, showing years of contact with Epstein, including after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea.
Barak has acknowledged visiting Epstein and flying on his plane but said he witnessed no wrongdoing.
Larry Summers
The former U.S. Treasury secretary and ex-Harvard president maintained a long relationship with Epstein. Emails show Summers contacting Epstein in 2019, after new charges were filed, an interaction he later called “a major error of judgment.”
Howard Lutnick
President Trump’s commerce secretary visited Epstein’s island with his family in 2012, according to records, despite earlier claims he cut ties decades earlier.
The Commerce Department said Lutnick had limited interactions with Epstein, always in the presence of his wife, and has never been accused of wrongdoing.
Sergey Brin
Emails show Google co-founder Sergey Brin planned meetings with Epstein and Maxwell in 2003, before Epstein’s crimes became public. Google did not respond to requests for comment.
Steve Bannon
Trump’s former adviser exchanged hundreds of messages with Epstein, discussing politics, travel and a proposed documentary aimed at rehabilitating Epstein’s image. Bannon has not commented.
Miroslav Lajcak
Slovakia’s national security adviser resigned Saturday after his communications with Epstein were disclosed. Lajcak said the contact was part of his diplomatic duties and denied wrongdoing.
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