Epstein's Silicon Valley connections went beyond Gates and Musk

The U.S. Justice Department’s latest release of millions of documents related to the notorious sex criminal and financier Jeffrey Epstein has shed more light on the relationships he built with various influential figures, including many from the American tech industry.

Notably, the files reference communications and meetings involving tech mogul Elon Musk and Microsoft co-founderBill Gates, two of the world’s wealthiest people. This has led to much scrutiny of the pair in recent weeks, both of whom have denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

But those two billionairesarenotthe only tech names to appearrepeatedly inthe trove of new documents. Other tech executives named include Google co-founder Sergey Brin, venture capitalist Peter Thiel, former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.

While those executives have been linked to Epstein in the past, the new disclosures reveal more than previously known about their association with the convicted sex offender through records ranging from emails,schedulesand photos.

Brin and Sinofsky have not commented on the matter, while Theiland Hoffman have said they only associated with Epstein for legal and legitimate purposes.

Authorities have stressed thatbeingnamed in the recordsdoesnotindicateevidence of wrongdoing nor prove thatthe name waspart of apurported clientlist or blackmail scheme.

Still, the files help paint a picture of Epstein’s longstanding efforts to embed himself within — and sometimes become a confidant andpower-brokerfor — some of Silicon Valley’s most powerful circles prior to his death in 2019

Those communications began around 2014 and lasted until around 2019, just months before Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges, and well after he was first formally charged with sex-related crimes in 2006.

Among the materials is arecording of an undated conversationbetween Epstein and former Israeli prime ministerEhud Barak, in which Epstein references Thiel.

In the recording, EpsteinadvisedBarakon how toleveragehis connections to get a lucrative position atacompany,floatingPalantir asa potential option.He added that he had not yet met Thiel but hoped to see him the following week.

The duo would indeed get better acquainted, with emails over the years including meeting plans, discussions about theTrump campaign, and other informal exchanges. Ahead of one planned meeting, Thiel’s team had even sent hisdietary detailsto Epstein’s staff. 

Files released by the House Oversight Committee in November 2025 also showed Epsteininvited Thielto visit him in “the Caribbean.”

In response to CNBC’s request for comment, a representative for Thiel said the venture capitalist never visited Epstein’sinfamous private islandin the Virgin Islands.

The New York Timesreported in JunethatEpstein,in 2015 and 2016,had invested $40 million in two funds managed by aventure capitalfirmco-founded by Thiel.

In apodcast appearancethat aired on Aug. 16, 2024,Thiel discussed some of his encounters with Epstein, noting that he met him a few times starting in 2014, after being introduced by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.

Thiel said the discussions centered on tax and financialadvice. He added that he had underestimated the severity of Epstein’s earlier crimes due to Epstein’s lenient sentencing in 2008 and his trust in the judgment of his mutual connections.

While much of the correspondence centered on fundraising for MIT’s Media Lab, it also included personal interactions, tax advice, meeting plans, andmentions ofgiftsHoffman sent to Epstein. The documents also confirm a 2014 visit Hoffman made to Epstein’s private island. 

Hoffman has previously acknowledged visiting the island, saying the trip was strictly for philanthropic purposes and that he later regretted not researching Epstein more thoroughly beforehand. 

However, other emails show plans foradditionalvisits to Epstein’s estates, including hisZorro Ranchin New Mexico and his Manhattan apartment, thoughit’sunclear which of those trips actually occurred. Hoffman recently confirmed 2016 meetings with Epstein in Palo Alto and Cambridge.

Epstein is seen referring to Hoffman as a “very close friend,”and saying at one point that hemissed seeing and talking to the internet entrepreneur.Emails in 2014 also show the financiertrying tohelp connect Hoffman toinvestment opportunitiesin India.

Meanwhile, a 2015 email fromEpstein mentioned a dinnerHoffman hosted in Palo Alto,attended by Zuckerberg, Musk, Thiel, and MIT neuroscientist Ed Boyden.

Hoffmanconnected Zuckerberg and Epsteinvia email after the event. In response to an inquiry, Meta directed CNBC to a 2019 statement from a spokesperson, which stated thatZuckerbergdid notcommunicate with Epstein againafter the dinner.

Hoffman did not respond to a CNBC request for comment. He has previouslysaid he regrets his interactions with Epstein and has called for a full release of the Epstein files. Thelatest documentsreviewed by CNBCcontainednoindicationsof criminal wrongdoing or involvement in Epstein’s illicit activities.

However, in November last year, President Donald Trump hadordered a DOJ investigationinto Hoffman, a major Democratic donor, along with formerpresident Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

Trump framed the investigation as a probe of Democratic ties to Epstein, though some critics argued it was a deflection fromTrump’s own mentions in the files.Trump has confirmeda past friendship with Epstein, but said he had no knowledge of his crimes and broke off his relationship withhimyears ago.

Oneparticular email chain in April 2003showed Brin communicating with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime companion and convicted co-conspirator,regardingpotential dinner plans at Epstein’s New York estate.

The exchange appeared to follow up on an earlierencounter between the two.”Dinners at Jeffrey’s are always happily casual and relaxed. Look forward to seeing you,” Maxwell wrote. 

CNBC contacted Brin through Google forcomment, butdidnot receive a response.

Connections between Epstein and Brin have been previously documented, though no allegations of wrongdoing have been leveled.

In 2004, Epstein had allegedlyreferred Brin to JPMorgan Chaseas a client and later connected him with bank executives for tax advice, per a complaint filed by the U.S. Virgin Islands government in a U.S. district court against JPMorgan Chase Bank. The U.S. Virgin Islands also subpoenaed Brin in March 2023 for documents related to Epstein’s interactions with JPMorgan.

Meanwhile, court documents unsealed in 2024related to litigation involving Maxwell included exhibits in which Epstein accuser Sarah Ransomealleged she metBrin and his then fiancée, now ex-wife, Anne Wojcicki, on Epstein’s island.

Brin stepped down as president of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, on Dec. 3,2019,saying at the time that he was no longer neededin the role. However,heremaineda controlling shareholder and board member.

He returned from semi-retirement in late 2023 to actively contribute to the company’s artificial intelligence initiatives, including work on Gemini.

The documents showed that Sinofsky hadsought Epstein’s adviceon the terms of his exit from Microsoft after leaving in 2012.

Sinofsky, who is now a board partner at venture capital firmAndreessen Horowitz, thenemailed Epsteinin September 2013, about three months after Microsoft announced the terms of his $14 million retirement agreement, writing: “Got paid.You will be too :)”

Sinofsky continued to email Epstein through 2018, discussing his finances, career prospects and social events in New York,San Franciscoand Seattle.

An email exchange from November 2012 also appears to show Epstein referencinga possible meeting betweenSinofsky and Apple’s Tim Cookregardingjob opportunities. In the email, Epsteinappears to indicatehe had recently spoken with Cook, saying “timcook was excited to meet” with Sinofsky,though the context is unclear. Months later, Sinofsky wouldemailEpstein about a meeting with Cook.

Sinofsky declined to comment. Apple did not respond to a request for commentregardingthe allegedEpstein-Cook interaction.

Epstein’s relationship with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who appears inearlier document releases, has also drawn intense scrutiny in recent weeks followingmentionsin the latest disclosures. Those included draft emailswritten to himselfin whichEpsteinsuggeststhathe had helped facilitate extramarital affairs and sexual encountersfor Gates,amongstother things.

In an interview with Australia’s 9News on Wednesday, Gates denied any wrongdoing in relation to new files, calling Epstein’s allegations “absolutely absurd and completely false.”

He emphasized that his interactions with Epstein were limited to dinners aimed at potential philanthropy discussions, adding that he “never went to the island”and “never met any women.”