New documents show the men’s contacts with Epstein were more extensive than previously known.

Newly released investigative documents into the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have thrown more scrutiny into his ties to some of the richest and most powerful people in America, including tycoons Bill Gates and Elon Musk.

The documents released Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice come more than a month before the Dec. 19 deadline set by legislation for the release of all Epstein-related documents.

The 3 million-page press release shines a spotlight on two of the world’s richest men – Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Tesla founder Elon Musk – both of whom have previously downplayed their ties to Epstein.

In a draft email included in the documents, Epstein alleged that Gates was having an extramarital affair and sought his help procuring drugs “to deal with the consequences of having sex with a Russian girl.” It’s unclear whether Epstein sent the email.

The Gates Foundation denied the accusations of an extramarital affair in a statement to The New York Times, calling them “absolutely ridiculous and completely false.”

Tesla founder Elon Musk’s emails to Epstein revealed Musk actively pursues Between 2012 and 2013, Epstein visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island multiple times. Convicted of soliciting prostitution from minors. In a 2012 exchange, Musk wrote: “What day/night will be the craziest party on your island?”

Epstein appears to have canceled a planned meeting with Musk in 2013 due to scheduling issues. The emails do not indicate that Musk ultimately visited Epstein’s island, but they challenge Musk’s previous claims that he was the one who turned down Epstein’s invitation.

Musk responded on his X social media platform on Saturday that he was “well aware that some email communications with him could be misinterpreted and used by critics to smear my name.”

“No one fought harder than me to get Epstein’s documents released, and I’m glad it’s finally happening,” Musk wrote. “I had minimal correspondence with Epstein and declined multiple invitations to visit his island or ride on his ‘Lolita Express.'”

The documents also include email communications showing Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick arranged to visit Epstein’s island in December 2012. An email forwarded to Lutnick by Epstein’s assistant appeared to confirm the two met during that time.

In October 2025, Lutnick called Epstein “disgusting” and “the greatest blackmailer of all time” and claimed he had severed ties with the man years ago.

A Commerce Department spokesman said in a statement that Lutnick “had limited interactions with Epstein in the presence of his wife and was never charged with wrongdoing.”

Abuser remains ‘hidden and protected’

Despite new revelations, a group of survivors of Epstein’s alleged abuse say some of their alleged abusers “remain hidden and protected.”

A statement from 19 survivors, some using pseudonyms or initials, said information about them remains in the files “while those who abused us remain hidden and protected.” The letter calls for “the full release of Epstein’s files” and for Attorney General Pam Bondi to address the matter directly when she testifies before Congress next month.

Epstein Dossier Transparency Act, Trump signed it into law on November 19Calls on the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related documents by December 19.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Branch said Friday’s release “marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process.” He blamed the delays on redaction efforts to protect the identities of Epstein’s more than 1,000 alleged victims.