Musk, Zuckerberg pictured at ‘wild’ Epstein dinner in newly released files

A newly released batch of Jeffrey Epstein files has reignited scrutiny of the late financier’s continued access to powerful figures, revealing a photograph that places Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg at a lavish California dinner hosted by Epstein in 2015, years after his 2008 conviction for trafficking minors.

The image, included in documents released by the US Department of Justice, shows Musk and Zuckerberg seated across a long dining table at an upscale gathering described by Epstein himself as “wild.” The dinner reportedly also included LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

According to the files, Epstein emailed the photograph to himself on August 3, 2015. In the image, Musk appears to glance toward the camera—believed to have been operated by Epstein—while Zuckerberg looks ahead with a serious expression.

The photograph has drawn renewed attention in light of Musk’s recent public denial of any social engagement with Epstein. “I have never been to any Epstein parties ever,” Musk said weeks earlier, calling instead for the prosecution of those who committed crimes alongside the disgraced financier. “The acid test for justice is not the release of the files, but the prosecution of those who committed heinous crimes with Epstein,” Musk wrote on X on January 31.

Emails included in the latest document dump reference the dinner on multiple occasions. In an August 2, 2015, exchange with longevity influencer and CBS News contributor Peter Attia, Epstein wrote: “Where are you? I might be in LA Monday… tonite dinner with Musk, Thiel, Zuckerburg.” Attia replied: “Sounds like an awesome dinner.”

Epstein referenced the gathering again in an August 20, 2015, email to billionaire Tom Pritzker, cousin of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, describing it bluntly as “wild.”

The dinner was first reported by Vanity Fair in 2019, which said the event was hosted by Reid Hoffman at his Palo Alto, California, residence in honour of MIT neuroscientist Ed Boyden.

Hoffman has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, while acknowledging regret over his association with him. Last week, the LinkedIn co-founder said his interactions with Epstein were limited to a fundraising relationship with MIT, coordinated by Joi Ito, then director of the MIT Media Lab.

“I only knew Jeffrey Epstein because of a fundraising relationship with MIT, which I very much regret,” Hoffman said in a post on X. “The victims of Epstein’s abhorrent and vile actions deserve all the information they are seeking.”

The disclosures have also sparked a public clash between Musk and Hoffman. An email from 2013 cited in the files shows Epstein thanking Musk for a tour of SpaceX, a meeting Musk denied in 2020. The contradiction triggered a heated exchange between the two tech leaders on social media last week.

While the newly released documents underscore Epstein’s continued proximity to influential figures despite his conviction, the files do not constitute evidence of criminal complicity by those named in connection with the dinner.