Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender and financier, boasted about a “wild” dinner he attended with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman in a newly released 2015 email from Department of Justice files.
The email, dated August 20, 2015, was sent to billionaire Tom Pritzker in response to a question about Epstein’s travel plans to New York later that month.
Epstein wrote: “not sure yet. i had dinner with zuckerburg, mu=k, thiel hoffman, wild.” The shorthand references Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk (misspelled as “mu=k”), Peter Thiel, and Reid Hoffman.
This gathering, which Epstein described as “wild,” took place in Palo Alto, California, and was hosted by Reid Hoffman to honor MIT neuroscientist Ed Boyden.
The dinner has been previously reported, with Vanity Fair noting in 2019 that Elon Musk introduced Zuckerberg to Epstein at the event.
No specific details emerge from the email about what made the dinner particularly “wild,” and Epstein provided no further elaboration on the evening’s events or conversations.
A follow-up email from Hoffman several days later, addressed to “Jeffrey, Zuck,” shared contact information with the subject line “intros,” stating: “email connections from the Ed Boyden dinner — so that convo can continue.”
This suggests an intent to facilitate ongoing communication among the attendees.
Representatives for Zuckerberg have maintained that the encounter was brief and incidental.
A statement from his team emphasized that Zuckerberg met Epstein only once at this scientist-honoring dinner, which was not organized by Epstein, and that no further communication occurred afterward.
The dinner occurred years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution, raising questions about why prominent tech figures would participate in an event that included him.
Hoffman has repeatedly expressed regret over any interactions with Epstein post-conviction, describing them as a major misjudgment tied to MIT fundraising efforts.
He has publicly apologized, noting deep remorse for inadvertently helping repair Epstein’s reputation.
Musk has distanced himself from Epstein, calling him a “creep” and denying close ties or introductions beyond the dinner. He has stated he never visited Epstein’s island and has advocated for prosecuting those involved in Epstein’s crimes.
The email surfaced as part of a massive release of over three million pages of Epstein-related documents by the Justice Department, fulfilling requirements under recent transparency legislation.
These files continue to shed light on Epstein’s extensive network among influential figures in tech, finance, and beyond.
The Palo Alto dinner reportedly took place at the upscale restaurant Baumé, which closed for the exclusive event. Invite lists in related documents included other names from academia and tech, underscoring Epstein’s efforts to embed himself in elite scientific and innovation circles.
While the “wild” descriptor stands out in Epstein’s casual note, the released materials do not indicate any illicit activity at the dinner itself. The comment appears to reflect Epstein’s own characterization of the high-profile gathering.
This revelation adds to ongoing scrutiny of how Epstein leveraged connections to powerful individuals even after his legal troubles became public knowledge.
Tech industry observers note that such dinners were not uncommon in Silicon Valley circles focused on philanthropy and cutting-edge research, though Epstein’s presence has drawn renewed criticism in light of his criminal history.
The files also highlight broader patterns in Epstein’s correspondence, where he frequently name-dropped associations with prominent names to enhance his own standing.
