Jeffrey Epstein and Elon Musk exchanged multiple messages between 2012 and 2014, comparing their schedules to find time to meet in Florida or in the Caribbean, according to new documents released by the Justice Department on Friday.
“If you find some time, come visit me on my island” in the Caribbean, Mr. Epstein wrote to Mr. Musk on Sept. 25, 2012, urging the billionaire to “bring your friend or friends.”
“Sounds good, will try to make it,” Mr. Musk replied.
The revelations of their friendly exchanges come after Mr. Musk last year sought to connect President Trump to Mr. Epstein during a feud between the two men, asserting in social media posts that there were references to Mr. Trump in the government’s files on the sex trafficker.
For his part, Mr. Musk has attempted to distance himself from Mr. Epstein. Over the years, the technology entrepreneur has denied visiting the disgraced financier’s island. In a social media post last September Mr. Musk wrote that Mr. Epstein “tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED.”
But the new documents released on Friday show that the two men made plans to socialize, at least for a period of time, years after the first allegations emerged that Mr. Epstein was abusing young women and girls.
In one email, Mr. Musk signaled his interest in visiting Little Saint James, the island that Mr. Epstein owned in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” Mr. Musk asked in a email to Mr. Epstein on Nov. 25, 2012.
In March 2013, after Mr. Musk described his international travel schedule, Mr. Epstein asked Mr. Musk if he had ever tried a stimulant prescribed to combat narcolepsy called Nuvigil.
In December 2014, Mr. Epstein’s email showed a calendar invitation titled, “ELON MUSK TO ISLAND DEC. 6TH.” It’s unclear if Mr. Musk made the visit.
In another set of emails, it appears that Mr. Epstein and his staff were coordinating a visit to SpaceX, the rocket maker founded by Mr. Musk, in Feb. 2013. Calendar invitations and emails show Mr. Epstein was scheduled to have lunch with Mr. Musk at the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif.
Mr. Epstein later wrote to Mr. Musk to thank him for “the tour.”
James Gleeson, a spokesman for SpaceX, did not immediately return a request for comment. Mr. Musk did not immediately return a request for comment.
The documents also show that Mr. Musk’s brother, Kimbal, repeatedly emailed Mr. Epstein.
“Great to hang out today,” Kimbal Musk wrote on Oct. 7, 2012 to Mr. Epstein and Boris Nikolic, a friend of Mr. Epstein’s.
Kimbal Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rather than refusing Mr. Epstein’s invitations, Elon Musk backed out of plans, several emails show.
In a January 2013 email, Mr. Musk wrote that he had fallen ill and had to cancel lunch on St. Barthélemy island.
The men continued their correspondence.
In March 2013, Mr. Epstein congratulated Mr. Musk via email the day after SpaceX sent a rocket into space with materials bound for the International Space Station, noting that “now its time for fun.”
Mr. Musk replied in follow up messages that he had “to focus on Tesla,” his electric car manufacturer.
Later that year, it was Mr. Epstein who canceled plans to meet in the Caribbean.
On Dec. 13, 2013, Mr. Musk said he would be in the area during the holidays and asked Mr. Epstein in an email, “Is there a good time to visit?”
The two men confirmed plans for Jan. 2, 2014, with Mr. Epstein telling Mr. Musk, “I will come get you.”
A few days later, Mr. Epstein said he needed to remain in New York. “I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda,” Mr. Epstein wrote.
“No problem,” Mr. Musk replied.
Michael C. Bender is a Times correspondent in Washington.
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