Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman Engage in Public Feud Over Epstein Associations
In a dramatic online confrontation, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman have exchanged sharp accusations regarding their past relationships with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Both prominent business figures have been implicated in the latest release of Epstein files by the Department of Justice, sparking a heated debate over their connections to the convicted sex offender.
Musk Calls for Investigation into Hoffman
On Friday, Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, publicly demanded that Reid Hoffman be "investigated" for his ties to Epstein. Musk's post escalated the conflict, alleging that Hoffman had visited Epstein's private island, ranch in New Mexico, and house in New York on multiple occasions. "Liar, you are guilty of dark deeds and haven’t been cleared of anything. You stayed at Epstein’s island, Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico and Epstein’s house in New York. You offered to help him with PR. You gave him gifts," Musk wrote in a late-night social media post.
Musk further argued that Hoffman's repeated visits could not be dismissed as mistakes. "Maybe if it was only one stay over, you could claim it was a mistake. Maybe. But there is NO possible explanation for the second time, let alone the third time. As the record shows, you were an eager repeat customer," he added, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations.
Hoffman Fires Back with FBI Claims
Reid Hoffman swiftly responded to Musk's accusations, asserting that the FBI had already "cleared" him of any connections to Epstein. In a post, Hoffman wrote, "The FBI cleared me. You on the other hand…", implying that Musk himself might be under scrutiny. However, documents reveal that Hoffman's account of his interactions with Epstein has been inconsistent. Initially claiming his last contact was in 2015, he later acknowledged at least six meetings after that date, including three in-person encounters.
Hoffman defended his visits, stating they were for institutional funding purposes related to the MIT Media Lab, where he collaborated with former director Joi Ito. Despite this explanation, the new Epstein files contradict parts of his narrative, raising questions about the nature of his association.
Conflicting Accounts and Historical Context
The origins of this tussle trace back to earlier in the week when Musk first accused Hoffman of visiting Epstein's private island. Musk rejected any comparison between their associations, highlighting that he declined invitations to the island. "The big difference between you and me, Reid, is that you went and I did not. In fact, you went multiple times," Musk stated in an X post.
However, emails from 2012 show that Musk himself asked Epstein for an invitation to Little Saint James, inquiring about "the wildest party on your island" and noting he might bring his then-wife, Talulah Riley. It remains unclear if Musk attended, adding complexity to the claims.
Broader Implications and Past Conflicts
This is not the first time Musk and Hoffman have clashed online. In March 2025, Musk accused Hoffman of funding protests against Tesla, which Hoffman denied, suggesting some individuals simply dislike Musk. Hoffman attributed their ongoing beef to his role in making OpenAI successful after Musk's departure from its board. "Because he left saying, you know, 'You're all a bunch of jacka**** and you'll fail,' and I helped them succeed," Hoffman explained.
The Epstein case continues to cast a long shadow, with Jeffrey Epstein found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had previously pleaded guilty and was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008. The release of new documents has reignited scrutiny into the connections of high-profile individuals, including these tech billionaires.
As the online feud unfolds, it underscores the tensions within the tech industry and the lingering controversies surrounding Epstein's network. Both Musk and Hoffman face ongoing questions about their past interactions, with the public and authorities closely watching for further developments.
