Jeffrey Epstein Served as Adviser to OneWeb Satellite Network Founder
Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that the late financier Jeffrey Epstein acted as a confidante and adviser to Greg Wyler, founder of the satellite network company OneWeb Ltd., during its critical early fundraising phase. OneWeb is the world's largest rival to Elon Musk's Starlink low-Earth orbit satellite constellation.
Epstein's Role in OneWeb's Formation
The correspondence shows Epstein provided business counsel to Wyler as the entrepreneur raced to secure funding after launching OneWeb in 2012. Wyler ultimately secured investments from major players including SoftBank Group Corp. and Qualcomm Inc., building what would become a significant competitor in the satellite internet market.
Wyler confirmed the accuracy of the emails reviewed by Bloomberg News. In an emailed statement, he noted that Epstein "said he had professional relationships with and advised many in the tech industry" during the fundraising period. However, Wyler emphasized that "Epstein did discuss investing, but no investment ever occurred" and that he "never accepted any offer or request he made to invest or support any company I was associated with."
Business Relationships and Professional Interactions
The released messages, while sometimes abbreviated and lacking context, provide unprecedented insight into how personal relationships intersected with high-stakes business negotiations in the tech industry. The emails reference numerous prominent figures including Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and other billionaires.
Wyler maintained that his interactions with Epstein "at all times were professional," as he stated in a social media post responding to questions about his appearance in the disclosures. The emails reveal Epstein offered to help Wyler in exchange for a 30% cut of tax savings in June 2014, though Wyler told Bloomberg he never accepted any such offer.
OneWeb's Evolution and Current Status
OneWeb entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in March 2020, at which point Wyler left the company. The satellite network was subsequently rescued through a restructuring and refinancing involving the UK government and India's Bharti Enterprises Ltd. France's Eutelsat Communications SA then combined with OneWeb in 2023, with Eutelsat now serving as the company's owner.
Today, OneWeb has launched more than 600 satellites into low-Earth orbit, positioning itself as the primary competitor to SpaceX's Starlink network. SpaceX has launched thousands of satellites using its vertically integrated reusable rocket business and recently announced plans to merge with Musk's xAI at a staggering $1.25 trillion valuation.
Epstein's Business Counsel and Connections
The emails show Epstein actively counseled Wyler on business strategy, including advising him to bring in competitive bidders during negotiations. In May 2014, Wyler responded to such advice by noting he had "dinner at Elon's tonight, nice place," referring to Elon Musk.
Epstein also facilitated connections between Wyler and other tech figures, including attempting to connect him with billionaire Peter Thiel in 2017 to discuss "space policy." The correspondence includes discussions about visiting Richard Branson's Necker Island in the Caribbean and emails about private jets, with Epstein introducing Wyler to an aircraft broker.
Negotiations with Elon Musk and Satellite Development
The messages offer revealing glimpses into Wyler's relationship with Elon Musk before Starlink became the dominant satellite network. In October 2014, Epstein questioned how Wyler would secure funding if Musk wasn't investing, to which Wyler replied that Musk "has not decided he is not funding" and had expressed willingness to either invest or buy the company.
Wyler expressed frustration with the negotiation process, telling Epstein he "obviously suck at this" while explaining he had a signed agreement with Musk that fell through at the last minute. Two years later, Wyler claimed he had "taught" Musk about satellites "under the guise that he was going to invest," adding that Musk remained "way behind us" in satellite technology development.
Wyler's Current Ventures
Greg Wyler has since moved on to found E-Space, another satellite network startup that broke ground on a headquarters in Arlington, Texas, in October. The development is expected to create approximately 2,000 jobs in the area. E-Space did not respond to requests for comment regarding the email disclosures.
The Wyler emails are part of a larger collection of materials released last Friday that detail Epstein's connections to prominent individuals across various sectors including investors, executives, lawyers, and political figures. These documents continue to shed light on how the disgraced financier maintained professional relationships within elite business circles despite his criminal history.
