Newly Released Epstein Documents Reveal Women Linked to Stephen Hawking

The enigmatic photo of the renowned physicist with two bikini-clad women has been explained.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A peculiar photograph of Professor Stephen Hawking lounging with two bikini-clad women, discovered among the Epstein files, has been unraveled. The women were identified as Hawking's dedicated carers, Monica Guy and Nicola O'Brien, who accompanied the renowned physicist on his travels. The image was originally used by Ms. Guy to illustrate an article praising the accessibility of U.S. hotels for disabled individuals. While the origin of the photo's inclusion in the Epstein files remains a mystery, the Hawking family has confirmed the women's identities and denied any wrongdoing.

Why it matters

The discovery of this photograph in the Epstein files has raised questions about the renowned physicist's connections and the controversial nature of the Epstein investigation. The presence of the image in such a setting continues to puzzle investigators and the public, highlighting the need for transparency and clarity surrounding Hawking's interactions and the broader Epstein scandal.

The details

The photograph, initially believed to have been taken at the Ritz-Carlton in the Caribbean in 2006, was actually captured at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando, Florida, in 2008. The two women in the image were Hawking's full-time carers, Monica Guy and Nicola O'Brien, who accompanied the physicist on his travels due to his debilitating motor neurone disease. Ms. Guy had used the photograph to illustrate an article she wrote praising the accessibility of U.S. hotels for disabled individuals.

  • The photograph was taken at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando, Florida, in 2008.
  • Professor Hawking attended a conference hosted by Jeffrey Epstein in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2006, five months before Epstein was first charged with soliciting prostitution.

The players

Stephen Hawking

A renowned British physicist who made significant contributions to the field of cosmology and was the longest-known survivor of motor neurone disease, a debilitating condition that left him reliant on a ventilator, voice synthesizer, wheelchair, and round-the-clock medical care.

Monica Guy

One of Professor Hawking's full-time carers, who accompanied him on his travels and used the photograph of Hawking with the two women to illustrate an article she wrote praising the accessibility of U.S. hotels for disabled individuals.

Nicola O'Brien

The other full-time carer of Professor Hawking, who was with him in the photograph discovered in the Epstein files.

Jeffrey Epstein

An American financier and convicted sex offender who hosted a conference in the U.S. Virgin Islands that Hawking attended in 2006.

Virginia Giuffre

A late Epstein victim who previously accused Hawking of participating in an underage orgy on Epstein's private island, an allegation that Epstein furiously denied and appears to have instructed his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to offer money to Giuffre's friends to help disprove.

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What they’re saying

“The USA leads the way in terms of accessible hotels. That's the conclusion I've come to after several years spent travelling around with Stephen Hawking, the well-known disabled scientist.”

— Monica Guy, PR executive (Daily Mail)

What’s next

Investigators continue to examine the origins and significance of the photograph's inclusion in the Epstein files, as the mystery surrounding its presence in the controversial documents remains unsolved.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for transparency and clarity surrounding the connections between prominent figures like Stephen Hawking and the Epstein scandal, as well as the importance of separating fact from fiction and avoiding unfounded allegations, especially when it comes to individuals with disabilities who require dedicated care and support.