Jeffrey Epstein's Disturbing Obsession With Genetic Engineering

The convicted sex offender believed in creating 'better' humans through eugenics and transhumanism.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 9:40am

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The recently released 'Epstein files' reveal the convicted sex offender's troubling fixation on genetics and his belief in using genetic engineering to create a 'superior' human race. Epstein was a proponent of eugenics, the manipulation of reproduction and genes to produce 'better' humans, and explored ideas around transhumanism, which involves using technology like gene editing to enhance human capabilities. His correspondence shows he constantly speculated about the genetic basis of various traits and sought to have his own DNA widely distributed. Epstein's views echo a long history of wealthy Americans pursuing eugenicist goals, from the Rockefeller family to cereal mogul John Harvey Kellogg.

Why it matters

Epstein's obsession with genetic engineering and his desire to create a 'superior' human race through selective breeding and other means reflects a dangerous ideology with a dark history. Eugenics has been used to justify horrific human rights abuses, from coercive sterilization programs to the Holocaust. Epstein's case highlights how these harmful ideas can still persist among the wealthy and powerful, with the potential to cause real harm.

The details

The 'Epstein files' obtained by the Justice Department reveal the extent of the convicted sex offender's fixation on genetics and his belief in using genetic engineering to 'improve' the human race. Epstein constantly speculated about the genetic basis of various traits, from intelligence to sex drive, and sought to have his own DNA widely distributed. He discussed ways to use gene editing to make 'better' humans, including potentially 'enhancing' the cognitive abilities of Black people. Epstein also explored the idea of using his own genetic material to impregnate multiple women at once in order to propagate his own genes.

  • The 'Epstein files' were obtained by the Justice Department in 2026.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who was obsessed with genetics and believed in using eugenics and transhumanism to create a 'superior' human race.

Francis Galton

The cousin of Charles Darwin who coined the term 'eugenics' in 1883 and promoted the idea of using selective breeding to improve the human gene pool.

John Harvey Kellogg

The cereal magnate who founded the Race Betterment Foundation, which aimed to use animal breeding techniques to create 'human thoroughbreds'.

Joscha Bach

A cognitive scientist who discussed with Epstein how gene editing could be used to make Black people more intelligent.

Abby Lippman

An epidemiologist who coined the term 'geneticization' to describe the exaggeration of what genes can do.

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What they’re saying

“I seldom have the chance to talk to a genetic suprematist.”

— Redacted correspondent

“More importantly' why do women confuse knowing facts with knowledge they are good at trivila pursuit but not theory or laws”

— Jeffrey Epstein

“Maybe climate change is a good way of dealing with overpopulation.”

— Jeffrey Epstein

What’s next

The Justice Department is continuing to investigate Epstein's ties to the eugenics movement and his efforts to propagate his own genetic material.

The takeaway

Epstein's disturbing obsession with genetic engineering and his desire to create a 'superior' human race through selective breeding and other means reflects a dangerous ideology with a long and troubling history. His case highlights the need to remain vigilant against the resurgence of these harmful ideas, which have been used to justify horrific human rights abuses in the past.