Billionaire Rivals Musk and Hoffman Trade Jabs Over Epstein Ties

Tesla CEO and LinkedIn co-founder accuse each other of potential criminal conduct linked to disgraced financier

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman traded public accusations over their past relationships with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Both billionaires were featured in newly released Department of Justice files that revealed deeper ties between the two and Epstein than they had previously acknowledged.

Why it matters

The ongoing feud between Musk and Hoffman highlights the reputational damage and legal scrutiny that can arise from associations with high-profile criminals like Epstein, even for the world's wealthiest individuals. It also raises questions about the extent of Epstein's connections to Silicon Valley's elite.

The details

The DOJ files showed that Musk had 'practically begged' for an invitation to Epstein's private island, while Hoffman appeared to have contradicted his previous account of his relationship with the disgraced financier. In response, Musk accused Hoffman of 'dark deeds' and being an 'eager repeat customer' of Epstein, while Hoffman claimed the FBI had already cleared him of wrongdoing.

  • The DOJ files were released in late 2025.
  • Musk and Hoffman traded accusations on social media on February 14, 2026.

The players

Elon Musk

The CEO of electric vehicle company Tesla.

Reid Hoffman

The co-founder of professional networking platform LinkedIn and a prominent venture capitalist.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender and disgraced financier with ties to numerous high-profile individuals.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Elon Musk (X (formerly Twitter)

“The FBI has already cleared me of wrongdoing.”

— Reid Hoffman (X (formerly Twitter)

What’s next

It remains to be seen if any further investigations or legal actions will arise from the revelations about Musk and Hoffman's ties to Epstein.

The takeaway

This high-profile feud between two of Silicon Valley's most prominent billionaires underscores the reputational risks and potential legal consequences that can stem from associations with disgraced figures like Jeffrey Epstein, even for the wealthiest and most powerful individuals.