Exposed: The Dark Secrets Tying Silicon Valley Billionaires to Jeffrey Epstein and What the Epstein Files Reveal About EV Startups and Crypto Investments

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Key Takeaways

• The Department of Justice released approximately 3.5 million pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act on January 30, 2026.
• David Stern, a business advisor to Prince Andrew, repeatedly pitched Jeffrey Epstein on investing in electric vehicle startups between 2009 and 2019.
• Major EV companies including Faraday Future, Lucid Motors, and Canoo had direct or indirect connections to Epstein through fundraising efforts.
• Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase in 2014, later selling half his shares for approximately $15 million in 2018.
• The files expose how the “old boys’ club” fundraising system created dangerous vulnerabilities for desperate founders seeking capital.
• Shell companies and intermediaries were used to hide Epstein’s identity from investors who might be “spooked” by his involvement.
• The revelations underscore the urgent need for transparency and merit-based fundraising in Silicon Valley.

The world of technology and electric vehicles typically evokes images of innovation, clean energy, and brilliant minds working toward a brighter future. However, the release of millions of pages of documents has revealed a much darker reality lurking beneath the surface of Silicon Valley’s gleaming facade.

The Unprecedented Document Release

On January 30, 2026, the Department of Justice released approximately 3 to 3.5 million pages of documents known as the “Epstein files.” This massive disclosure, mandated under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, provided unprecedented insight into the network and activities of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose crimes shocked the world.

What these files reveal about EV startups and Silicon Valley goes far beyond the story of one individual’s criminality. Instead, they expose systemic vulnerabilities in how startup founders seek capital, the dangers of opaque fundraising networks, and the troubling proximity between technological innovation and morally compromised money.

The Mystery Man: David Stern

At the center of the EV-Epstein connection sits a figure many outside elite circles have never heard of: David Stern. While not a household name like Elon Musk or other tech titans, Stern appears throughout the released documents as a critical connector between Epstein and the electric vehicle industry.

Stern served as a business advisor to Prince Andrew, the British royal whose relationship with Epstein became internationally notorious. According to investigative reporting based on the documents, Stern maintained a relationship with Epstein spanning from approximately 2009 to 2019.

The relationship was both professional and personal. In a striking revelation, the files show that Stern asked Epstein to be the godfather to his child in 2016—a request Epstein declined. Epstein referred to Stern as his “china contact,” while Stern called Epstein his “mentor.”

But what was Stern doing with this connection? He spent years attempting to channel Epstein’s wealth into the booming electric vehicle sector during the mid-2010s, when every investor was searching for the “next Tesla.” Startups were proliferating with grand promises of autonomous driving, revolutionary batteries, and sustainable transportation—but they needed billions in capital to make those dreams reality.

Faraday Future: Desperation Meets Opportunity

One of the most revealing episodes involves Faraday Future (FF), a company that in 2017 was positioned as a potential Tesla killer. With sleek designs and ambitious promises, Faraday Future captured significant attention. However, behind the scenes, the company was hemorrhaging cash, and founder Jia Yueting faced severe financial difficulties with his other business ventures.

The files reveal that in 2017, David Stern worked to arrange a meeting between Epstein and Jia Yueting. While it remains unclear whether this meeting actually occurred, what is certain is that Faraday Future executives were actively reaching out to Epstein’s network.

In April 2017, Stefan Krause—a former executive at BMW and Deutsche Bank who had been brought in to rescue Faraday Future—personally emailed Epstein. Krause pitched Faraday Future as an opportunity to “build a better Tesla.”

Consider the desperation this represents. Here was a senior executive with an impressive pedigree from established automotive and financial institutions, reaching out to a man with Epstein’s well-known reputation, hoping for financial salvation.

Ultimately, evidence suggests Epstein did not invest in Faraday Future. Later in 2017, the company secured funding from Chinese real estate conglomerate Evergrande. However, the mere existence of these communications demonstrates how close Epstein came to entering the electric vehicle industry through one of its most high-profile startups.

Lucid Motors: Inside Information and Strategic Espionage

Lucid Motors, now known for producing luxury electric vehicles, faced an existential crisis in 2017. The company desperately needed to raise a Series D funding round—having already completed three previous rounds—to finance construction of their manufacturing facility.

The released emails show that David Stern provided Epstein with detailed inside information about Lucid’s fundraising efforts. Stern informed Epstein that Ford was likely to lead a $400 million investment into Lucid, describing it as a significant strategic move.

The communications revealed additional drama. Stern claimed that Jia Yueting—the Faraday Future founder—had quietly acquired approximately 30% of Lucid, a development that was allegedly frightening away other potential investors.

But the most troubling aspect of these exchanges was Stern’s request that Epstein leverage his powerful connections. Specifically, Stern asked Epstein to obtain confidential information from Morgan Stanley regarding Lucid’s fundraising activities.

This represents potential financial espionage—using personal connections to access privileged information about multi-hundred-million-dollar business deals before public disclosure. Epstein was being positioned not merely as an investor, but as an intelligence asset capable of providing competitive advantages through his network.

Fortunately for Lucid, the company ultimately secured over $1 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in 2018, avoiding any potential Epstein investment. However, the fact that these conversations occurred at all reveals the murky waters through which startups sometimes navigate when seeking capital.

Canoo: The Salesman Role

The third electric vehicle company appearing in the files is Canoo, known for manufacturing distinctive electric vans with futuristic designs.

This connection proved more direct than the others. David Stern invested $1 million of his personal capital into Canoo during its early stages. He made this investment alongside Chinese businessman Li and Taiwanese billionaire Michael Chiang.

In a 2018 message, Epstein claimed he had no “direct” or “indirect” interest in Canoo. However, his actions told a different story—he actively promoted the company as if he were its salesperson.

The files document Epstein’s outreach to various prominent figures:

• In May 2018, he emailed Deepak Chopra, the renowned wellness guru, informing him that Stern had “a new electric car co in Los Angeles” and suggesting they connect because the vehicles would feature health sensors.
• In 2019, he messaged an executive at CNH, a major agricultural machinery company, describing Canoo as “my friend David Stern’s electric car company” and encouraging investigation.

This pattern illustrates Epstein’s operational methodology. He wasn’t always the primary investor writing checks. Instead, he functioned as a connector—someone who used his extensive network of influential contacts to facilitate deals for his associates.

The Coinbase Investment: Real Money, Real Returns

While the EV connections largely involved pitches and attempts, the files confirm that Epstein successfully invested in one of cryptocurrency’s biggest names: Coinbase.

Coinbase operates as America’s largest platform for purchasing Bitcoin and has grown into a massive publicly-traded company. However, in 2014, it was still a startup seeking capital.

The documents reveal that in 2014, Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase during a funding round that raised $75 million total.

This investment is particularly shocking for several reasons:

• Epstein was already a convicted sex offender in 2014, with his 2008 case widely known.
• He invested alongside some of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz and DFJ.

How did this happen? The investment was facilitated by Brock Pierce, a prominent cryptocurrency investor who coordinated with Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam. Notably, Epstein didn’t use his personal name directly; instead, he invested through a Virgin Islands company called IGO LLC.

Epstein maintained his Coinbase shares until at least 2017. In 2018, he sold approximately half of them for roughly $15 million—a tenfold return on his initial investment.

This proves definitively that Epstein wasn’t merely an outsider attempting to enter tech circles. He was on the capitalization table—the official list of company owners—of a major Silicon Valley unicorn.

The files also mention other cryptocurrency ventures. Emails discuss a Bitcoin mining company called Layer1, with communications revealing discussions about concealing Epstein’s identity to prevent other investors from becoming “spooked.”

This exposes an uncomfortable reality: some individuals in the technology sector were willing to accept Epstein’s capital, provided his involvement remained hidden from public scrutiny.

The Silicon Valley Social Network

Beyond specific company investments, the files demonstrate that Epstein worked systematically to cultivate relationships with technology’s most powerful figures.

His method involved sponsoring “intellectual” gatherings. Epstein helped finance sophisticated dinners hosted by literary agent John Brockman and the Edge Foundation. These weren’t ordinary social events—guest lists represented a “who’s who” of billionaires, scientists, and tech founders.

By funding these gatherings, Epstein secured seats at tables with the world’s most brilliant minds, creating an aura of legitimacy around his presence in elite circles.

Two prominent technology leaders appear in the files:

Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn Co-founder)
Reid Hoffman is a legendary Silicon Valley figure. The files reveal a scheduled 2014 trip routing Hoffman through Florida to Epstein’s private island, along with Skype communications between them. Hoffman has publicly addressed this, explaining he visited the island once for an MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) fundraising trip at the request of the MIT Media Lab director. Hoffman has expressed deep regret and stated his last contact with Epstein occurred in 2015. No evidence suggests Hoffman engaged in any illegal activity.

Yuri Milner (Technology Investor)
Milner, an early investor in Facebook and numerous other technology giants, appears in files showing he met Epstein twice in 2011—once in New York and once in Paris. These meetings were arranged by another investor, Ian Osborne. Milner’s representatives state they never met again following those encounters.

What This Means for Founders

When examining what the Epstein files reveal about EV startups and Silicon Valley, a clear pattern emerges: access.

For decades, the primary pathway to startup capital required knowing the “right people.” Founders needed invitations to exclusive gatherings, connections to individuals who knew princes who knew billionaires.

This system created perfect conditions for figures like Jeffrey Epstein to operate. He became a gatekeeper. Founders desperate to save their companies—like those at Faraday Future or Lucid—took the meetings, sent the emails, and played the game.

The January 30, 2026 document release demonstrates that:

• Epstein actively pursued deals in electric vehicles and cryptocurrency
• He utilized shell companies (such as IGO LLC) to obscure his identity
• Advisors and intermediaries readily pitched him opportunities despite his criminal conviction

An important distinction: appearing in these files does not automatically imply criminal complicity with Epstein. For many, these were simply business interactions. However, they were business interactions conducted in opacity rather than transparency.

Building a Better Future

The release of 3.5 million pages reveals an ugly truth about aspects of the technology world. However, transparency itself represents progress.

Sunlight remains the most effective disinfectant.

The traditional fundraising approach—relying on shadowy intermediaries, secret introductions, and “who you know”—creates danger. It places founders in compromising positions and allows morally questionable actors to influence technology’s future.

Today’s ecosystem is evolving. Founders no longer need figures like David Stern whispering in billionaires’ ears. The landscape is becoming more transparent, with data replacing rumors and merit replacing connections.

When reviewing 2017 emails showing EV founders desperately seeking financial lifelines, we should feel empathy for their stressful situations while maintaining anger toward a system that made them vulnerable to someone like Epstein.

The lessons from the Epstein files are unambiguous:

• Exercise extreme caution regarding capital sources
• Scrutinize who joins your capitalization table
• Build a future where fundraising relies on merit and metrics rather than secret gatherings and private islands

The release of these documents closes a dark chapter in Silicon Valley’s history. The technology community must now ensure such a chapter never reopens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Jeffrey Epstein actually invest in any EV companies?
While the files show Epstein was pitched on investing in Faraday Future, Lucid Motors, and had connections to Canoo through David Stern, there is no confirmed evidence he made direct investments in these EV startups. However, he did successfully invest in cryptocurrency platform Coinbase.

How much did Epstein invest in Coinbase?
Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase during their 2014 funding round. He later sold approximately half his shares in 2018 for around $15 million, representing a tenfold return on his initial investment.

Who is David Stern and what was his role?
David Stern was a business advisor to Prince Andrew who maintained a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein from approximately 2009 to 2019. He repeatedly pitched Epstein on investing in electric vehicle startups and provided inside information about fundraising activities at companies like Lucid Motors.

Does appearing in the files mean someone did something illegal?
No. Appearing in the Epstein files does not automatically indicate illegal activity or criminal complicity. Many individuals had legitimate business interactions with Epstein. However, the files do reveal concerning patterns about how capital was raised and who had access to investment opportunities.

What companies were approached for Epstein investments?
The files reveal attempted or actual connections to Faraday Future, Lucid Motors, Canoo, Coinbase, and a Bitcoin mining company called Layer1. The depth and success of these connections varied significantly.

How did Epstein hide his investments?
Epstein used shell companies, such as IGO LLC registered in the Virgin Islands, to obscure his identity from other investors who might be “spooked” by his involvement. He also relied on intermediaries and advisors to make introductions and facilitate deals on his behalf.