Elon Musk says Jeffrey Epstein tried using Reid Hoffman to pull him into his circle: 'Knew so long ago...'

Hoffman calls Musk’s claims ‘disgusting’ amid Epstein files feud. (Image credit: X)

• Epstein files spark public feud between Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman on X
• Musk: Epstein tried to involve me via Hoffman; Hoffman denies, counters claims.
• Hoffman admits visiting Epstein's island for MIT funds, disputes Musk's claim

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Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files have shaken the world, exposing connections that continue to make headlines. In the tech world, Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman have now engaged in a public war of words on X, underlining the files’ ongoing impact.

The spat began when Musk said Epstein had attempted but failed to involve him in his circle via Hoffman. “This is how I knew so long ago that Reid Hoffman went to Epstein’s island. Epstein used Reid being there to try to get me to go, not realizing that it would have the opposite effect,” Musk shared, along with a screenshot.

The LinkedIn co-founder, Hoffman, hit back at Musk, accusing him of attempting to hide his involvement with Epstein.

Hoffman countered, calling Musk’s claim “disgusting” and alleging that he had been “begging” to go to the island for high-profile parties.

“Give us a break: If you cared about the victims as you say, you’d stop making false accusations to cover your a*s and start using your $220m of influence with President Trump to get justice for the victims,” Hoffman said on X.

Give us a break: If you cared about the victims as you say, you’d stop making false accusations to cover your ass and start using your $220m of influence with President Trump to get justice for the victims.

Instead, you’re focused on comparing my visit fundraising for MIT to… https://t.co/51VgQ9Q9SY — Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman) February 1, 2026

He added, “Instead, you’re focused on comparing my visit fundraising for MIT to your begging to go to his island (which happened TWO YEARS before the screenshot you shared), and helicoptering over to Epstein looking for the “wildest party.” You lied about this to everyone for over a decade, and now your excuse (it’s disgusting, by the way) is that you could get young girls without Epstein?”

About Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman conflict

Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman once worked together at PayPal over a decade ago.  Musk was the chief executive officer (CEO), and Hoffman was the chief operating officer (COO). After the company was sold to eBay, their political and cultural paths diverged.

On Eric Newcomer's podcast last December, the LinkedIn co-founder admitted that he once spent a night on Epstein's island, clarifying that the trip was tied to MIT fundraising.

In another interview with Earlier, BBC Radio 4, he labelled his feud with Elon Musk as “one-sided”.