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Thomas Copeland
BBC Verify Live journalist

Elon Musk’s name appears more than 1,000 times in the newly released Epstein files, but fake emails claiming to be from the world’s wealthiest man have also gathered tens of millions of views online.

One fake email appears to show Musk, who is the CEO of car manufacturer Tesla and aerospace firm SpaceX, asking Epstein about plans for an “epic island vacation” and a party with “girls”.

The fictitious exchange of emails then appears to show Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate and herself a convicted sex offender, telling Musk that Epstein was “thinking of winding down“ his island “operation”.

This email does not appear in the newly released documents.

Reverse image searches indicate the picture was first shared on X in a post viewed more than 11 million times. The account which shared it later admitted in a follow-up post that the emails were fake.

The documents released by US authorities do show Musk discussing travelling to Epstein’s island multiple times.

In November 2012 Musk asked Epstein: “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” and on Christmas Day of that year Musk inquired whether the financier had any parties planned because he needs to “let loose”.

Further emails in 2013 show the pair planning a visit to the island but there is no evidence it ever took place. Musk has never been accused of any wrongdoing and has previously said he declined an invitation to go there.

Musk said in an X post on Saturday that he was “well aware that some email correspondence with [Epstein] could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name”.

He added: “I don’t care about that, but what I do care about is that we at least attempt to prosecute those who committed serious crimes with Epstein, especially regarding heinous exploitation of underage girls.”