Stephen Hawking, the world-renowned theoretical physicist who held the Lucasian Professorship of Mathematics at Cambridge University, appears in the Epstein case files far more extensively than his public profile as a mere conference attendee would suggest. Analysis of the complete evidence file reveals a multi-year relationship in which Jeffrey Epstein functioned not merely as a scientific patron but as a gatekeeper controlling access to one of the world's most famous scientists. Hawking's documented presence on Epstein's properties spans at least two visits. The first, in March 2006, was a symposium titled "Confronting Gravity" held in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The event drew twenty top physicists, including Nobel laureates Gerard 't Hooft, David Gross, and Frank Wilczek (d-37437, d-29442).
Photographs published in news reports show Hawking aboard an Atlantis submarine "custom-fitted by Epstein to accommodate his wheelchair" (d-20417, efta-efta00622762). Epstein later described this event in his own iMessage: "when hawking came to my island and said his dream was to go diving, i ducted tape his head to a high back chair and loaded him in a private sub, great fun" (efta-efta01210498).
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Stephen Hawking is mentioned in documents or reporting related to the Epstein case. Being mentioned does not imply any wrongdoing, criminal conduct, or inappropriate behavior.
This dossier was generated by AI (Claude) from court filings, government releases, and other documentary sources in our database. It may contain errors or misattributions. Always verify claims against the linked source documents.
Background
Stephen Hawking, the world-renowned theoretical physicist who held the Lucasian Professorship of Mathematics at Cambridge University, appears in the Epstein case files far more extensively than his public profile as a mere conference attendee would suggest. Analysis of the complete evidence file reveals a multi-year relationship in which Jeffrey Epstein functioned not merely as a scientific patron but as a gatekeeper controlling access to one of the world's most famous scientists.
Hawking's documented presence on Epstein's properties spans at least two visits. The first, in March 2006, was a symposium titled "Confronting Gravity" held in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The event drew twenty top physicists, including Nobel laureates Gerard 't Hooft, David Gross, and Frank Wilczek (d-37437, d-29442). Photographs published in news reports show Hawking aboard an Atlantis submarine "custom-fitted by Epstein to accommodate his wheelchair" (d-20417, efta-efta00622762). Epstein later described this event in his own iMessage: "when hawking came to my island and said his dream was to go diving, i ducted tape his head to a high back chair and loaded him in a private sub, great fun" (efta-efta01210498).
Epstein Connection
Critically, this March 2006 visit coincided with the active Palm Beach police investigation of Epstein, led by Chief Michael Reiter. Multiple documents note the timing: "Toward the end of Chief Reiter's investigation, in March of 2006, Epstein had hosted twenty top physicists" (d-25605). The second confirmed visit occurred in 2012, on Little Saint James island itself — after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Documents state: "Once again, three Nobel Prize winners were in attendance. Stephen Hawking was also there. All in all, Epstein had gathered twenty-one physicists—from Princeton, Harvard, MIT, and CERN" (d-16765, d-18976). The documentary record reveals Epstein exercised unusual control over access to Hawking. In November 2013, former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky emailed Epstein: "the guys doing tv commercials for Microsoft want to approach Hawking about doing a voice over... what do you think?" (efta-01951240). In June 2015, when Steven Pinker sought to interview Hawking for Huffington Post, the request was routed through Epstein, who directed his assistant Lesley Groff to provide Hawking's contact details (efta-01744386, efta-02076643). Lawrence Krauss confirmed Epstein's role, writing: "I don't normally give out email addresses, even to friends... but I guess since Jeffrey flew stephen on a plane it is ok" (efta-efta00346461).
Key Allegations(7)
Epstein served as gatekeeper for access to Hawking, controlling contact information and intermediary requests from Microsoft, Steven Pinker, and others
allegedHawking is specifically named in court document requests alongside other high-profile individuals in the Giuffre v. Maxwell case
documentedAn anonymous email in the files states a complainant 'accused stephen hawking and marvin minsky' alongside Prince Andrew
documentedEpstein's own messages reference a sexual allegation involving Hawking, characterizing it as coming from 'one girl'
documentedEpstein mounted a coordinated denial campaign specifically addressing Hawking allegations, sending near-identical emails to multiple media and elite contacts
allegedEpstein paid for a submarine to be modified to accommodate Hawking's wheelchair, a costly and extraordinary personal gift that goes beyond typical conference hospitality
allegedMultiple visits to Epstein's private island spanning at least 2006-2012, despite Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor
documentedLegal Status
HIGH confidence in: Hawking's physical presence on Epstein's island in 2006 and 2012 (documented in photographs, multiple independent sources, and Epstein's own statements); Epstein's role as gatekeeper to Hawking (demonstrated through multiple email chains); Epstein's financial support of Hawking (referenced across numerous documents); Hawking's inclusion in formal court discovery requests. MODERATE confidence in: the existence of specific sexual allegations involving Hawking (referenced in anonymous emails and Epstein's own private messages, but the allegations themselves are unverified and unsubstantiated). LOW confidence in: the veracity of any sexual misconduct claims (no corroborating evidence found, and Epstein himself mounted vigorous denials while also privately acknowledging the claims existed). KEY GAPS: No direct communications from Hawking himself appear in the database. The specific financial amounts directed to Hawking are not documented. The full content of many EFTA correspondence documents is unavailable (summaries are blank). Hawking died before he could respond to unsealed documents.
Notable Statements(17)
“No kidding one girl said she had sex with my friend Steven hawking”
“when hawking came to my island and said his dream was to go diving, i ducted tape his head to a high back chair and loaded him in a private sub”
“the new version in the virgin isalnds that stven hawking partica-ted in an underage orgy”
“I don't normally give out email addresses, even to friends... but I guess since Jeffrey flew stephen on a plane it is ok”
“a. Ghislaine Maxwell b. Alan Dershowitz c. Jeffrey Epstein d. Prince Andrew e. Ron Eppinger f. Bill Clinton g. Stephen Hawking h. Al Gore”
“the girl who claimed prince andrew had sex with her also accused stephen hawking and marvin minsky”
“Epstein had been especially interested in Stephen Hawking. Someday, Hawking had theorized, the universe would stop expanding”
“she knows no sex with steven hawking, she knows no sex with ehud as he was also never on the island”
“the guys doing tv commercials for Microsoft want to approach Hawking about doing a voice over... what do you think?”
“I just heard that Stephen Hawking died yesterday. I know you said that you liked him and I think you were friends.”
“I kid you not, the local papers are suggesting that steven hawking had sex with underage girls on island”
“I participated in an orgy along with Stephen Hawkings [sic.], the famous physicist from Cambridge University”
“beginning perhaps a decade ago with the online claim that Stephen Hawking and I had an orgy on a Caribbean island”
“Will you attend his funeral? He was my favorite Astronomer of all time and apparently a naughty one too.”
“New pictures show Stephen Hawking enjoying the hospitality of Jeffrey Epstein on the private Caribbean island”
“equally applicable to dozens of other academics and public figures who were associated with Mr. Epstein - including Larry Summers, Stephen Hawking”
“Jeffrey suggested that you call/email his assistant, Leslie Groff and she will give you his updated contact information”
Contradictions(3)
Hawking's 2006 island visit was purely a scientific conference with no connection to Epstein's criminal activities
The March 2006 conference took place during the active Palm Beach police investigation of Epstein. Documents show Epstein lavished extraordinary personal gifts on Hawking (submarine modification) beyond normal conference hospitality. Hawking returned to the island in 2012, after Epstein's conviction.
Epstein's emails deny any sexual activity involving Hawking on the island, claiming his ex-girlfriend can confirm this
In a separate, later iMessage (December 2018), Epstein himself states: 'No kidding one girl said she had sex with my friend Steven hawking,' acknowledging the existence of such a claim from an individual, contradicting his earlier blanket denials.
Hawking's relationship with Epstein was limited to attending one or two conferences
Documents show a much deeper relationship: Epstein controlled access to Hawking's contacts (efta-01951240), was consulted on commercial opportunities for Hawking (efta-01951240), had Hawking's contact information managed through his assistant Lesley Groff (efta-02076643), and was described as Hawking's friend by multiple associates upon his death (efta-01619123, d-20955).
Key Relationships(10)
Epstein funded Hawking's research, hosted him at multiple scientific conferences on his private island (2006, 2012), paid for a submarine modification for Hawking's wheelchair, served as gatekeeper for Hawking's contacts, and referred to Hawking as 'my friend' (efta-efta01211056, d-37437, d-29442, efta-01951240)
Krauss provided Hawking's email address through Epstein's network in June 2015, noting 'Jeffrey flew stephen on a plane' as justification. Also discussed Lucy Hawking in Krauss's 2018 appeal correspondence (efta-efta00346461, efta-efta01007389)
Seckel co-hosted Mindshift conferences with Epstein, claimed to know Hawking personally, and in 2010 told Epstein that Hawking was interested in purchasing a painting (efta-01811737, d-19216, d-15242)
Mlodinow co-authored books with Hawking and attended Epstein-hosted conferences. Referenced in connection with Deepak Chopra social circle within Epstein orbit (d-16765, d-18976, efta-01783678)
Groff held Hawking's contact information and was directed by Epstein to facilitate Steven Pinker's interview request in June 2015 (efta-efta00695049, efta-02076643)
Pinker wanted to interview Hawking for Huffington Post and went through Epstein's network to obtain contact information. Pinker thanked Epstein for the connection (efta-01744386, efta-02076136)
Both named in court filings as individuals about whom a complainant made allegations. Both referenced in deposition testimony and unsealed documents (dc-24253264, dc-24402695, d-25859, d-37301)
An anonymous email states 'the girl who claimed prince andrew had sex with her also accused stephen hawking and marvin minsky' (d-25859, d-37301)
Sinofsky emailed Epstein in November 2013 asking if Microsoft could approach Hawking for a Super Bowl commercial voice-over, treating Epstein as the gatekeeper (efta-01951240)
Chopra forwarded Hawking-related content to Epstein and discussed Hawking's views on God and atheism (efta-02341185, efta-02349068, efta-01783678)
Timeline(14 events)
Attended Epstein-hosted symposium 'Confronting Gravity' in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Photographed aboard an Atlantis submarine custom-fitted by Epstein to accommodate his wheelchair. Twenty top physicists attended including three Nobel Prize winners.
Referenced in connection with 'Mindshift' conference co-hosted by Epstein and Al Seckel in the Virgin Islands. Murray Gell-Mann and Leonard Mlodinow (Hawking's co-author) attended. Hawking's attendance at this specific conference is not confirmed but is referenced in surrounding documents.
Al Seckel emails Epstein stating he heard from Stephen Hawking two days prior that Hawking is 'seriously interested pursuing the painting for either himself or Cambridge University.' This shows Seckel claimed a direct relationship with Hawking and used it in dealings with Epstein.
Attended another Epstein-hosted physics conference on Little Saint James island. Documents state: 'three Nobel Prize winners were in attendance. Stephen Hawking was also there. All in all, Epstein had gathered twenty-one physicists—from Princeton, Harvard, MIT, and CERN.'
Steven Sinofsky emails Epstein asking if Microsoft could approach Hawking about doing a voice-over for a Super Bowl commercial, indicating Epstein served as a gatekeeper to Hawking.
Epstein emails attorney Andrew Farkas: 'I kid you not, the local papers are suggesting that steven hawking had sex with underage girls on island.' Epstein appears alarmed by the press coverage.
Epstein emails Ghislaine Maxwell: 'you can issue a reward to any of friends acquaintances family that come forward and help prove her allegations are false the strongest is the clinton dinner, and the new version in the virgin islands that stven hawking participated in an underage orgy.'
Epstein sends mass emails to Michael Wolff, Mortimer Zuckerman, and others claiming his ex-girlfriend 'knows no sex with steven hawking' and 'knows no sex with ehud as he was also never on the island.' Epstein deploys these denials as part of a PR/legal strategy.
An associate emails Epstein requesting Stephen Hawking's contact information for Steven Pinker, who wants to interview Hawking for Huffington Post's Highline magazine. Epstein directs the request to his assistant Lesley Groff.
Lawrence Krauss provides Hawking's email address through Epstein's network. Krauss notes: 'I don't normally give out email addresses, even to friends... but I guess since Jeffrey flew stephen on a plane it is ok.' Steven Pinker thanks Epstein via Lesley Groff.
Epstein sends iMessage referencing Hawking's island visit: 'when hawking came to my island and said his dream was to go diving, i ducted tape his head to a high back chair and loaded him in a private sub, great fun.'
Stephen Hawking dies. Epstein receives condolence messages. An associate writes: 'I just read that Stephen Hawking died. I know you knew him. I'm sorry for your loss.' Epstein replies: 'he was very sick. but ama[zing].' Another associate asks: 'Will you attend his funeral? He was my favorite Astronomer of all time and apparently a naughty one too.'
Epstein and Lawrence Krauss discuss Lucy Hawking (Stephen's daughter) in emails related to Krauss's disciplinary appeal. Epstein comments: 'lucy less so' and discusses her recollection. This indicates ongoing entanglement of Hawking family in Epstein orbit even after Hawking's death.
Epstein sends iMessage: 'No kidding one girl said she had sex with my friend Steven hawking.' This is Epstein's own characterization of Hawking as 'my friend' and an acknowledgment that sexual allegations involving Hawking existed.
At a Glance
Click values for sourcesSources
4 sources for flight appearances
Epstein Flight Logs (3 entries)
2004
“Appeared on 3 documented flights between Palm Beach International, FL and Teterboro Airport, NJ”
Sources
1 source for known connections
Shared Flight Appearances
“Appears on flights with 4 other persons in the Epstein network”
Activity Timeline
Network Graph
Known Connections (4)
External Cross-Check
Search ICIJ Offshore Leaks, OFAC Sanctions, SEC EDGAR, and Federal Courts
Flight Log Appearances (3)
| Date | Route | Aircraft | Co-Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2004 | Palm Beach International, FL → Teterboro Airport, NJ | N908JE | Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sarah Kellen |
| Aug 18, 2004 | Cyril E. King Airport, USVI → Teterboro Airport, NJ | N908JE | Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell |
| Aug 10, 2004 | Teterboro Airport, NJ → Cyril E. King Airport, USVI | N908JE | Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sarah Kellen +1 |
Document Mentions
Email Mentions (14)
RE: Please forward
I am writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are ke
crazy
We are keen to explore the possibility of conducting an interview with Mr Epstein, on the subject of the stories which are circulating, however inaccu
RE: Please forward
Iam writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are kee
RE: Please forward
I am writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are ke
RE: Please forward
I am writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are kee
RE: Please forward
I am writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are kee
RE: Please forward
Iam writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are kee
RE: Please forward
I am writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him? We are ke
crazy
We are keen to explore the possibility of conducting an interview with Mr Epstein, on the subject of the stories which are circulating, however inaccu
FW: Please forward
I am writing in an attempt to make contact with Jeffrey Epstein and wondered if you would, as his attorney, forward this message on to him?We are keen
Showing 10 of 14 emails. View all →
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