Deepak Chopra Had Extensive Contact With Jeffrey Epstein, Newly Released Messages Show
Newly released Justice Department files reveal that bestselling author and wellness entrepreneur Deepak Chopra maintained an extensive and at times intimate correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2016 and 2019, contradicting earlier public statements that characterized their contact as limited. The messages, part of the DOJ’s publicly disclosed “Epstein Library,” show hundreds of email and text exchanges covering topics ranging from spirituality and politics to travel, business ventures and women.
The files do not allege criminal wrongdoing by Chopra, and the presence of a name in the Epstein records is not itself evidence of misconduct. However, the breadth and tone of the exchanges shed new light on the depth of their relationship during years after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor and before his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. In a statement posted earlier this month, Chopra said he was “never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct,” adding that he regretted “poor judgment in tone” in certain email exchanges and expressed sadness for Epstein’s victims.
The review of the files indicates Chopra visited Epstein at multiple properties, including his New York townhouse, South Florida residence and Paris apartment. In several messages, Chopra invited Epstein to travel with him and suggested he bring “your girls” on trips to Israel and Switzerland. The ages of the women referenced are not specified in the correspondence. In philosophical exchanges, the two men blended discussions of metaphysics with remarks about women, at times using language that critics may view as inappropriate given Epstein’s criminal history. In one exchange, after Epstein joked about watching Chopra “zero in on your prey,” Chopra responded, “I not a predator Just a lover.”
The correspondence also shows Epstein offering business support to Chopra’s wellness ventures. In 2017, one of Epstein’s foundations, Gratitude America, sent a $50,000 check to the Chopra Foundation, apparently earmarked for scientific research. Epstein also discussed promoting Chopra’s wellness app and making introductions to insurance executives. Beyond business and travel, the two discussed politics. Following the 2016 election, Chopra told Epstein his family was “devastated” by Donald Trump’s victory, while Epstein responded optimistically. Chopra later shared with Epstein an opinion article he wrote criticizing Trump.
Epstein frequently sought to introduce Chopra to high-profile figures. In 2016, he floated the idea of arranging a dinner involving actor Leonardo DiCaprio and filmmaker Woody Allen. He also described Chopra to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak as a “guru to Hollywood.” There is no public indication such meetings occurred.
The disclosures underscore how Epstein maintained relationships across entertainment, academia and global politics even after his earlier conviction. For Chopra, a prominent figure in integrative medicine who rose to mainstream fame with support from media personalities in the 1990s, the revelations pose reputational questions about judgment and association rather than documented criminal conduct.