Who is on the Epstein list?

Hundreds of names appear across various Epstein-related documents, including contact books, flight logs, and court filings. These include politicians, business figures, scientists, and celebrities. However, most individuals are named in non-incriminating contexts such as contact records, witness testimony, or social event references. Being named is not evidence of wrongdoing.

Were the Epstein list names released?

Names from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case were released through court-ordered unsealing beginning in January 2024. Additional names appear in flight logs and Epstein's contact book, which were entered into evidence in various proceedings. The Associated Press, New York Times, and other outlets have provided analysis of what the released names actually indicate.

Is there an official Epstein client list?

No official 'client list' exists. The term is a media and social media creation. Court documents contain names in various contexts — witnesses, social acquaintances, professional contacts, and in some cases individuals against whom specific allegations were made. The distinction between these categories is crucial and often lost in public discussion.

How many people were on Epstein's flight logs?

Epstein's flight logs, released as part of civil litigation, document numerous passengers across many flights over several years. Many flights were between conventional destinations like New York and Palm Beach. Being listed as a passenger is not evidence of criminal activity, according to fact-checking by Reuters and the Associated Press.

Has anyone on the Epstein list been charged?

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on federal sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to the DOJ. Jeffrey Epstein himself pleaded guilty to state charges in 2008 and was federally indicted in 2019. Several other individuals have faced various legal proceedings. The full list of those under investigation is not publicly known.

The 'Epstein List': What the Unsealed Names Actually Mean

Clarifying what the so-called 'Epstein list' actually refers to — the difference between names appearing in documents and allegations of wrongdoing. Source-verified explainer with court citations.

Updated February 20, 20266 sources

What Is the "Epstein List"?

The term "Epstein list" is widely used in public discourse but does not refer to a single, definitive document. Instead, it is a colloquial term applied to various collections of names that appear in court documents, flight logs, contact records, and other materials associated with the Epstein case, as reported by the Associated Press and the New York Times.

Critical distinction: Being named in Epstein-related documents does not indicate participation in or knowledge of criminal activity. Names appear in these documents for many reasons, including legitimate professional, social, or incidental connections, according to reporting by multiple major news outlets.

For the full scope of available documents, see The Epstein Files.

Types of "Lists" in the Documents

Contact Records

Epstein maintained contact information for hundreds of individuals across politics, business, entertainment, science, and other fields, according to court records and reporting by the New York Times. His contact book, which was obtained by investigators, contains names and phone numbers of many prominent people. Having one's contact information in this book is not evidence of wrongdoing, as fact-checkers at Reuters and AP have noted.

Flight Logs

Passenger lists from Epstein's private aircraft document individuals who traveled on his planes, according to records entered into evidence in civil proceedings. These flights had various purposes, and being a passenger is not evidence of criminal activity, according to Reuters fact-checking. Many documented flights were between conventional destinations such as New York and Palm Beach.

Deposition Testimony

Names appear in sworn depositions, particularly from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case (Case No. 15-cv-07433, SDNY), according to court records. Some individuals are named as alleged participants in wrongdoing; others are mentioned as witnesses, acquaintances, or in entirely unrelated contexts.

Unsealed Court Documents (January 2024)

The documents unsealed from Giuffre v. Maxwell beginning in January 2024 contained numerous names, according to court records. As reported by the Associated Press and the New York Times, most individuals were named in contexts that do not allege wrongdoing.

Why Accuracy Matters

The public appetite for a comprehensive "list" of Epstein's alleged co-conspirators is understandable. However, conflating different types of document mentions creates serious risks, as noted by legal experts and fact-checking organizations:

Reputational harm to individuals named in innocent contexts
Legal inaccuracy that undermines legitimate investigations and prosecutions
Misinformation that makes it harder to identify actual wrongdoing
Victim exploitation when speculation overshadows the documented abuse of identified victims

For our approach to handling sensitive information, see our About Sources page.

What We Know

Based on court records and verified reporting, the individuals who have faced actual legal consequences in connection with Epstein's crimes include:

Ghislaine Maxwell — Convicted on federal sex trafficking charges in December 2021; sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to DOJ press releases
Jeffrey Epstein — Pleaded guilty to state charges in 2008; indicted on federal charges in 2019 by the SDNY; died in federal custody in August 2019
Several other individuals have faced various legal proceedings; the full list of those under investigation or prosecution is not publicly known, according to the DOJ

For details on specific individuals named in documents, see our pages on Trump and Epstein and Prince Andrew and Epstein.

What We Don't Know

The complete scope of individuals who may be under investigation — ongoing investigations are not publicly disclosed
Whether additional prosecutions will be brought based on the released documents
How many individuals named in documents had any awareness of Epstein's criminal activities
The full contents of documents that remain sealed or redacted
Whether intelligence agencies or other government bodies possess additional relevant information

Our Approach

This archive distinguishes between:

Documented facts — What court records and official sources explicitly state
Allegations — Claims made in legal proceedings, clearly labeled as such
Unverified claims — Information from less reliable sources, excluded from our coverage

We do not publish speculative "lists" that conflate document mentions with allegations of wrongdoing. Learn more about our methodology on our About Sources page.

Primary Sources

Giuffre v. Maxwell, unsealed documents, January 2024 — CourtListener
Associated Press, "What we know about the Epstein documents" — apnews.com
New York Times, Epstein documents analysis — nytimes.com
Reuters, Epstein document fact-checking — reuters.com
BBC News, Epstein files explainer — bbc.com
DOJ, Maxwell conviction press release — justice.gov

Explore the full case timeline, browse verified records in our document library, or read our detailed Epstein files explainer.

Sources

[1]Giuffre v. Maxwell, Case No. 15-cv-07433, SDNY, unsealed documents, January 2024 https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4355835/giuffre-v-maxwe... (accessed 2025-01-15)
[2]Associated Press, 'What we know about the Epstein documents,' January 2024 https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-documents-unseale... (accessed 2025-01-15)
[3]New York Times, 'What the Epstein Documents Reveal,' January 2024 https://www.nytimes.com/ (accessed 2025-01-15)
[4]Reuters, fact-checking Epstein document claims, January 2024 https://www.reuters.com/ (accessed 2025-01-15)
[5]BBC News, 'Epstein files: What we've learned,' January 2024 https://www.bbc.com/ (accessed 2025-01-15)
[6]DOJ Press Release: Ghislaine Maxwell Convicted, December 2021 https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-found... (accessed 2025-01-15)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Epstein list?: The 'Epstein list' is a colloquial term that does not refer to a single document. It is used to describe various collections of names appearing in court documents, flight logs, contact records, and other materials from the Epstein case. Being named in these documents does not imply participation in or knowledge of criminal activity.
Who is on the Epstein list?: Hundreds of names appear across various Epstein-related documents, including contact books, flight logs, and court filings. These include politicians, business figures, scientists, and celebrities. However, most individuals are named in non-incriminating contexts such as contact records, witness testimony, or social event references. Being named is not evidence of wrongdoing.
Were the Epstein list names released?: Names from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case were released through court-ordered unsealing beginning in January 2024. Additional names appear in flight logs and Epstein's contact book, which were entered into evidence in various proceedings. The Associated Press, New York Times, and other outlets have provided analysis of what the released names actually indicate.
Is there an official Epstein client list?: No official 'client list' exists. The term is a media and social media creation. Court documents contain names in various contexts — witnesses, social acquaintances, professional contacts, and in some cases individuals against whom specific allegations were made. The distinction between these categories is crucial and often lost in public discussion.
How many people were on Epstein's flight logs?: Epstein's flight logs, released as part of civil litigation, document numerous passengers across many flights over several years. Many flights were between conventional destinations like New York and Palm Beach. Being listed as a passenger is not evidence of criminal activity, according to fact-checking by Reuters and the Associated Press.
Has anyone on the Epstein list been charged?: Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on federal sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to the DOJ. Jeffrey Epstein himself pleaded guilty to state charges in 2008 and was federally indicted in 2019. Several other individuals have faced various legal proceedings. The full list of those under investigation is not publicly known.