Jeffrey Epstein's Ties to Saudi Arabia

Jeffrey Epstein's connections to Saudi Arabia have long fueled speculation about his international influence, potential intelligence links, and unexplained wealth. These ties, documented through court records, flight logs, and media investigations, span decades and involve travel, forged documents, and associations with Saudi royalty. While no direct evidence ties Epstein's sex-trafficking crimes to Saudi figures, his interactions with the kingdom highlight a pattern of elite networking in the Middle East. Below is a breakdown of the key elements, drawn from unsealed documents and reporting.

1. The Fake Austrian Passport with Saudi Residence

• In 2019, during the FBI raid on Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, agents discovered an expired 1980s Austrian passport inside a locked safe, alongside $70,000 in cash and 48 loose diamonds.

  
  

  The passport bore Epstein's photo but a false name ("Alberto Engel de S.") and listed his residence as Saudi Arabia.

  
  

• Prosecutors revealed it was used for international travel in the 1980s, with stamps showing entries to Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

  
  

  Epstein's lawyers claimed it was for "personal protection" due to risks as a wealthy Jewish traveler in the Middle East, but federal investigators viewed it as evidence of his flight risk and ability to evade scrutiny.

  
  

• Recent 2024 State Department records obtained by ABC News further show Epstein repeatedly requested second U.S. passports to "avoid conflicting visa stamps" for trips to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, underscoring his frequent Middle East travel.

  
  

2. Travel to Saudi Arabia

• Epstein's private jet, dubbed the "Lolita Express," made notable trips to the kingdom. Flight data analyzed by aviation trackers shows it landed at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on November 7, 2016—the eve of the U.S. presidential election.

  
  

  The jet had departed from the U.S. and briefly appeared over southern Jordan before entering Saudi airspace, marking one of the clearest documented links to the region.

• Earlier travels in the 1980s, facilitated by the fake passport, suggest Epstein visited Saudi Arabia multiple times, though exact purposes remain unclear.

  
  

  Associates reported he traveled solo to the kingdom more than to other Middle Eastern destinations, where visas were notoriously restrictive for unmarried women until recently.

  
  

3. Associations with Saudi Royalty and Elites

• Epstein openly boasted of close ties to Saudi leaders, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). In 2018— a year before his death—he claimed frequent conversations with MBS, though without verifiable evidence.

  
  

  A framed photo of MBS hung in Epstein's Manhattan mansion alongside images of Bill Clinton and Woody Allen.

  
  

• Epstein's infamous "black book" of contacts, seized by the FBI, listed MBS and other Saudi royals, alongside figures like Israeli PM Ehud Barak and UK PM Tony Blair.

  
  

• As recently as November 18, 2025, leaked documents reported by Observer Diplomat allege MBS sent Epstein luxurious gifts, including a tent and carpets, hinting at a deeper "hidden elite network" of influence involving global power dynamics.

  
  

  This aligns with broader probes into Epstein's role in international dealings, including potential Saudi investments in his ventures (e.g., unconfirmed links to Tesla's $2 billion Saudi funding).

  
  

• Steve Bannon, who befriended Epstein in 2018, later described him as having "close relations with the Saudi government" and speculated Epstein might have been paid for undisclosed work there.

  
  

4. Speculation on Intelligence and Financial Links

• Epstein's Saudi connections have sparked theories of intelligence involvement, given the kingdom's history of covert operations. The 2016 Riyadh trip, timed amid U.S. election tensions, raised questions about his role in geopolitical maneuvering.

  
  

  Some reports link it to broader Epstein-Middle East ties, including unproven blackmail schemes involving Saudi interests (e.g., the 2019 Jeff Bezos hack allegations).

  
  

• In the context of recent Epstein file declassifications (as of November 2025), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna cited witness statements implicating Saudi Arabia in an "international trafficking network" alongside Russia and Israel.

  
  

  Ongoing DOJ investigations, spurred by President Trump, are probing Epstein associates' Saudi links, contributing to fallout like former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers stepping back from public roles.

  
  

Key Document/Artifact	Description	Date/Period	Source
Fake Austrian Passport	Photo of Epstein; false name; Saudi residence; used for 1980s travel to Saudi Arabia	1980s (expired 1987)	FBI Raid (2019) nbcnews.com
Private Jet Logs	Landing in Riyadh	November 7, 2016	Flight Data Analysis businessinsider.com
Black Book Entry	Contact for MBS	Ongoing	FBI Seizure (2019) en.wikipedia.org
MBS Photo/Gifts	Framed picture in mansion; alleged luxury gifts	2018–2025	Mansion Inventory & Leaks observerdiplomat.com
Passport Requests	Second U.S. passports for Saudi/Arab travel	1980s–2010s	State Dept. Records (2024) abcnews.go.com

These ties remain a "black hole" of unanswered questions, especially post-Epstein's 2019 death, with recent 2025 developments suggesting deeper scrutiny amid U.S.-Saudi arms deals and file releases.