The recent release of millions of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein has placed bestselling author and wellness guru Deepak Chopra under a harsh spotlight, revealing a far more extensive and complicated relationship with the disgraced financier than previously acknowledged. The documents, made public on February 23, 2026, are part of what officials have dubbed the “Epstein Library,” and they detail hundreds of emails, text messages, and financial transactions between Chopra and Epstein from 2016 through 2019—the very years leading up to Epstein’s arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
For many, the revelations come as a shock. Chopra, a household name in the world of alternative medicine and spirituality, had publicly distanced himself from Epstein earlier this month. On X (formerly Twitter), he insisted, “I was never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct.” But as the DOJ files have shown, the connection ran deeper and was more sustained than a mere acquaintance or professional courtesy. According to CNN’s review of the files, the two men exchanged hundreds of messages and arranged in-person meetings in New York, South Florida, and Paris. Their correspondence covered a wide range of topics—spirituality, health, meditation, business ventures, and mutual acquaintances. At times, the tone was unmistakably warm, with Chopra signing off messages with phrases like “Love” or “XO,” and even once writing, “I am deeply grateful for our friendship.”
The presence of a name in the Epstein files, legal analysts have warned, does not automatically indicate wrongdoing. But the sheer volume and intimacy of the exchanges suggest a sustained friendship, maintained even after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor. This context has fueled public debate about the boundaries of accountability and the responsibilities of high-profile figures in the wake of large-scale investigations.
Among the most controversial aspects of the correspondence are several messages in which Chopra invited Epstein to bring “your girls” on trips to Israel and Switzerland in 2017. In one such message, Chopra wrote, “If you want to use a fake name. Bring your girls.” In another, he told Epstein, “Your girls will like them, as will you.” The identities and ages of the individuals referenced remain unclear, and there is no evidence in the documents that any crimes were committed in connection with these invitations. However, the language has raised eyebrows, especially given Epstein’s well-documented criminal history. In a separate exchange, Epstein remarked about watching Chopra “zero in on your prey,” to which Chopra replied, “I not a predator Just a lover.” Chopra has since acknowledged that some of these resurfaced exchanges reflected “poor judgment in tone.”
The DOJ files also shed light on the professional and financial dimensions of their relationship. In 2017, Epstein’s foundation, Gratitude America, issued a $50,000 check to the Chopra Foundation, reportedly earmarked for scientific research. This was not the only instance of financial collaboration. The files reveal that Chopra and Epstein discussed a range of business ventures, most notably a wellness app called Jiyo, co-founded by Chopra and Poonacha Machaiah. Epstein offered to connect the venture with major insurance executives, and there were also discussions about developing digital applications, including a proposed “aura” app and even a game concept. These exchanges demonstrate that the relationship extended well beyond casual acquaintance and into the realm of professional collaboration.
One of the most intriguing revelations involves Chopra’s role in introducing Epstein to a University of California, San Diego (UCSD) research lab. According to federal records released by the DOJ on January 30, 2026, Chopra facilitated Epstein’s involvement in a proposed pilot study at UCSD’s Center for Brain and Cognition. The study focused on an autistic savant who reportedly displayed telepathy, and emails detail budget discussions ranging from $500,000 to $3 million—figures suggested to attract administrative attention. Ultimately, Epstein instructed his accountant to send $25,000 from his Gratitude America foundation to the University of California Board of Regents in support of the research. UC San Diego’s communications office has confirmed awareness of the issue and stated that it is reviewing the matter as of February 22, 2026. Chopra has told reporters he only suggested Epstein visit the lab to learn about ongoing brain research, and he has continued to deny any involvement in criminal activity.
The DOJ’s massive document release—running to millions of pages and heavily redacted to protect victims—has been described by legal experts as a double-edged sword. While it provides unprecedented transparency into Epstein’s sprawling network, it also contains unverified tips and unproven allegations. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have cautioned that appearing in the files does not imply criminal liability, a point underscored by numerous outlets including The Guardian and CBS News. Still, the disclosures have reignited questions about how research institutions vet donors, handle controversial gifts, and disclose potential conflicts of interest. For UC San Diego and other universities, the revelations are a stark reminder of the need for robust oversight and transparency in donor relations.
The documents also reveal the extent to which Epstein sought to leverage Chopra’s connections in the worlds of entertainment, academia, and politics. In one exchange, Epstein described Chopra to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak as “the guru to Hollywood.” There are also references to high-profile figures such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and filmmaker Woody Allen, with Epstein inquiring whether DiCaprio might be interested in a dinner involving Allen. The files do not clarify whether such a meeting ever took place. Chopra also mentioned that Ivanka Trump attended one of his meditation sessions in 2016, highlighting the breadth of his social network.
Throughout the correspondence, Chopra’s public persona as a “Pioneer of Consciousness on a Global Scale” and a leading practitioner of integrative medicine is juxtaposed with private exchanges that, at times, blur the line between personal and professional. In August 2016, for example, Chopra sent Epstein a link to a TED Talk about the end of physics, quipping, “Statistics is like a girl in a swimsuit: what she shows is obvious; what she hides is more interesting.” The files also include video materials of Chopra, such as meditation exercises and conversations about spirituality, though none were produced specifically for Epstein.
As the public and the media continue to sift through the DOJ’s “Epstein Library,” the renewed scrutiny of Deepak Chopra’s actions and associations serves as a case study in the complexities of public accountability. Chopra, for his part, has expressed sympathy for Epstein’s victims, stating he is “deeply saddened by the suffering of the victims in this case,” and has reiterated that he was never involved in criminal or exploitative behavior. He added that he regrets the tone of certain email exchanges, a sentiment echoed in a February 2019 message as the Epstein investigation gained momentum.
For now, the story remains a cautionary tale about the tangled webs that connect power, influence, and responsibility in the modern age. As investigations and public reviews continue, Chopra and other figures named in the files will likely face ongoing scrutiny—not just for what they did, but for what their associations reveal about the blurred boundaries between public image and private conduct.