Newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice show that Jeffrey Epstein explored the possibility of acquiring Skorpios, the private Greek island once owned by shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
The contacts appear in email exchanges contained within a trove of around three million documents made public by US authorities several days ago. The correspondence covers the period from August to late 2011 and includes discussions with brokers and intermediaries who could potentially facilitate an acquisition. The material does not establish whether Epstein was acting on his own behalf or representing another party, and the talks ultimately did not result in a deal.
What the emails show about Epstein and Onassis’ Skorpios island
According to the emails, on August 5, 2011, Richard Giraud sent information about islands to Boris Nikolic. The following day, Nikolic contacted Epstein, making a specific reference to Skorpios and describing it as “one of the most private islands in Greece.”
A few days later, Epstein followed up with detailed questions about ownership and access, asking in particular whether the coastline was private or public. Nikolic said he would check, while noting that the island was “not officially for sale.”
On August 17th of that year, Nikolic informed Epstein that he had received clarification. Skorpios was described as fully private property, complete with residences and a helipad. In the same message, Nikolic outlined the island’s history, including its association with Aristotle Onassis and his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy.
From August 20, 2011 onwards, a new round of messages began between Epstein and Giraud, who indicated that he was attempting to arrange a private visit to the island. The emails suggest that, during this period, Epstein was traveling in Europe and requested information about the nearest airport and level of privacy Skorpios could offer, something that sends chills down the spine to everyone who now knows what Epstein and his accomplices were doing for years on his own private island.
In one exchange, Giraud remarked that “no island is absolutely private,” prompting Epstein to seek clarification. Giraud then responded unequivocally that Skorpios is entirely private property and that access is not permitted.
Further correspondence dated September 4, 2011 shows Giraud asking when Epstein might be able to visit the island after September 12. The proposed visit was described in emails as difficult to organize. It appeared to be planned for October, with Giraud requesting additional details such as the number of people involved and whether a helicopter would be required.
Epstein later replied he would not be able to attend, noting that he would be in New York at the time. No further progress towards a visit or purchase is indicated in the documents.
The files also reference Boris Nikolic, who had previously worked with Bill Gates, and Richard Giraud, a French national active in the luxury real estate sector. The released material provides no evidence that negotiations advanced beyond exploratory inquiries.
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