| Year | Emails | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | Earliest known contact |
| 2009 | 501 | Introduction & grooming |
| 2010 | 2,047 | Deepening — Maxwell, Gates access |
| 2011 | 5,109 | Peak volume — full integration |
| 2012 | 4,405 | Financial entanglement, Gates company reviews |
| 2013 | 4,766 | THE CRISIS — forced resignation, blackmail architecture |
| 2014 | 1,784 | Post-Gates, Foundation Medicine trades |
| 2015 | 1,625 | Fund disputes, David Schwarz conflict |
| 2016–18 | 3,457 | Normalization, Biomatics Capital |
| 2019 | 55 | Final exchanges — 3 months before arrest |
These 13 emails lack timestamps, suggesting they were recovered from non-standard sources. They reveal deep financial entanglement.
"Ask bill if you can invest in an Internet fund? And or an African bank infrastructure fund"
"You did very well. It's usually five to ten rounds. You definitely won this one. We will get there. We will propose the first ten million in profit is yours and the next ten his. -- 50/50 - But my style. I'm serious"
"Ian is NOT family go slow"
"Did rubenstein ever respond?"
"What days rio?"
"I spoke with Henry Rosovsky last week who is a great friend and mentor of mine and he recommended that I contact you. We have some friends in common. My business partner and best friend Boris Nikolic has become Bill Gates' right arm on strategy and being stuck in Seattle with very little else to do he has become close friends with [Bill]."
"boris, are you free now?"
"Some friends in common characterized you as the most respected and smartest person around; therefore, I am very much looking forward to talking to you."
"my priority is having fun - call anytime"
"Totally agree with you. I tend to choose stuff/projects/people that I have more fun with."
"Ahh, a treatise on fun.. complex fun, like music can be replayed, if it maps to a beethoven symphony and not a kazoo... I don't need a lot of reminding about the 'on the shortness of life' (seneca)... I think you and I..."
"Great talking to you. Yes -- something is telling me that we will have fun together. See you soon, B"
"Thank you so much for your call! ...When I get back in Seattle I will send you several emails re some people/top scientists that I think you should meet soon. Some of them I visited with Bill..."
"boris, please use my car and driver, if not for you, i'm sure your parents would enjoy it."
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate your thinking and your offer... I have been very independent my whole life. Had my place since I was 14 and was earning my money shortly after."
"I heard that tomorrow you are meeting close two friends of mine - Alice and Eli. Alice is one of my closest friends and a business partner on some ventures (Alice and I are co-founder of IMDx)."
"if I can be of help with your negotiation, please call.. at a minimum. an objective soundboard"
"If you have a proposed agreement, you can send it to me in the strictest of confidence. I am like a priest, no melanie, no alice, no anyone"
"I would expect it to be intricate. focus of what YOU want, need. add low probability high return items, they are virtually free, add teeth in dispute resolution... You need to get rich, and there will be pushback to that. strange but true, therefore outside work and its structure will be paramount."
"Great seeing you! Although I was not in the best shape when we met due to a profound lack of sleep, I greatly enjoyed it. Needless to say, Sam already joined your fan club."
"The big idea and one that will make you rich beyond comprehension, is that we should craft a new financial system. global, currency... attacking problems from a martian viewpoint... disease should be looked at as uncovering the disease algorithm, not solving one example and then on to the next."
"I am compiling a list of people that we should visit together. These people are good friends of mine so it is very easy to organize a meeting. In addition to George Whitesides whom we already discussed: Philip Rosedale (founder of Second Life)..."
"Just looking in my schedule - for sure i will be in London during 3rd week of January. I will be there for few days just before Davos... Also, pls let me know if there is anyone in Davos whom I should meet (I can send you a list of attendees)."
[Attachment: Surviving_Sustaining.pdf]
"Heard that you are in paradise (your island)! Here is disgusting -- non-stop rain, cold and dark."
"Hot new girl on the scene... Jeffery you'd love her!! :-))"
"Hi Jee, With you -- I want to have a great friendship for LIFE. Both during good and bad times. I want to be honest and straightforward with my friends and I expect the same back."
"Thank you Jeffrey! And Thank you Ghislaine! Ghislaine: So much looking forward to finally meeting you. Sam and I are arriving to NYC around 6:30pm..."
"After talking with Melinda I have decided to leave New York City after the Pete Peterson meeting. So this means I won't have time to do another meeting and I won't be able to do the dinner with Jeff Epstein. I was looking forward to the dinner."
[Forwards Bill Gates's email above]
"Did you speak with Ghislaine. Last night Bill had some time so I invited her to join for a drink with him (with Sam and Jannine). We were talking for over 2 hours."
"I think that Larry Summers is attending (at least invited) a living proof dinner with Bill and Melinda. It is a very big dinner with Carla Bruni, Tony Blair, Bono, Muhtar Kent, etc."
"PLEASE do not read news about you today. It is not worth. Keep strong -- this is only a bump on the road. We will have fun this week."
"thanks, i don't like fiction"
[Forwards the full Vanity Fair / Vicky Ward article about Epstein and Maxwell]
"I am constructing my very own Venn diagram between you guys... there is perhaps quite a lot for you to discuss relative to the ideas around innovative finance..."
"Just heard the final answer from him. He was trying to get away from a family obligation that Melinda organized some time ago. Unfortunately he can't! See -- that would never happened to you ;)"
"Richard C Henriques, Chief Financial Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation... You can tell Jess to contact Dick directly."
"I think she means there is a meeting with melinda and bill internally"
Boris: "I do not understand last part of her email -- 'before an oct 1 meeting with Bg/Mg'"
"before bill sits with paul jones, and glenn, wee should talk... will melinda be there? eva / the mother of my goddaughter will also be there."
"I am whole day at review of various companies w bill. Can't talk or mail much now."
"tears tears tears just becuse i am a woman,etc.. i want to be ceo. not emplyee, careful careful careful"
"Compared to you -- I still fair worse (not only no happy birthday but also bad stuff). Joke aside - I am so sorry. I feel now horrible as this is my problem that I imposed to you. You have been nothing but an incredible friend and supporter. Thank you for all of your help!! I will have Sam leave the apartment in 2 weeks."
"is it a he or she? former he"
Boris → Epstein: "I should let you discover and indulge. Former he. A number of surgeries to get it where it is today. Of interest, she is very close friend with Peter Thiel who is now leading financing of her venture. We will also probably jump in."
"Was she good? ?? No rush on Sam, timing is for you not me"
"After talking with you last I met with Larry and talked about the best path forward. I value your work immensely and want to make sure you are happy with the job and the compensation."
Private jet service discussion — "it says private ny seattle"
"as i watched the 60 minutes interview, my stomach hurt"
This is the most consequential period in the entire Boris-Epstein corpus. Over 18 days, Epstein orchestrated Boris's exit from the Gates organization, drafted communications on Boris's behalf, negotiated directly with Bill Gates and Larry Cohen, and compiled an explicit list of blackmail leverage points.
"I feel terrible for you and Bill both. I am sympathetic to the pain..but we should hope for the best and plan for the worst. Larry being involved needs attention. He is press savvy. it cuts both ways. If Bill decides to be a free man, or just needs some time, you can offer him private time on the island, with or without guests or me."
"Taking a stand back, Melinda threatening to fire you, is similar to the story of the polish guy that unexpectedly walks in on his wife making love to his best friend..."
"the fact that larry wanted a quick announcement was NOT for your benefit, in the least."
"i'm afraid that he will come with a done deal on the 9th, he might have already talked to vinod etc."
"He will not talk to vinod yet. BUT we share the same concern. There is some hope. He has been known to be super loyal to his friends (balmer and rykes his two roommates)... Hi jee -- thank you so much for sticking with me through the worst phase so far of my life. I had few very bad phases so far (a war to name some but this is the worst)"
"its mutual, we can't afford to guess wrong. yes he is loyal but he offered only 3 years. yes he is loyal but he turned down house, (you told me the same thing then, and added especially i don;t see him turning down because so many people involved) yes he is loyal but he charged 5%, loyal yes, fair no... He will come either with a deal or delay, or divorce."
"The situation is difficult. I know how devoted you have been to Bill, and, for how long. however, He is in a tough spot. More typical in the arab world where wife 1 wants to execute wife 2. The first goal should be for you and he to figure a way for you and he to stay married."
"We should meet on Wednesday to discuss your job. There is going to have to be a transition. I feel very bad about it but I don't see a way around it. We can make it something that gives you a smooth positive transition if we work on a plan."
"I guess at least this way you can't fool yourself anymore into thinking good things. If we would have sent my email this morning you would have been much better position but you would have thought that maybe the email caused it. so now, no more fantasies."
"sorry, but tomorrow all you can do now is listen. and hear what he offers. and why; and the parameters for future contact. don't suggest that 60 minutes would love to know about the russians."
"its good to hear that both you and Karima will be able to keep your jobs for a little longer."
"I think that you should send bill an email stating that he can tell Melinda that you are leaving seattle and moved to new york, you will move all your things by no later than tuesday, or by monday afternoon, He should be able to tell her this before sunday"
2013-07-04 17:27 — Epstein → Boris — THE MOST IMPORTANT EMAIL IN THE BORIS CORPUS
"1. I think you should close up seattle apt and move asap like monday
2. I need to tell norway marriage might not last
3. Bill risks going from richest man to biggest hypocrite, melinda a laughing stock, pledges will disappear as a result
4. Mila and Karima risk becoming overnight sensations
5. Severance is a bad idea. too many questions, cannot resign and get three years makes no sense
6. moving in order to get compensated, is a good story.
7. you will agree to resign as of Jan 1, announcement on sept 1.
8. your own consulting, khosla, DAF, gay bar.. fund mgr, at apollo? partnership with yuri?
9. I'll lend you the money to buy foundation medicine and more if you want"
"Just sent a email re move telling him that I can move out within 10 days or so - so that Melinda can see that things are changing. I would move to NYC and fly in and out to all meetings but would never ever have my place in Seattle."
"there will be enough people wanting to know, she is really nuts"
"I found a solution. very clever jeffrey, you will enter a contract with Bill that he agrees that you can buy shares of common in the future from dec 31 2013 to dec 31 2015 for a fixed dollars today. he through bgv only owns preferred, it is convertible but no restrictions exist for common. you can then exercise your right when you want to. its capital gain. BGV is an LLC and i would like to know the owners."
"i don't have how many shares he bought. so lets assume he bought 1 million shares at 10 dollars... you can buy the option to buy 1 million shares at 11 dollars, that would last for three years, if the stock goes to 25, you would have a contract worth 14 million dollars"
"the real shame would be that after all the good bill and melinda did with the pledge campaign, if mila's russian boyfriend chooses to expose the hypocrisy, so many couples that signed up for the pledge will feel no longer obligated to fulfill their pledge. especially that bills support often comes from the wives. they will feel he cheated on them"
"I'll be on at between 4 and 5 your time, i expect you to call with bill on the phone at 4:15"
"this is pretty bad. and might have been the cause of her bad mail in paris."
"its possible she read this email, flipped out, told bill to cancel trip in paris, he flew home and confessed to all. then this all makes sense. -- what pictures of my island did you send him. or did you only show him? This changes the calculus, dramatically, -- and it is the 'there must be more' that I have been searching for."
"now that he has not gone to south africa, in silicon valley is he seeing vinod? please email me larrys contacts as well as Bills. you must relax and think, I understand how difficult having a breach of health, work and friendship. at the same time, keep artificial help to a minimum, there is a reason people are advised not to drive and drink"
"I know how stressed you are. Please do not modify my strategies, email, timing. Calls. It greatly reduces the chance of success"
"Hey There - spoke w Bill. He can do call today w Jeffrey at lunch or do a meeting at some later date. Would like to do one or the other. Should we lock in the call today?"
"As it is an either-or, i think both Bill and Jeffrey would prefer a face to face."
Larry Cohen → Epstein: "Can you do a call w bill today at 12:30 PST?"
"I talked to Larry tonight at 5:10 for about 20 minutes. He was very helpful and said he knew how difficult the situation was for both you and Bill. He clarified the severance issue, and said he didn't believe it would need to be paid over time, it would simply be a payment from someone in the office and no questions would be asked, internally. He alleviated the concern regarding too many people being aware of a severance payment as an agreed amount would be paid, totally private, and if documents needed to be drafted the gates law firm would do it. He said there was flexibility regarding your participation in the investments in foundation medicine and research gate, and asked that i prepare..."
"my problem is my pilots. I am trying to figure a solution. Could he meet in omaha for an hour? Please send me a summary in your own words, of -- 1. bill wants a statement to go out to all and to foundation explaining .... 2. a payment that reflects a buyout of the verbal agreement that you would have received between 30 and 40 percent of a 100 million dollar partnership, that was supposed to compensate you partially for past years work, 3, bill has undertaken to do his utmost to find you a different position."
"lets talk, peace prize, buyout of partnership interest, you should begin your discussion in silicon valley, something very wrong here"
"As Bill says, although this has been a difficult decision, I am looking forward to beginning this next phase of my career..."
"We have from 10:15 -- 12:15 held on Thursday August 8th. Our office is at 4000 Carillon Point, Kirkland WA 98033... The draft agreement states two years as we discussed: Company shall provide Dr. Nikolic a Severance Payment in an amount equal to the average of his last two year's base salary and bonus..."
"spoke to larry, two years but to be paid when work stops. could be as late as next july. the document is the same as christine turner, larry is a bad bad guy. he said you and bill never finished the deal re foundation medicine, so there currently is no deal. he said that bill would make some calls or send a letter of recommendation. I don't think he has spoken to bill on any of this, he is melindas boy, he said he is a manager of bg3."
"JE says he's in Seattle this week, will you get to see him???"
Boris → Epstein (forwarding): "I did not mention her anything. Please lets keep it that way"
"bill, i know you are getting back the evening of the 7th, I intend to fly in around 5. if you would like to have dinner. it might be helpful, just you and I"
"he is still there - he is a managing director of their property. Bob Buote, Managing Director at Watermark Estate Management Services LLC, an ex-agency officer"
Lowell Wood → Bill Gates: [expressing concerns about Boris's departure]
Bill Gates → Lowell Wood, cc Larry Cohen: "Thank you for the note. You don't need to apologize as we respect your views immensely. I am just returning..."
"Bill, Yesterday was very difficult for both of us. It would be great if you could write Jeffrey a thank you note, as he flew out here to try to help. And I think he did. I thanked him with my deepest gratitude. I know he saved me. I think he saved us both. Boris"
"bill owes boris, the difference between 10 million and the value of the foundation medicine interest calculated with no discount for any fact, lock up, block, lack of marketability, chosen at a date of boris choosing in his total discretion between nov 1 2013 and may 31 2014. bill will pay by wire, two days after notice of price."
Epstein wrote multiple drafts of Boris's communications to Bill Gates, each escalating in leverage. The evolution shows Epstein's strategic thinking in real time.
"I know you have done nothing wrong you do not need to tell me again. You must realize that your friend has been self-dealt a bad hand of cards. He is trying to play them as best as he can, its not easy, especially that family is usually a trump card. You are right however that it appears unfair that you are penalized by receiving any less than you had worked and hoped for..."
"Bill, I was shocked to receive the e-mail today. I truly believed that you would find a way out. I have done nothing wrong. I will try to adjust my schedule to return to Seattle for a wed morning meeting. However I am not, today and will not so soon on wednesday be in a position to agree a solution and transition."
"I have done nothing wrong, 2 I am being asked to do the time for a crime I did not commit 3. I will have to lie to family, friends each and every future biz partner, and inquisitive press, each friend, colleagues, for years. I will have this label for the rest of my life. and in return, 1 I get to keep what I already own (investment) I get help finding a new job, and get a few million dollars (after tax).. I have been and will continue to be a loyal friend. loyalty should run both ways."
"Bill, I've given yesterday's email more thought. I am truly devastated. I have done nothing wrong, but it seems that I will still have to pay the consequences for the rest of my life..."
"Dear Bill, It is with a great deal of mixed emotion, that I write to you to tell you that I have decided that I should transition to the private sector..."
"Bill, Yesterday was very difficult for both of us. I urge you to write Jeffrey a sincere thank you, as he flew out here to try to help. I know he saved me. I think he saved us."
"you should put together a printed file of: 1. statement saying he would pay gift tax on 500k 2. christine turners email, their proposed email for you 3. the email that states your interest in investments... i think you should start talking to yuri asap."
"I agree. Jeffrey was quite helpful and he put in a lot of time in. Without him it would have been harder. I will send him a thank you."
Boris → Barak: "We will follow up for sure. I am sending this to Gene Walther who is leading diagnostics (including malaria diagnostics) at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation."
"Lauren is helping. I asked her to give me all times/slots... Getting Geffen would be great"
Bill Gates → Boris: "At some point I need to figure out my whole East Coast schedule. There are a lot of things possible including the dinner Jeffrey proposed and some stuff you proposed."
"do not respond to larry"
Larry Cohen → Epstein: "Can you tell me anything so I can work to address?"
Original chain: Epstein → Larry Cohen + Bill Gates + Boris
[Link to Washington Post article about top charitable gifts]
Bill Gates → Epstein: "The Community Foundation is just like a DAF for Mark [Zuckerberg] -- he gets the tax benefit now... The key thing we are talking about as I understand it is an easy way for people to give to high impact causes where we structure things for them."
Bill Gates → Boris, cc Larry Cohen: "This was harder than I expected. Larry should come up with an email to Melinda explaining briefly why the $20M is important. I am hopeful she will say yes but I cannot guarantee it. This is the last time we will be able to ask for any addition leeway during the next few months."
"It is mind blowing -- all news one by one coming from FMI are GREAT! And yet stock value is hanging around 23. Hopefully in few months..."
"Since I got money from Bill I started trading (I did not want to leave them just sitting in a checking account) and almost all picks I made are doing great! See email below. For example Epizyme that I invested 2-300K is today up over 80%. FMI finally moved up 5%."
"send bill a note, that suggests he set aside some time in ny to go into the daf details."
Bill Gates → Epstein: "I am there Thursday through Saturday. I will ask Rob to figure out if our schedules match up."
"Did you see Foundation Medicine? Since their last year report came out the stock was on the up a lot... You probably made around 30% in last two days!"
"Victor Pinchuk -- sorry that I just blocked. He is one that Yuri talked to and who will meet Bill in Davos. Yuri is telling me that he has few more of very high profile and that this round will be exclusive amongst friends."
"Surprisingly or not my trading was widely successful. My main long term positions are Bluebirdbio (BLUE), ILLUMINA, AGIO, AND FMI. All money that I have I put there."
"Thank you so much!!! Nevertheless I do not need it anymore. I really needed that help badly few months ago. And you pulling out in the last moment from bluetalon caused me to involve david - which was bad and desperate move for me."
[Forwards Nov 2014 email where Boris asked Epstein to be an LP]
Boris to Epstein, David Schwarz, Hayes Nuss: "Jeffrey's commitment is pending on my partners David, Hayes and Peter raising 70M."
"thanks for your letter. I am always there for you. you will I believe understand more as time passes."
Boris → Epstein: "Please let me be clear - I am extremely thankful for all you have done... Because of all of that I decided that I..."
"I know you believe I let you down with blue talon. we will have to agree to disagree. however if you want my help in negotiating an end to your david deal. I will do so."
"In silicon valley. Board mtg and a dinner. Very bad w David. Again w Gunderson tmr. He wants that I buy him out in cash. I have a problem understanding what I am paying for. He claims that he has 50% of two companies I invested in. This has a potential to kill any fund going forward. I feel so angry and frustrated."
"sorry to hear it. Boris, heres my view gunderson is going to tell you what the documents say, it is irrelevant. this is a biz negotiation not a trial. david will start with 500 - 1 million ask. three weeks of negotiation. it will be 4-500. pay 250 now and 250 later."
"dear David, In an attempt to put this unpleasantness behind us... I propose the following. I will pay 50 percent of all legal fees paid to date. I will agree that you will receive 25% of the carry on both blue talon and desite..."
[Links to NYT and WSJ about Illumina launching GRAIL, a cancer detection company]
"Where are you on the 20th??? Are we celebrating??"
Epstein: "i am in carib resting for the BD"
The 2016–2018 period shows continued friendship — travel coordination, deal flow, Davos planning, birthday celebrations — but less crisis-driven communication. Boris is now an independent VC (Biomatics Capital) and the relationship normalizes into a periodic check-in pattern.
"Great video! Happy New Year! Wish you a lot of fun, health, happiness and more interesting stuff in 2019! Very grateful for our friendship. And hope to see you more!"
[Forward about a female neurosurgeon requesting funding]
Boris replies: "Why is Bill not funding it? He is funding so many programs/chairs/departments at [redacted]?"
"I am going to talk to Larry"
"i think best that when bill is on the east coast, we set aside an hour to meet thx"
"So sorry it must be annoying. Thinking of you. Where are you now?"
Epstein: "florida. yes its been rough going"
Boris connecting Epstein with John Pinette: "He was Bill's Chief Communication person, after that he did the same job for Bill Ackman at Pershing, and most recently for Paul Allen. And before that he used to be a priest!! He came out as a gay man and left a priesthood."
[Link to NYT opinion/letters about Jeffrey Epstein]
Boris: "Finally someone stepping out! Pls let me know how it goes w John tmr"
"can you call me, id like the best real estate guy in s.fl"
"I told Richard that you want to sell/buy something in South Florida (I assume in West Palm Beach)."
From within weeks of introduction, Epstein became Boris's primary advisor on: compensation negotiations with Gates, personal crisis management, investment strategy, legal disputes, career planning, and communications. Epstein drafted Boris's emails to Bill Gates, negotiated directly with Larry Cohen, and structured Boris's financial exit.
Boris forwarded Bill Gates's private emails to Epstein, gave Epstein the Gates Foundation CFO's direct contact, arranged a 2-hour meeting between Gates and Ghislaine Maxwell, coordinated Gates-Epstein meetings at Davos and NYC, and facilitated the continued relationship even after Boris's forced departure.
Melinda Gates appears to have discovered something that caused her to demand Boris's firing:
Epstein maintained enumerated pressure points:
These were not idle observations — they were a numbered list in a strategic memo.
| Verbal promise | "30–40% of a $100M partnership" ($30–40M) |
| Gates gift (pre-Epstein) | $500K+ (Feb 2009) |
| Severance | Two years' salary/bonus + Foundation Medicine shares |
| Epstein options structure | Potentially $14M+ |
| Epstein personal position | Foundation Medicine shares (same company) |
| Epstein LP commitment | Conditional on Boris's fund raising $70M |
Boris was named backup executor of Epstein's will, signed August 2019 just before Epstein's death. The last emails in the corpus (April 2019) show the relationship still active. The will designation — giving Boris legal authority over Epstein's estate — is the culmination of a 10-year dependency relationship. Boris claimed through his lawyer that he was "shocked" by the designation.
Boris's partner Sam appears frequently: living in Epstein's apartment, meeting Ghislaine Maxwell, joining Epstein's "fan club," sending Epstein messages about "hot new girl on the scene." Sam is deeply embedded in the social fabric around Epstein.
| Person | Role in Boris-Epstein Nexus |
|---|---|
| Bill Gates | Boris's employer (2007–2013), Epstein's target, meeting participant |
| Melinda Gates | Triggered Boris's firing, blocked Epstein access |
| Larry Cohen | Gates's general counsel, negotiated with Epstein directly |
| Sam Jaradeh | Boris's partner, lived in Epstein apartment, met Maxwell |
| Alice Jacobs | Made the introduction, Boris's business partner (IMDx) |
| Ghislaine Maxwell | Met with Boris, met with Gates via Boris arrangement |
| Ehud Barak | In Boris-Epstein orbit, sent deal flow |
| Mila | Connected to Gates, has "Russian boyfriend," named in blackmail list |
| Karima | Named in blackmail list alongside Mila, at risk of losing position |
| Yuri [Milner] | DST Global, potential fund LP, connected to Pinchuk |
| Victor Pinchuk | Ukrainian oligarch, connected to Boris via Yuri |
| Peter Thiel | Financing a venture connected to Boris's circle |
| Lowell Wood | Gates science advisor, expressed "existential concerns" about losing Boris |
| Henry Rosovsky | Former Harvard Dean, facilitated introduction |
| Christine Turner | Gates employee whose severance doc was template for Boris's |
| Bob Buote | Watermark Estate Mgmt, "ex-agency officer," managed Epstein properties |
| John Pinette | Gates's former comms chief, connected to Epstein for PR help (2019) |
| David Schwarz | Boris's disastrous fund partner; Epstein drafted settlement |
| Mary Erdoes | JPMorgan executive, in Gates-Epstein scheduling discussions |
| Terje Roed-Larsen | Norwegian diplomat; "Norway marriage" in blackmail list; 2,724 emails in corpus |