Epstein files reveal messages with UK billionaire Blavatnik
Documents from the Epstein files appear to indicate that convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein sought to maintain a relationship with Sir Leonard Blavatnik, one of Britain’s richest men, for a number of years.
Email correspondence going back more than a decade shows that scheduled meetings, including a planned visit to Cannes, were listed in messages sent to Epstein.
The trip included, among other social engagements and film screenings, "Harvey Weinstein and Len Blavatnik lunch on boat".
It is unclear whether the lunch went ahead, or who attended.
The messages, published as part of documents released by the US Department of Justice, include emails between Epstein and others in which he appears to recommend Blavatnik as an investor, and asks him, in an email to an assistant, to help a "friend in Russia" looking for a job.
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In September 2017, Epstein received an email from venture capitalist Masha asking, "do you know any adequate Russian oligarchs? I'm looking for right investors for my fund".
Epstein replied, "adequate? len blavatnik".
The earliest entry, from July 2009, shows Epstein writing to Blavatnik through his assistant to ask a favour.
"I have an important favor to ask,, [sic]", he says. "I have a friend in Russia who needs a job. Her name is [redacted ..please ask blavatnik [sic] to find her a job in moscow [sic]. Leave my name out of [sic] she has two degrees in finance.banking, and finance.. Thank,,[sic] only four more days till your bd ,, [sic] where will you be. tell him she is a friend of ghislaine. [sic]"
A year later, in September 2010, Epstein’s assistant, Lesley Groff, sent another email addressed to Blavatnik.
"Jeffrey Epstein is having Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defense Minister, over to his house on Tues night the 21st," the email read. "Very private , no agenda. he thought you might like to join in."
In a reply which appears to have been sent by Blavatnik, he acknowledges receipt of the invitation but in a subsequent message says he is unable to attend.
Among the people also invited to the gathering, according to the emails, were Steve Schwarzman, founder of one of the world’s largest asset management firms; later-disgraced talk-show host Charlie Rose; former Nato commander General Wesley Clark; and former JP Morgan executive Jes Staley.
Barak would be offered an introduction to Blavatnik again years later, in October 2017, though not through Epstein, but through Nicole Junkermann, an entrepreneur with hundreds of mentions in the Epstein files.
According to the files, Junkermann suggested in an email to Barak that "he could be a potential investor", and former British prime minister David Cameron "could be helpful as a business adviser".
Political donor
While the files don’t make the nature of their relationship clear, in September 2010 Epstein told former British minister Peter Mandelson, who was attending the opening of the Blavatnik School of Government, that he could “use my name [when talking to Blavatnik] – I know him well".
In May 2014, Blavatnik appeared on a proposed guest list for a dinner party sent to Epstein by Groff, which also included Ehud Barak. Other invitees were then–Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, former US State Secretary Henry Kissinger, former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, magician David Blaine, and filmmakers Woody Allen and JJ Abrams.
It is unknown if the dinner party took place.
Documents show that Epstein approached Blavatnik for favours through his assistant.
In September 2015, publicist Peggy Siegal suggested that Epstein ask Blavatnik for tickets to the musical Hamilton.
In an email to Epstein in August 2014, Bill Gates offered to introduce him to the oligarch, possibly unaware they were already connected.
Gates wrote, "who do you know and like? like to know? David Koch, Barry Diller, mort zuckerman, Len blavatnik[?]"
Blavatnik is also a major political donor in the UK. In 2024 alone, his company, Access Industries, donated £1.3 m to the Conservative Party.
Later that year, the company contributed £70,000 to Robert Jenrick’s Conservative leadership campaign.
Even though Jenrick has since defected to Reform UK, a populist right-wing party led by Nigel Farage, some of Access’s money may follow.
Jenrick told The Spectator that certain “donors who have backed him [will] start pumping money to Farage”.
Blavatnik was also sanctioned by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2023.
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