What names and contacts were listed in Jeffrey Epstein's black book and what do they imply?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Jeffrey Epstein's "little black book" is a collection of contact entries—names, phone numbers, addresses and other notes—recovered from his properties and circulated publicly in redacted and unredacted forms; it contains hundreds to thousands of entries that include many prominent public figures as well as service providers and estate details [1] [2] [3]. The presence of a name in the book is evidence of contact or acquaintance, not proof of criminal conduct, and reporters and courts have repeatedly cautioned against treating the list as a roster of co‑conspirators or victims [4] [5].
1. What the "black book" actually is and what it contains
The document journalists call Epstein’s "little black book" is a physical contact book compiled over years that was first publicly noticed after being removed from his home; published versions vary—one widely circulated version is about 97 pages, an online archive and standalone sites reproduce a searchable roster, and an additional separate typed contact book dated 1997 contains some 349 names, showing Epstein maintained multiple contact lists over time [1] [3] [6] [2]. Auction houses and reporters who examined copies reported the books include routine estate details—apartment numbers, alarm codes, entries labeled “masseuse/masseur,” and checkmarks or highlights—suggesting a working address-and-contacts rolodex rather than a ledger of crimes [7] [8] [5].
2. Which high‑profile names appear in the book
Published and redacted versions have included an array of prominent politicians, royals, entertainers and business leaders: for example, entries for Donald Trump and Bill Clinton were present in previously released files, and media reporting has pointed to names including Prince Andrew, Tony Blair, Rupert Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, John Kerry, Ron Burkle, Chelsea Clinton and many cultural figures—newspaper and magazine compilations and DOJ releases enumerate dozens of such public figures [9] [10] [11] [12]. Business Insider and New York magazine and other outlets have highlighted additional celebrities and business elites found across different book versions and related flight logs, while some entries in auctioned copies also listed hundreds of lesser‑known contacts not previously linked to Epstein [10] [12] [5].
3. What those names imply — journalistic and legal cautions
Multiple sources and investigators emphasize that inclusion in Epstein’s contact book only establishes that Epstein recorded an entry for that person—it does not establish participation in trafficking, knowledge of crimes, or receipt of improper services; reporters including Julie Brown have described the list as a "red herring" if treated as a client list, and auction statements have warned explicitly that listing does not imply involvement in crimes [4] [7] [5]. Public officials and representatives of named individuals have in many instances denied knowledge of abuses or stressed long-ago, casual contact; legally, the contact book is one element among many (flight logs, emails, testimony, other records) that investigators use to build cases, not a standalone indictment [9] [11].
4. How journalists, researchers and courts have used the book — strengths and limits
Investigative reporters have used the books as leads—calling listed numbers, matching entries to flight logs and estate records, and revealing previously unknown acquaintances—while courts and archivists have released redacted versions and broader "Epstein files" (flight logs, emails) that supplement the contact lists; at the same time, the books’ provenance and completeness vary (a second 1997 book surfaced later), and many entries are mundane service providers or one‑time introductions rather than sustained relationships, limiting what the list alone can prove [6] [1] [4] [10]. The Department of Justice and congressional reviewers have also released or prepared releases of related files, underscoring that the contact book is one node in a much larger evidentiary web [11] [4].
5. Conclusion — what the book is useful for, and what remains unresolved
Epstein’s little black books are valuable investigative tools that map the extent of his social and transactional network—estates, service providers, media figures and public officials—but they do not by themselves equate to proof of criminal complicity for the many high‑profile names listed; investigators and journalists must and have cross‑checked the books against flight logs, emails, sworn testimony and documentary evidence before drawing conclusions [7] [4] [6]. Because multiple versions and redactions exist and because public releases continue (including DOJ file drops), the books will remain a source of leads, legitimate scrutiny and contested narratives, but public claims that the roster itself is a "hit list" or a smoking‑gun client ledger are not supported by the way courts and experienced reporters characterize the records [4] [11].