Hawking’s Visit to Little Saint James
Flight logs and photographs confirmed that Stephen Hawking — arguably the world’s most famous physicist — visited Jeffrey Epstein’s Little Saint James island in 2006 as part of a science conference hosted by Epstein.
Hawking’s visit became one of the most striking elements of the story about Epstein’s penetration of the scientific elite.
The Context: Science Conferences at the Island
Epstein hosted multiple science conferences and intellectual gatherings on Little Saint James. These events brought together world-class scientists to discuss:
- Fundamental physics and cosmology
- Complexity theory and the origins of life
- Consciousness and the nature of mind
- Other frontier scientific topics
Attendees understood they were attending a science conference hosted by a wealthy patron, not necessarily endorsing that patron’s personal conduct.
Hawking’s Attendance
Hawking attended in 2006, at which time:
- Epstein had not yet been charged with sex offenses (charges came in 2006–2007)
- Hawking was among the world’s most prominent scientists
- The conference appeared on its face to be a legitimate science gathering
The Submarine
Accounts of the visit described Epstein having a submarine at the island, which Hawking — who could not walk and required extraordinary assistance for physical activities — reportedly used. This detail became widely reported as exemplifying the extraordinary settings Epstein created to attract famous scientists.
The Photograph
Photographs from the conference showing Hawking and other scientists at Epstein’s island circulated widely after Epstein’s 2019 arrest, becoming symbolic of the extent to which Epstein had embedded himself in the scientific community.
Hawking’s Representatives
Stephen Hawking died in March 2018, before the full Epstein story broke. His estate and representatives have noted that at the time of the 2006 visit, Epstein had not yet been charged with any offense and the conference was presented as a legitimate science event.