How Jeffrey Epstein Paid To 'Hack' His Own Ageing Process: Inside The 'Venus Project'

Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 13:45 IST

New documents released by the DOJ reveal that Jeffrey Epstein paid for genetic testing in an effort to explore extending his life, a programme dubbed the ‘Venus Project’.

The newest set of documents released by the US Justice Department includes emails that describe how sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution, including of a minor, sought out genetic testing and early-stage regenerative medicine work in the hope of extending his life.

The material shows that Epstein paid for tests involving his exome and fibroblasts, discussed gene-editing proposals that used CRISPR, and explored the possibility of creating new stem cells for longevity studies.

These exchanges form part of the broader Epstein files, which detail his activities and contacts before his 2019 death by suicide while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

Who Carried Out The Tests?

According to the documents, Epstein worked with Joseph Thakuria, then a senior doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston and affiliated with a large genomic studies project at Harvard Medical School.

In a statement to CNN, Thakuria said Epstein had been part of the Harvard Personal Genome Project, a global public database in which volunteers provide genetic data for research into traits and disease risks.

Thakuria said, “I was a physician-researcher and he [Epstein] was a research subject." He added, “We also had early discussions about his potentially funding research, but that never materialized."

He also expressed regret, saying, “I feel terrible about what his victims went through, and I regret at that time not knowing more about his background and the extent of his crimes."

Harvard stated that Thakuria was not directly employed by the university or the Wyss Institute, which oversees the genome project, even though MGH is an affiliate. MGH said it had no record of approving the studies described in the emails, and confirmed that Thakuria left the hospital in 2022.

What Genetic Work Did Epstein Actually Fund?

Emails show that in February 2014, Thakuria sent Epstein a proposal that included sequencing his genome, studying genetic drivers of disease in patients, and outlining options for personalised investigations into Epstein’s own genetics.

In June that year, Thakuria sent an invoice for several projects, including a two-part initial investment of $2,000. $1,000 was for sequencing Epstein’s exome, and another $1,000 was for sequencing his fibroblasts, the connective-tissue cells used in some anti-ageing research.

Epstein’s staff sent a cheque for the amount the same day.

The invoice listed additional optional work, including creating new stem cells and conducting longevity studies that proposed using gene editing. It detailed the cost of sequencing his whole genome at $11,400, or $21,000 if both parents’ genomes were included. The full set of proposed research totalled $193,400.

CNN reported that it found no record of Epstein paying for the full scope of work, although emails among Epstein, Thakuria and Epstein’s assistants continued into 2015. In these exchanges, Epstein pressed for quicker results and, at one point, threatened to report delays to Thakuria’s supervisors.

The proposal also included experimental approaches to altering Epstein’s stem cells. Thakuria wrote that part of the work involved editing the cells “to introduce mutations in culture believed to increase longevity," using CRISPR technology. He explained why the offer was highly limited, writing, “I’m only offering this to Jeffrey. Because of all the labour involved, there’s simply not enough bandwidth to offer this to more than a handful of people right now."

What Was The Venus Project That Appears In The Invoice?

The largest single item in Thakuria’s invoice was $160,000 for research he called “The Venus Project."

“Jeffrey and [I] briefly discussed a genomic research studying [sic] I’m dubbing the Venus project (he’ll know what this)," Thakuria wrote in the June 2014 invoice. “I can do this for him but doing this work would be greatly aided by having some good bioinformatic infrastructure."

The invoice then outlines the costs: “Total anticipated costs for this would be 160,00: Genomic hardware: 100,000 Genomic software: 60,000/yr (this is for 2 systems costing 30,000 each/yr) The software component would only need to be paid for I year because I’m confident I can get other funding to cover this once we publish data in the first year using these resources. = 160,000."

He adds that Epstein had spoken of a far larger undertaking. It reads, “If he covers this and pays for the exomes which 1000/person — and he mentioned 200 participants being in this project — I can deliver on this ‘Venus’ research."

Reactions to the Venus Project surfaced quickly once the filings became public. One person tweeted, “This is some crazy sh*t thats only just come out… Newly released Epstein related documents show that he paid a Harvard Physician to study his genetic material with the goal of: – Cloning himself, Creating a new lineage, Pursuing methods to extend his lifespan. This was called ‘The Venus Project’."

Another question circulated online: “What is the genomics ‘Venus project’ Epstein wanted completed with 200 participants?"

In his statement to CNN, Thakuria said the Venus Project did not progress. He described it as “an idea of Mr. Epstein that was very preliminary and never went anywhere," adding that Epstein “was interested in the genetics of facial features. There was no funding, and no research."

Why Has The Release Fuelled Conspiracy Theories?

The publication of the documents coincided with conspiracy theories circulating that Epstein did not die in 2019 and had faked his death. The references to longevity studies and the Venus Project added momentum to these claims.

Despite the speculation, authorities state that Epstein died of self-inflicted wounds in his jail cell in August 2019.

What Does This Reveal About Epstein’s Scientific Network?

The emails show that Epstein’s introduction to Thakuria came through George Church, a high-profile Harvard genomics researcher known for his work with CRISPR. Church had previously been associated with Epstein, who emailed him frequently and donated to his research.

In 2019, Church apologised for the association, calling it “nerd tunnel vision" in an interview with STAT. He has not been accused of wrongdoing.

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