Who is Richard Merkin in the Epstein files?

He is a Los Angeles physician and businessman who corresponded regularly with Jeffrey Epstein from about 2011 to 2018. Epstein described him in 2010 as 'Dr. Richard Merkin' from L.A., a friend of Milken's who wanted to be a client. A 2011 email describes him as a Caltech trustee. He is not the painter and illustrator of the same name, who died in 2009.

What do the emails between Merkin and Epstein discuss?

They cover meeting up in New York and Los Angeles, Merkin's travel, health-care policy and business (Obamacare, UCLA and Keck), and what appear to be financial deals. The 2015 messages are mostly Epstein checking on Merkin's 'progress', and a 2018 exchange mentions a will template. The tone is casual and friendly. Merkin wrote in 2013 that 'just being my friend is joyful'.

Does anything in the files accuse Richard Merkin of wrongdoing?

No. The documents are almost all emails. There are no flight logs, court filings, or financial or government records naming him. The emails show a long relationship and business discussions, but they do not describe misconduct by him. Being in someone's correspondence is not evidence of involvement in their crimes.

How does Merkin connect to other people in the files?

Most of his connection is to Epstein, with 278 shared documents. Smaller overlaps are with David Stern (9), Robert Gates, Jes Staley and Boris Nikolic (5 each). Staley received Epstein's 2010 introduction of Merkin, and Stern wrote to Merkin in January 2014.

Who is Richard Merkin in the Epstein files?

He is a Los Angeles physician and businessman who corresponded regularly with Jeffrey Epstein from about 2011 to 2018. Epstein described him in 2010 as 'Dr. Richard Merkin' from L.A., a friend of Milken's who wanted to be a client. A 2011 email describes him as a Caltech trustee. He is not the painter and illustrator of the same name, who died in 2009.

What do the emails between Merkin and Epstein discuss?

They cover meeting up in New York and Los Angeles, Merkin's travel, health-care policy and business (Obamacare, UCLA and Keck), and what appear to be financial deals. The 2015 messages are mostly Epstein checking on Merkin's 'progress', and a 2018 exchange mentions a will template. The tone is casual and friendly. Merkin wrote in 2013 that 'just being my friend is joyful'.

Does anything in the files accuse Richard Merkin of wrongdoing?

No. The documents are almost all emails. There are no flight logs, court filings, or financial or government records naming him. The emails show a long relationship and business discussions, but they do not describe misconduct by him. Being in someone's correspondence is not evidence of involvement in their crimes.

How does Merkin connect to other people in the files?

Most of his connection is to Epstein, with 278 shared documents. Smaller overlaps are with David Stern (9), Robert Gates, Jes Staley and Boris Nikolic (5 each). Staley received Epstein's 2010 introduction of Merkin, and Stern wrote to Merkin in January 2014.

Back to People & Entities

Richard Merkin

Person

287

Total Mentions

287

Documents

Connected Entities

American painter and illustrator (1938-2009)

Wikipedia

Watch: Richard Merkin in the Epstein files

1:10

Narrated from the AI-generated summary of the documents. Numbers reflect the archive at generation time.

Richard Merkin appears in the files as a Los Angeles physician and businessman who corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein by email from 2011 to 2018. The files show about 175 emails in which he is sender or recipient, mostly casual check-ins, with some business and health-care talk. The files do not show anything beyond that.

Nearly all of the 287 documents are emails, and about 175 of them have Merkin in the From, To or Cc line, so this is a sustained personal correspondence. Epstein introduced him in 2010 to Jes Staley at J.P. Morgan as 'Dr. Richard Merkin' from L.A., 'friends of milkens', who had asked to be a client. A 2011 scheduling email describes him as a Caltech trustee being invited to a dinner in San Francisco. The remaining documents are the same kind of email, with three non-email records. The files include no flight logs, legal filings, or financial or government records naming him.

Key Highlights

•In an August 2010 email to Jes Staley, Epstein wrote that a Dr. Richard Merkin had come to see him 'to ask to be a client', that he told Merkin to talk to JPMorgan and Staley, and that Merkin was from L.A. and a friend of Milken's.
•In July 2011 an assistant asked whether Merkin could join a Sunday dinner in San Francisco, saying he sat on the Caltech board of trustees.
•Merkin and Epstein exchanged emails from 2011 through July 2018. They cover meeting logistics, health-care topics (a 2016 exchange about how Obamacare affects Merkin's business, and a 2014 note about speaking to UCLA and Keck), and what appear to be investment matters. One 2013 reply reads 'Let's start with 13 1mm'.
•In a 2014 email to Merkin with Epstein copied, David Stern wrote 'Please call me. I am very distressed.' The files do not say what this refers to.
•In 2015 Epstein sent Merkin a run of short messages such as 'you ok? news/ steps progress?', 'i want to see progress' and 'any progress, anyting i can do to help?'. A July 2015 thread titled 'important' mentions nursing staff, physical rehab and 'no office'. The files do not make clear what the progress was.
•In July 2018 Merkin replied 'Sounds good!! Send the Will template!!' to an Epstein email, and Epstein advised him to ask his accountants about his affairs. This is one of the last exchanges in the files.
•The painter Richard Merkin (1938–2009) cannot be the person in these emails, because they run from 2010 to 2018. The correspondent appears to be a physician and Caltech trustee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

James Patterson

Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network

Relentless Pursuit: My Fight for the Victims of Jeffrey Epstein

Bradley J. Edwards

Victims' attorney's firsthand account

Document Mentions (20 of 287)

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032417 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032418

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

From: Sent: To: Subject: Richard Merkin 1/9/2017 5:10:35 PM jeffrey E. [[email protected]] Re: Re: Importance: High No plans ,but I will make some! Sent from my iPad On Jan 9, 2017, at

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032417 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032419 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032421

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

From: Sent: To: Subject: Richard Merkin 1/9/2017 7:27:38 PM jeffrey E. [[email protected]] Re: Re: Importance: High Could be. If I had the time I would like to help the country and the

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032419 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032953 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032954

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

From: Sent: To: Subject: Importance: new york jeffrey E. [[email protected]] 1/8/2017 9:31:02 PM Richard Merkin Re: Re: High On Sun, Jan 8, 2017 at 4:11 PM, Richard Merkin < Where? From: jeffrey E. [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2017 1:

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032953 →

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EFTA01300702.pdf

EFTA01300702

1 mention

From: Jeffrey Epstein <* evacatio mail.com> To: Jes Staley < Sent: 8/30/2010 1:37:07 PM Subject: I had a Dr. Richard Merkin, come to see me to ask to be a client.. i told him to talk to jpm and you. he is from l.a.-- friends of milkens The information contained in this c

EFTA00430506.pdf

EFTA00430506

1 mention

27:31 +0000 Good morning John! Jeffrey is asking if it would be possible to invite a friend of his to the dinner Sunday night in San Francisco; Dr. Richard Merkin? He sits on the board of trustees for Caltec. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you, Sarah On Jul 13, 2011, at 7:05 PM, John Brockman wrot

EFTA00659175.pdf

EFTA00659175

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: 'Jeffrey Epstein' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Re: Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:38:26 +0000 lust being my friend is joyful From: Jeffre

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EFTA00659195.pdf

EFTA00659195

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: 'Jeffrey Epstein' <jeevacation®gmail.com> Subject: RE: Re: Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:15:35 +0000 Where are you ? Have been very popular ....g

EFTA00659967.pdf

EFTA00659967

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Re: Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:30:11 +0000 Ok . Am at 310. 7487025 Sent from my iPhone O

EFTA00672423.pdf

EFTA00672423

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Re: Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:01:05 +0000 If they do, the "providers" they will penalize

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EFTA00681823.pdf

EFTA00681823

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Date: Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:51 +0000 Let's start with 13 1mm. From: Jeffrey Epstein [m

EFTA00682107.pdf

EFTA00682107

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: 'Jeffrey Epstein' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Following up on our conversation in LA Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 20:23:52 +0000 We're sche

EFTA00686221.pdf

EFTA00686221

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 00:19:32 +0000 Tennis.one day down how was your visit with Eric?

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EFTA00686223.pdf

EFTA00686223

1 mention

From: Jeffrey <[email protected]> To: Richard Merkin Subject: Re: Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 18:52:20 +0000 Fun Sony for all the typos .Sent from my iPhone On May 18, 2012, at 8:19 PM, Richard Merkin I

EFTA00688364.pdf

EFTA00688364

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: 'jeffrey E.' <jeevacation®gmail.com> Subject: Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:06:27 +0000 Hi, Sorry for the delay. I spoke to both UCLA and Keck s

EFTA00691718.pdf

EFTA00691718

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:07:37 +0000 Never even discussed changing my mind .i called to

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EFTA00692953.pdf

EFTA00692953

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: 'Jeffrey Epstein' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:03:56 +0000 I am ate call me From: Jeffrey Epstein [mallto:

EFTA00699655.pdf

EFTA00699655

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin < > To: 'Jeffrey Epstein' <[email protected]> Subject: Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:58:14 +0000 Where will you be on Tuesday? I could meet Wests

EFTA00712817.pdf

EFTA00712817

1 mention

From: Richard Merkin To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:38:26 +0000 In the air.taking your advice,evaluating exit oppor

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EFTA00717478.pdf

EFTA00717478

1 mention

From: David Stern To: Richard Merkin < > Cc: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 22:13:44 +0000 Dear Dick, Please call me. I am very distressed. David E

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032415 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032416

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

From: Sent: To: Subject: Richard Merkin 1/8/2017 9:11:37 PM jeffrey E. [[email protected]] RE: Re: Importance: High Where? From: jeffrey E. [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday,

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032415 →

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