Who is Thomas D. Mottola in the Epstein files?

Thomas "Tommy" Mottola is a music executive and the former chairman and CEO of Sony Music. In the files he appears as the chairman and CEO of The Mottola Media Group, trading frequent, brief, familiar emails with Jeffrey Epstein from about 2016 to 2018. Most are about setting up phone calls, plus some discussion of building a house.

What do the emails between Mottola and Epstein discuss?

Mostly logistics: when and where to call, where each man was, and whether Epstein was in New York, Palm Beach or Miami. In late 2017 and early 2018 the threads turn to a house-building project, with Mottola sending a reference photo and scheduling an architect meeting. He also sent a food basket and a forwarded publicity item. The emails do not describe the content of their calls.

Do the documents show Mottola doing anything improper?

No. The documents show correspondence, a calendar invitation for a call involving JP Morgan and social messages. None of them accuse Mottola of misconduct or describe him taking part in any wrongdoing. Appearing in Epstein's emails shows that the two were in contact. It doesn't show anything beyond that.

Why did Mottola communicate with Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction?

The documents do not say. The emails run from 2016 to 2018, after Epstein's 2008 Florida guilty plea, and they are casual in tone. They give no stated reason for the relationship beyond the topics in the messages themselves.

Who is Thomas D. Mottola in the Epstein files?

Thomas "Tommy" Mottola is a music executive and the former chairman and CEO of Sony Music. In the files he appears as the chairman and CEO of The Mottola Media Group, trading frequent, brief, familiar emails with Jeffrey Epstein from about 2016 to 2018. Most are about setting up phone calls, plus some discussion of building a house.

What do the emails between Mottola and Epstein discuss?

Mostly logistics: when and where to call, where each man was, and whether Epstein was in New York, Palm Beach or Miami. In late 2017 and early 2018 the threads turn to a house-building project, with Mottola sending a reference photo and scheduling an architect meeting. He also sent a food basket and a forwarded publicity item. The emails do not describe the content of their calls.

Do the documents show Mottola doing anything improper?

No. The documents show correspondence, a calendar invitation for a call involving JP Morgan and social messages. None of them accuse Mottola of misconduct or describe him taking part in any wrongdoing. Appearing in Epstein's emails shows that the two were in contact. It doesn't show anything beyond that.

Why did Mottola communicate with Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction?

The documents do not say. The emails run from 2016 to 2018, after Epstein's 2008 Florida guilty plea, and they are casual in tone. They give no stated reason for the relationship beyond the topics in the messages themselves.

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Thomas D. Mottola

Person

Total Mentions

Documents

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Music industry executive, former Sony Music CEO, referenced in Epstein contact documents

Watch: Thomas D. Mottola in the Epstein files

1:14

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

Thomas D. Mottola, the former Sony Music chairman who now runs The Mottola Media Group, appears in the Epstein files as a frequent, informal email correspondent of Jeffrey Epstein from 2016 to 2018. The emails are mostly short exchanges about phone calls, meeting up and a house-building project, and none of the material describes wrongdoing by Mottola.

Nearly all of the 90 documents are emails (89 of 90), and many are direct exchanges between Mottola, writing as "Tommy Mottola" and signing as Chairman & CEO of The Mottola Media Group, and Epstein's [email protected] account. Typical messages are brief requests to talk ("Where can I call you?", "Call you tomorrow?", "Where are you", "You in PB or Miami"). A cluster from late December 2017 to January 2018 covers a house-building project, including an architect meeting set for a Tuesday at 9:30 am. He also appears on an April 2016 calendar invitation for a call with Paul Barrett of JP Morgan. No flight logs, court filings or financial records name him, and the emails do not describe the substance of any phone calls.

Key Highlights

•Mottola and Epstein exchanged many short, casual emails between January 2016 and early 2018, mostly about arranging phone calls and asking where the other was (New York, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, Miami).
•In December 2017 Mottola wrote to Epstein about building a house, including "Should be totally modern and contemporary right 3.0??", "it's a giant undertaking... probably five years" and "Do you need to build a new house on the island as well". Epstein replied with a joking remark about "bullet proof glass".
•On January 6, 2018, Mottola sent Epstein a picture of a house with the note "This is kind of house I want to build!", followed by an email titled "Architect 9 30 am TUESDAY". Epstein's reply in one of the threads mentions a meeting between "your guy" and Epstein's contact in the city.
•An April 2016 calendar invitation, organized by Lauren Zakarian-Cogswell, lists Mottola with Epstein, Paul S. Barrett, Michael B. Martineau, Matthew Andrews and Lesley Groff for a "Call with Paul at JP Morgan". The documents do not show what was discussed.
•Mottola also sent Epstein friendly or promotional items, such as a food basket from the Bronx (September 2017) and a forwarded publicity item about a morning TV appearance (January 2018).
•The documents contain no allegations against Mottola. They show an ongoing personal and social relationship, and little else.
•The archive lists "Tommy Mottola" and "Thomas D. Mottola" as separate entries, but they appear to be the same person under different name forms.

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 90)

EFTA00835827.pdf

EFTA00835827

1 mention

MOTTOLA Subject: Re: Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:11:30 +0000 ny On Thu, Apr 12 2018 at 7:06 AM, TOMMY MOTTOLA < > wrote: Call you this i. where? Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP 212-471-4007 ph 212 471-4010 f On Apr 12, 2018, at 6:37 AM, jeffrey E. <[email protected]> wrote: al

EFTA00835996.pdf

EFTA00835996

1 mention

u, 12 Apr 2018 12:59:15 +0000 oled smart tv with bluetooth . On Thu, Apr 12, 2018 at 7:06 AM, TOMMY MOTTOLA < > wrote: Call you this a.m. where? Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP 212-471-4007 ph 212 471-4010 f On Apr 12, 2018, at 6:37 AM, jeffrey E. <[email protected]> wrote: al

EFTA00836300.pdf

EFTA00836300

1 mention

ect: Re: <no subject> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:46:42 +0000 On Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 10:39 AM, TOMMY MOTTOLA > wrote: Where can I call you ?.. T Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP 212-471-4007 ph 212 471-4010 DISCLAIMER: This e-mail is intended only for the person or entity to which i

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EFTA00836422.pdf

EFTA00836422

1 mention

Re: <no subject> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2016 03:16:10 +0000 9 On Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 8:01 PM, TOMMY MOTTOLA < What's a good time to talk tomorw? TM Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP ph > wrote: DISCLAIMER: This e-mail is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed an

EFTA00858278.pdf

EFTA00858278

1 mention

From: TOMMY MOTTOLA To: jeffrey E. <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2018 22:48:38 +0000 In LA I am calling you now Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP ph f On Mar 16, 2018, at 3:34 PM, jeffrey E. <[email protected]> wrote: treid you please note The

EFTA00868087.pdf

EFTA00868087

1 mention

From: TOMMY MOTTOLA To: jeffrey E. <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2018 03:08:26 +0000 Where are you Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP On Mar 3, 2018, at 10:07 PM, jeffrey E. <[email protected]> wrote: Just land On Sat, Mar 3, 2018 at 9

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EFTA00868109.pdf

EFTA00868109

1 mention

MOTTOLA Subject: Re: Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2018 03:12:25 +0000 great On Sat, Mar 3, 2018 at 10:10 PM, TOMMY MOTTOLA < > wrote: Call you tomorrow? Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO MEDIA GROUP On Mar 3, 2018, at 10:09 PM, jeffrey E. <[email protected]> wrote: new york On Sat, Mar 3, 2018 at 10:08 PM, TOMMY MOT

EFTA00326449.pdf

EFTA00326449

1 mention

luded in the email. Ok? Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Zakarian-Cogswell, Lauren" Date: April 8, 2016 at 3:06:39 PM EDT To: "Thomas D. Mottola B" <[email protected]> Subject: Call with Paul at JP Morgan "Matthew Andrews ,'Barrett, Paul S" "Martineau, Michael , "[email protected]

EFTA00326450.pdf

EFTA00326450

1 mention

ded in the email. Ok? Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Zakarian-Cogswell, Lauren" Date: April 8, 2016 at 3:06:39 PM EDT To: "Thomas D. Mottola "Matthew Andrews "Barrett, Paul S" , "Martineau, EFTA00326450 Michael B" < >, Lesley Groff < "[email protected]" <[email protected]>

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EFTA00629655.pdf

EFTA00629655

1 mention

il.com> Subject: Re: Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:16:27 +0000 On 1/21/16, 11:15 AM, "JEFFREY EPSTEIN" <[email protected]> wrote: number to call Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP DISCLAIMER: This e-mail is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain

EFTA00657323.pdf

EFTA00657323

1 mention

TOMMY MOTTOLA To: JEFFREY EPSTEIN <[email protected]> Subject: <no subject> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:39:29 +0000 Where can I call you ?.. T Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA (iI2O1. DISCLAIMER: This e-mail is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contai

EFTA00917952.pdf

EFTA00917952

1 mention

nd uyour guy meet in the city on monday or toes On Sat, Jan 6, 2018 at 12:37 PM, TOMMY MOTTOLA wrote: This is kind of house I want to build ! TM Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP Pic Wt. lic 'Arnim tttttt rdestln,nensonerai.aaftknii. am, It Seat, illairmilvalmnueitatindt ninnitia alit

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EFTA00917936.pdf

EFTA00917936

1 mention

.png: Instagram_48px_l084151_casyieon.net_.png; Spanish-Heights-1-150x150.jpg; main-slider-7-150x150.jpg This is kind of house I wain to build' TM Thomas D. Mottola °unman .4 CEO THE MaITOLA MEDIA GROUP uwl.. 1)4 40.0.1. weaned CI wmv..n, ,' lW.nlml b4 Mac, 41n, soktal era( .n.ltas LIton ..... ad. na0s

EFTA00917969.pdf

EFTA00917969

1 mention

From: TOMMY MOTTOLA To: JEFFREY EPSTEIN <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Date: Sat, 06Jan 2018 18:07:15+0000 Calling Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO EDIA GROUP nno ..... u: nfrasn....wtal m eiso ...... trit. or areaatny k abaydad riakstraky orator mak trasnat ads • tel.la.b. In

EFTA00917978.pdf

EFTA00917978

1 mention

m: TOMMY MOTTOLA To: JEFFREY EPSTEIN <jeevacation®gmail.com> Subject: Re: Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:08:59 +0000 Can't get thm.. me 203 629 0000 Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO EDIA GROUP INiclann The omessol th fi t oannaiss toy k alay•hee pinkst& log nnn4ieiiJtlnfmrnmrde najw nib. In 4 .* ureic ail,tu

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EFTA00708602.pdf

EFTA00708602

1 mention

osed (n p) Calendar Jeffrey Epstein Who • Zakarian-Cogswell, Lauren - organizer • Jeffrey Epstein - creator • Lesley Groff • Barrett, Paul S • Thomas D. Mottola ( ) • Matthew Andrews • Martineau, Michael B Going? Yes - Maybe - No more options» more details » Invitation from Google Calendar You are recei

EFTA02232065.pdf

EFTA02232065

1 mention

E. Sent Sat 1/6/2018 7:57:49 PM Subject Re: Architect 930 am TUESDAY TOMMY MOTTOLA- On perfectSat, Jan 6, 2018 at 2:16 PM TOMMY MOTTOLA wrote: Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP Disclaimn. flit information coonskind in this communication confidential. may be attorney -client prbikged.

EFTA02386955.pdf

EFTA02386955

1 mention

MMY MOTTOLA Sent: Friday, September 29, 2017 2:33 PM To: JEFFREY EPSTEIN Subject: DON'T EAT! BRONX Italian basket coming to you by 11:30 AM T Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP Please note The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privi

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EFTA02537569.pdf

EFTA02537569

1 mention

From: TOMMY MOTTOLA < Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 10:29 PM To: JEFFREY EPSTEIN Subject: Call me at Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE MOTTOLA MEDIA GROUP > ph f > 1 EFTA_R1_01684375 EFTA02537569

EFTA00826091.pdf

EFTA00826091

1 mention

[email protected]> Subject: Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2018 03:51:49 +0000 Got jammed up today with crazy family bullshit call you first thing in the a.m. T Thomas D. Mottola Chairman & CEO THE M TT LA MEDIA GROUP EFTA00826091

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