Who is Deepak Chopra, the Indian-American named in Epstein files? What do the emails reveal? 

He has built a carefully curated image, a man who preaches about inner purity and consciousness. An author, physician and prominent figure in the “New Age” movement, Deepak Chopra is a well-known Indian-American. He is seen by many as a visionary who brought millions to meditation and holistic living. 

Now, his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, has raised eyebrows. Recently released documents by the US House Oversight Committee on Epstein exposed several of his “powerful” friends, and among them was Chopra. The files reveal a series of exchanges between the two between 2016 and 2018. 

Who is Deepak Chopra?   

Deepak Chopra is a well-known wellness guru and a pioneer in alternative medicine and holistic wellness. He is a clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California. He is an author of over 95 books, including numerous ‘The New York Times’  bestsellers. Over the last 30 years, he has built a global presence in the field of wellness.   

Born in New Delhi in 1946, his life did not start as a spiritual celebrity. He first completed his schooling at St. Columba and later graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1969 in Delhi. 

More from Explainers

You’ve heard of Fomo, but what about Fofo? It’s the Fear of Finding Out Trump-Mamdani meet: Will US president say in public what he privately thinks of NYC mayor-elect?

Chopra was trained as a physician before moving to the United States in the 1970s. At that time, the Indian government had barred doctors from taking the US licensing exam. He flew to Sri Lanka to take the exam, passed it and then arrived in New Jersey, according to a report by Times Now. 

He became board-certified in internal medicine and worked at prominent hospitals, including Beth Israel Deaconess and the Lahey Clinic in the United States. Holding the position of ‘chief of staff’ at New England Memorial Hospital, he secured an impressive rise at that time.  

He went on to co-found the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, which focuses on meditation, Ayurveda and integrative health practices. He is now associated with several academic roles, including a senior scientist at Gallup and an honorary fellow in Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Quick Reads

View All

Tourist boycotts and seafood ban… The heavy price Japan is paying over Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks

No Nato for Zelenskyy, Russia's return to G7: Trump’s 28-point plan to end Ukraine war

Chopra has also forayed into tech-based wellness, with some of his ventures focusing on AI-supported approaches to health and personal development.

What do Chopra’s email exchanges with Epstein reveal 

The House Oversight Committee has released a new record of more than 20,000 pages of documents related to Epstein. This includes email exchanges between Deepak Chopra and the late paedophile. 

Eight years after Epstein became a registered sex offender, in July 2016, Chopra asked him about Donald Trump’s second wife, Marla Maples. Epstein said that he lost a bet to Trump over Maples’ pregnancy.     

In the mail, he wrote to Chopra, “When she told Donald she was pregnant. I lost a 10k dollar bet with him, and sent him a truck of baby food in payment.” 

The wellness guru also wrote to Epstein in an e-mail, “Anything we share is between us.” To which Epstein responded, “I share nothing with anyone but trust you." 

In another email exchange from November 2016, Epstein shared a link to an article regarding a woman who had filed, then dropped, a civil lawsuit alleging that Trump had sexually assaulted her when she was a minor at a gathering linked to Epstein. 

Chopra then asked Epstein, writing, “Did she also drop the civil case against you?" 

Epstein wrote, “YuP." Chopra wrote back, “Good.” 

Epstein invited the Indian-American to his Island and ranch. However, there is no evidence that he ever visited. 

Chopra’s tone in several emails was personal. He signed off with “Love,” and at times used affectionate language, according to  Times Now.   

Who are other names linked with Jeffrey Epstein?   

Epstein had a huge network of powerful friends that helped him get by. He knew politicians, royals, executives, and cultural figures. US President Donald Trump’s association with Jeffrey Epstein is no secret. Before Trump became president and Epstein was convicted, the two socialised at high-profile parties in Florida and New York. However, they reportedly had a fallout.  

Former President Bill Clinton often travelled with Epstein shortly after the Democrat left the White House in 2001. Now, Trump has called for the US Justice Department to “investigate” the relationship between the two.  

Another name that has cropped up recently is that of former Harvard University president Larry Summers. He is taking leave while the institute investigates his ties with Epstein. Summers was also a former US treasury secretary.      

Britain’s Andrew is known for his ties with Epstein and has now been stripped of his titles.  

Other prominent figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Steve Bannon have also been named in the Epstein files.  

Now, Trump has signed a bill that orders the release of government files on Epstein. The US Justice Department has 30 days to publicly share all the information from the federal investigation. It remains to be seen if more dirt will be dug up.  

With inputs from agencies