Jeffrey Epstein Was Asked to Inquire About Sponsorship Opportunities on Leonardo DiCaprio's Behalf, Newly Released Files Show
- - Jeffrey Epstein Was Asked to Inquire About Sponsorship Opportunities on Leonardo DiCaprio's Behalf, Newly Released Files Show
Charlotte PhillippFebruary 1, 2026 at 10:53 PM
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Leonardo DiCaprio on January 13, 2026; Jeffrey Epstein in 2004.
Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan via Getty; Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty
Leonardo DiCaprio's name is mentioned in one of the millions of files released amid the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein
One email to Epstein from Peter Mandelson, former British Ambassador to the United States, was seemingly sent to inquire about potential sponsorship opportunities for the actor
"[Can] you think of anyone in India, China, Japan, etc., that might want the endorsement of Leonardo DiCaprio? Russia etc., cars etc.," Mandelson asked Epstein in 2009
Leonardo DiCaprio's name is mentioned in one of the millions of files released amid the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the DOJ released more than 3 million new files from the criminal investigations into Epstein, who was arrested in July 2019 and charged with sex trafficking of minors.
In one email sent to Epstein by Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the United States and a U.K. Member of Parliament, the disgraced financier was asked if he knew of any non-U.S. companies looking for a celebrity endorsement.
"[Can] you think of anyone in India, China, Japan, etc., that might want the endorsement of Leonardo DiCaprio? Russia etc., cars etc.," Mandelson asked Epstein on June 12, 2009. "[He] is looking for non-U.S. products to endorse to make some [money]."
At the time, Mandelson was serving in former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, President of the Board of Trade, and First Secretary of State.
PEOPLE reached out to a representative for DiCaprio for comment.
Leonardo DiCaprio at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11
Jesse Grant/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty
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DiCaprio's name has previously appeared in files related to the DOJ's investigation into Epstein — though it was mentioned as one of the late sex offender's "name drops" of several celebrities.
According to The Guardian, Johanna Sjoberg, an accuser of the late sex offender and financier, claimed in a deposition released in 2024 that Epstein often boasted about his relationships with Hollywood A-listers.
A lawyer asked Sjoberg in the deposition, "I saw one press report that said you had met Cate Blanchett or Leonardo DiCaprio?"
"I did not meet them, no," she replied. "When I spoke about them, it was when I was massaging him [Epstein], and he would get off — he would be on the phone a lot at that time, and one time he said, 'Oh, that was Leonardo,' or 'That was Cate Blanchett, or Bruce Willis.' That kind of thing."
A rep for DiCaprio denied to The Guardian that the actor ever had a phone call with Epstein, and a rep for Blanchett denied that she had ever met or had a phone call with the late financier.
Jeffrey Epstein in 2005.
Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty
While countless other celebrities have been named in the Epstein files, they have not been accused of helping Epstein in any capacity.
As for Mandelson — who was fired from his ambassador post over his ties to Epstein in September 2025, per the BBC — Friday's DOJ release included files showing three separate payments of $25,000 sent to Mandelson from Epstein's JPMorgan bank accounts.
"I have no record and no recollection of receiving these sums and do not know if the documents are authentic," Mandelson told The Guardian, adding that he was wrong to continue his association with Epstein. "I deeply regret doing so and apologize unequivocally to the women and girls who suffered."
Epstein was accused of sexual abuse by dozens of women before he died in an apparent suicide in August 2019 at age 66 while he was awaiting trial on federal conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
The disgraced financier had been investigated by the Palm Beach Police Department in Florida for several years before a 2005 investigation was opened into his crimes against young girls. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from a minor, making him a registered sex offender.
After years of controversy surrounding the sealed documents related to his investigation, Congress passed a bill in November 2025 that demanded the release of the government files.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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