When Josh Harris and Jeffrey Epstein email
A sports billionaire in the Epstein files
At TrueHoop we’re many years into exploring the many connections between Apollo Global and interesting entities like the CIA, Jeffrey Epstein, and the NBA.
One of the most direct connections between Apollo and the NBA is Josh Harris, the billionaire investor who made his money at Apollo. Along with Blackstone’s David Blitzer, Josh Harris formed Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, whose portfolio includes the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and the Prudential Center in Newark. Harris and Blitzer also own the NFL’s Washington Commanders and significant portions of the premiership team Crystal Palace.
In 2021 Apollo Global hired the Dechert Law Firm to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with Apollo Global founder Leon Black. (There’s an in-depth TrueHoop post assessing the quality of that investigation.) Some findings:
Dechert “has seen no evidence of Epstein or any Epstein Entity having any relationship with Apollo or any Apollo-managed fund.”
“Dechert has seen no evidence of any other Apollo executive ever retaining Epstein for his services.”
And in 2026 a spokesperson for Josh Harris reportedly said:
“Josh Harris never had an independent relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Harris sought to prevent Epstein’s attempts to develop a corporate relationship with Apollo. As these emails indicate, Harris sought to avoid meeting with Epstein, canceling meetings and having others return his calls.”
A spokesperson for Josh Harris in 2026
Millions of newly released Epstein files from the Department of Justice offer new ways to dig into those claims.
I just read them all, and here’s what I found.
2007
SEC filings from a few years ago show that the Apollo founders–Leon Black, Marc Rowan, and Josh Harris held about $10 billion worth of Apollo equity in the Cayman Islands. Boring though the 2007 document may be, I was fascinated that the Epstein files include the signed agreement that created BRH Holdings.
I would love for an expert to dig into this document. It has been reported that much of Jeffrey Epstein’s work for Leon Black concerned tax issues and estate planning, especially around Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts. This document appears to be a detailed breakdown of Black’s wealth into many different GRATs. But Black’s financial life is so deeply intertwined with Apollo, that the report also contains a diagram of Apollo’s ownership structure.
2013
April 2
Jeffrey Epstein is on an email thread with Leon Black’s executive assistant at Apollo, Melanie Spinella, and Eileen Alexanderson of Black’s family office, discussing the ownership of the limited partnership.
There is also an undated presentation, from the accounting firm Ernst & Young, called “Deferral of Tufts Gains Through Guarantees” which seems to outline tax strategies for Rowan, Black, and Harris.
September 30
In the fall of 2013, an important series of emails begins.
On Sep 30, 2013, at 3:23 PM, Melanie Spinella < > wrote:
Hi —Jeffrey is meeting with March rowan on the 22 of October at 8am — Leon wants Josh Harris and Leon to meet with them also — Marc is on board — our office at 8am =ok?
Leon Black has said he “never promoted” Epstein’s services to others at Apollo. In this case, Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff proposed Black and Harris join Rowan’s breakfast date at Epstein’s house on October 22. Spinella replied “Yes — perfect —!!”
October
In October 2013 the Epstein files show seven back-and-forths about Harris canceling and rescheduling. At one point Epstein’s assistant emails Epstein “Josh Harris is confirmed to come have breakfast with you on Thurs. Oct. 24th at 7:30am.” Soon after Epstein is asking her to organize a call with Harris. Eventually she replies “I am told Marc Rowen is traveling Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 16-17. Josh Harris is traveling Nov. 7 as well as Nov. 16-17. Did you want to try to organize a Conference Call instead at some point?”
November 4
Josh Harris emails Jeffrey Epstein
Jeff,
I am sorry to have rescheduled on you a few times. I know my office has scheduled a call for Thursday however I don’t think our conversation lends itself to a call. Would it work for me to come to your place Friday, 11/15 at 7:30am?
Apologies again, I will schedule with you directly for a little while.
Best, Josh
Epstein forwards the email to his assistant, saying “16 or 17 ok”
Over the days to follow, there are many notes back and forth trying to set something up.
November 12
On November 12 Epstein emails “I can make time the week of dec 2 to review DAF , and other things. brh, tra agreements etc”
Guesses at what that means: donor advised fund, Berkshire Hathaway (or Bank of the Republic of Haiti), and tax-receivable agreements.
Harris’s assistant at Apollo, Lisa Joyce, replies that “Josh is available Wednesday, 12/4 from 10-12. would this work with your schedule?” Epstein says yes, and a date is set.
December 3
The assistants email each other to confirm the December 4 meeting is on as scheduled.
December 6
Epstein emails Brad Karp, a lawyer at Paul Weiss, encouraging his firm to set up a practice catering to high net worth individuals. Epstein adds:
Josh Harris , another perfect example. - he will contact you . setting up his own office. own charity own expertise -translation - impossible.
Karp replies: “I’ll speak to Josh.”
December 9
A message to Epstein from a redacted name says “Josh Harris returned your phone call”
2014
January 7
Epstein gets a message wondering “can Josh Harris see Je this week?”
January 9
Epstein’s schedule, as emailed by his assistant, includes an hour at his New York house with Harris.
January 10
An Epstein email to Harris asks for all kinds of documents. “What would be helpful, a full org chart. ownership interests. summary of will trusts. . benefi trustees. etc. . names of accts. pre nup.s . . pledges etc” About a week later, Epstein’s assistant has notes in her calendar to follow up in getting the organization documents that Epstein wants from Josh Harris.
January 16 and 17
Epstein emails Josh Harris: “I understand that you are swamped have you spoken with brad karp. or leon?”
Harris replies the same day: “I have spoken to Brad but not to leon. Re general reference or what?”
Epstein replies: “I thought it might be helpful , to understand why the best solutions will unlikely come from standard practioners. hope to see you soon”
Harris the following afternoon: “Just swamped. Get that. Tks.”
Epstein’s assistant tries again to schedule a meeting. After a few days of back and forth, Harris’s assistant Lisa Joyce emails:
Good Morning - I finally got a little clarity from Josh. He is working on the chart that Jeffrey requested so he’d prefer not to meet tomorrow as he doesn’t have the relevant materials. Once that is complete, we will be in touch to schedule a meeting.
Best,
January 29
Epstein sends an email that looks like instruction to Leon Black’s team, and it appears to mention a TRA with Harris, which might be a “tax receivable agreement”:
my suggestions. I. establish real bank relationships with Deutsh bank and JP morgan. financial statements, lines of credit. art plane and boat loans . redone. trading accounts at Deutsch and JPm. , have justin nelson cover from JPM and PAul morris from deutsch, . 2 staff, administrator. new paralegal, accountant for Rich, they will oversee tom. , move residence work to office , miriam can go. , maybe a different controller. hire art coordinator. 3. DAF with gates, still vetting legal counsel. josh harris. review and admend TRA , and BRH agreements. 4 re do insurance for art. 5 finish and amend trusts for estate plan, 6. charity plans. ? foundation. 7, decide admin of phaidon, investments , cash flow , needs.
Over the next few weeks, there are several efforts to get documents from Harris and talk of a meeting in late February.
June 10
One of the more curious emails in the batch seems to feature Epstein arranging a large payment from Josh Harris to Leon Black’s former assistant. It’s hard to know what happened here. FWIW, there’s a banker at JP Morgan named Rich Joslin. There’s a tax attorney at Paul, Weiss–a law firm that has worked for Apollo Global–called Brad Okun.
August 17
Everyone wants to know who was in Jeffrey Epstein’s network. On August 17, in an email to Bill Gates, Epstein made his own list. All three Apollo founders appear, as did investors from Drexel (Nelson Peltz, Ron Perelman, Ronald Lauder) as well Stephen Schwartzman (the boss of Harris’s sports business partner David Blitzer at Blackstone).
November 26
Epstein’s assistant emails Josh Harris’s assistants:
Hello Lisa and Rose. Jeffrey Epstein would like to invite Josh to breakfast on Dec. 5th at Jeffrey’s home in NY... Bill Gates will be in attendance. The breakfast will be intimate...less than 6 people. Might you be able to ask Josh if he would be available and like to attend? Jeffreys home address is 9 East 71st Street between 5th and Madison. Please let me know at your earliest convenience.
November 27
Harris and Epstein email back and forth.
Harris: “Hey Jeff. Sorry i missed you. Crazy week? U around any time from now to sunday? Whats this Bill Gates thing about? Tks for thinking about me. Best.”
Epstein: “call me tomorw if you get a chance-I thought you might like to schmooze , get some of his ideas etc. nothing but fun friday 5th breakfast”
Harris: “Cool. Will do. Thx”
In the days to follow, Epstein’s assistant has several notes reminding Epstein he wants to call Josh Harris.
December 4
“Reconfirming Josh will come to Jeffrey’s home tomorrow for breakfast w/Bill Gates from 8-10am. Jeffrey’s home address is 9 East 71st Street between 5th and Madison. If you or Josh need to call the house for any reason, you may call the staff line at [redacted]. Please confirm back to me!”
“Josh is confirmed and is looking forward to it! > Many thanks, > Echo > Echo Blum I Apollo Management > Executive Assistant to Joshua Harris”
December 13
Epstein emails Harris “did you hve fun at breakfast”
If Harris responded, I’ve not seen evidence of it.
2015
January 13
Banker Paul Morris emails Epstein “Does Thiel have family office team? Thx”
Epstein’s entire response: “as you might know I had a recent breadkfst at the hosue with ron baron. Josh harris, and billgates.”
November 16
After Leon Black’s sister Judy dies, his assistant Melanie Spinella emails to invite a select list of people to a graveside ceremony followed by shiva at Leon’s house. Epstein is on the list, along with Michael Milken, Robert Kraft, and Cheryl Krongard–whose husband Buzzy is a former CIA executive on the Apollo board at the time.
2016
August 26
Epstein emails Harris “Happy to explain my thinking on the t8865 issue”
September 11
Something urgent and complex is going on with tax filings. In an email thread with Patrick Fenn and Brad Karp, before recommending that Josh Harris be added to the call, Epstein emails an idea to assemble a ton of paperwork for the IRS: “one hundred letters and three h=ndred affidavits plus 100 8865s plus 8 1040xs. is quite a package”
September 12
Epstein emails Harris: “you should fee free to call me directly. =so that i may explain my thinking. Any conversation that=you prefer to stay between just us . will. i=s my financial confessional booth for jews.”
Harris replies: “Will do Jeff. I’m not sure there is much controversy at this point. After the call if there is happy to catch up. “
September 17
Attorney Robert Bodian reaches out to Epstein “per Josh’s request.”
It appears to be about taxes, as Epstein writes: “i can talk from the car at 9 am today . or late tomorrow. we both are trying , but nothing will happen for weeks. except fact in detail gathering. ie did they really have to file. in general . there is a 10k penalty per 8865 for not filing. thats it. as LONG as there is no allegation or wrongdoing”
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