Hanks, Obama among names on fake Epstein list

What was Claimed

Barack Obama, Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Jimmy Kimmel are among the names on the Jeffrey Epstein list.

Our Verdict

False. The individuals do not feature on any of the lists or documents released relating to the paedophile financier.

A document being spread on social media lists prominent figures such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Barack Obama and Tom Hanks as among those who flew to Jeffrey Epstein's island on the paedophile financier's plane.

This is false. The so-called “Epstein Island Flight List” contains several names found in official flight logs released in 2019, but adds the names of many politicians and celebrities who are not mentioned in any of the manifests.

The list began circulating after the unsealing of court documents on January 3-5, 2024, relating to a 2015 defamation action brought by one of Epstein's alleged child sex trafficking victims Virginia Giuffre (Roberts), known for being Prince Andrew's accuser.

Fake Epstein list
The list began circulating following the release of documents on January 3.

Some of the social media posts, such as this one, mistakenly conflate the "Epstein flight list" with the court documents. 

Other posts, such as here, here, here and here, share the list and speculate about some of the names on it, including Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Barack Obama and Tom Hanks, among others.

However, the "Epstein's Island flight list" being shared online is not related to the court documents released in January, and numerous famous names on it did not appear in any of the real Epstein flight logs released back in 2019.

American news outlet Vox reported in this article that the January court documents related to Ms Giuffre's case against Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell

Trump
Donald Trump is listed in flight logs - but doesn't appear in the Facebook list.

Maxwell has been convicted of child sex trafficking and is serving a prison term of 20 years. Her appeal will be heard in March. Multimillionaire Epstein died in August 2019 while on remand at a facility in New York on sex trafficking charges.

Epstein was accused of running an underage sex trafficking operation from Little St James, the 70-acre island he owned in the Caribbean. 

The legal documents released in January do reference some of Epstein's associates (without inferring any wrongdoing), but there is no "Epstein's Island flight list" among the documents. 

The Independent newspaper reported on a list of high-profile associates named in the court documents, such as Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump

However, the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Barack Obama and Tom Hanks do not appear in any of the documents.

The real Epstein flight logs have been available online for some years. One set was among thousands of unsealed documents related to the Giuffre-Maxwell 2015 defamation action, released in 2019. 

Those logs, published online, once again do not include the names of Goldberg, Kimmel, Obama or Hanks.

Epstein Island
Jeffrey Epstein's mansion on Little St. James Island in the Caribbean

AAP FactCheck has analysed those logs. They do list former US president Bill Clinton (Pages 91, 93, 95, 96 and 105), model Naomi Campbell (Pages 84, 91 and 100), actor Kevin Spacey (Page 96) and comedian Chris Tucker (P96) — all names on the Facebook list — as having travelled on Epstein’s private jet.

Donald Trump (P18) is also named as having flown on Epstein's jet, but he's not named on the Facebook list.

The New York Times reported in 2019 that a second set of flight logs was released by Epstein's jet pilots, who were subpoenaed as part of the investigation into the financier's sex trafficking charges, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Reuters news agency reported that those flight logs were published online by Gawker.com. Some 60 names from pilot flight logs appear on the list being shared on Facebook.

Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton is listed as having flown on Epstein's private jets several times.

AAP FactCheck has also analysed the second set of flight logs, but the likes of Goldberg, Kimmel, Obama and Hanks are not mentioned.

Whoopi Goldberg has denied being on any Epstein list. 

Jimmy Kimmel has threatened legal action over an American footballer's comments that he would be included in the documents. 

The claims about Obama and Hanks being in the flight logs have been debunked here and here.

Various other names on the supposed list have been debunked by other fact-checking organisations, including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres, Ophrah Winfrey and Justin Trudeau.  

The Verdict

The claim that Barack Obama, Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Jimmy Kimmel are among the names on the Jeffrey Epstein list is false.

Several fake lists have been circulating since the release of legal documents linked to Epstein in January 2024.

The names of Obama, Hanks, Goldberg, Kimmel and several others do not appear in either these documents or any of the previously released Epstein flight logs.

False — The claim is inaccurate.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store