Sick to my stomach: 'Age-reversing' CEO Bryan Johnson recalls Epstein call

Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein struck a disturbing impression on tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who described him as a “very dark person” following a brief interaction eight years ago. Johnson, founder of brain-interface company Kernel, said he was introduced to Epstein through mutual contact while building his company.

“Eight years ago I met Epstein via Zoom,” Johnson wrote on X. “A mutual contact put us in touch as I was building my brain interface company Kernel and he had supposedly done some neuroscience stuff at MIT.”

He added, “After a ten minute video call I immediately called the person who put us in contact and told him that Epstein seemed like a very dark person. I felt sick to my stomach. I also told him that I never wanted to speak to him again.”

At the time, Johnson said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal history or the allegations that would later emerge.

“I remember this so clearly because I knew nothing about him but weirdly, intuitively, something was deeply wrong. Being in his proximity felt dangerous,” Johnson said.

He confirmed he never interacted with Epstein again: “I came to find out years later that he’d had a f**ked up past.”

Johnson’s comments follow the release of US Department of Justice files that mentioned his name in connection with Epstein. The documents suggested that Johnson had sought a meeting with the disgraced financier.

Johnson clarified that the meeting never took place: “This was pre-call. I was offering an in-person meeting because I was traveling through NY. It ended up being a call — the first and last time I interacted with him. Terrifying in hindsight.”

The released documents also reference several high-profile figures, including US President Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Elon Musk, former British royal Prince Andrew and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. None of those named have been accused of wrongdoing.

Epstein, a wealthy financier with connections in politics, business and academia, was convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from a minor and later faced federal sex-trafficking charges. He died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.

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