Masha Drokova

1. Summary#

Masha Drokova (legal name Mariia Drokova) is a Russian-born venture capitalist and founder of Day One Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital fund. She is known for her early career in Russian politics — she was featured in the 2012 documentary Putin's Kiss — and for her subsequent pivot to technology entrepreneurship and investment in the United States. Drokova appears in 41 emails in the Epstein archive, spanning from July 2017 to March 2019, making her one of the more active correspondents in Epstein's later years.

The archive documents a sustained relationship in which Drokova served as both a social connector and occasional advisory contact for Epstein. She regularly introduced entrepreneurs, journalists, scientists, and young professionals to Epstein, arranged media interviews on his behalf, and visited him at both his Manhattan townhouse and Palm Beach residence. Epstein, in turn, connected Drokova with figures in his network such as Steven Sinofsky and Ben Goertzel, offered guidance on her fund's investments, and paid for her hotel stays in Palm Beach. Epstein included her name on a list of notable contacts he sent to journalist Michael Wolff in May 2018.

2. Background#

Drokova became publicly known through her involvement in Russia's Nashi youth movement, a pro-Kremlin organization. The 2012 Danish documentary Putin's Kiss chronicled her life as a young political activist and her subsequent disillusionment. After leaving Russia, Drokova moved to the United States and entered the technology and venture capital world. She founded Day One Ventures, a fund focused on early-stage startups. A February 2018 newsletter excerpt forwarded by Steven Sinofsky described Drokova as the "Day One Ventures founder" who, while raising her fund, was told by prospective investors to "get a male co-founder". A Business Insider profile from January 2018 featured her as an exemplar of a "new American dream". In the emails, she self-identifies as running the fund from San Francisco and states "I run Day One Ventures fund and based in San Francisco".

Drokova was introduced to Epstein in March 2017 by an intermediary who described her as an "outstanding very successful for her young age lady" and linked to her Wikipedia page (referencing Putin's Kiss), her Crunchbase profile, and a Mashable article about her.

3. Correspondence with Epstein#

Initial Introduction (March–May 2017)

Drokova's connection to Epstein originated in March 2017 when an intermediary emailed Epstein recommending her as "amazing as a person" and linking to her professional profiles. In the same thread, the intermediary also mentioned "Anastasia Kotova from Monaco" who was "model looking + smart." When Epstein asked whether Drokova might serve as an assistant, the intermediary clarified that she "doesn't want to be assistant" because she had already "made her first million at age of 20" and was building her own VC fund. The intermediary instead offered that Drokova wanted to meet Epstein and "help me find you a young attractive assistant". In that exchange, Epstein initially responded "Too old" to the suggestion of connecting with Drokova, then specified "20-24" as the age range he was seeking for an assistant.

By April 2017, an intermediary was proposing to schedule Drokova for a meeting at Epstein's New York residence along with other women available to Skype with Epstein from Paris. Their first documented in-person meeting took place on May 18, 2017, at 1:00 PM at 9 East 71st Street, per Epstein's schedule. The meeting was coordinated through Yury Molodtsov, who provided Drokova's cell phone number to Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff, confirming the appointment at Epstein's brownstone where "he owns the entire brownstone".

The Networking Role (Fall 2017)

By the fall of 2017, Drokova had become an active introducer of people to Epstein. She coordinated a Skype call between Epstein and an editor from the publication Nature on October 11, 2017, with the meeting confirmed for 4pm on a Wednesday. She arranged for Bryan Johnson — entrepreneur and founder of OS Fund — to meet Epstein via a video conference on October 6, 2017, which she ultimately joined herself.

Drokova also coordinated media access. She connected journalist Dylan Love with Epstein for an in-person interview, telling Lesley Groff that "Jeffrey agreed to take in person interview in New York with Dylan who's writing for TNW and Business Insider". The interview was scheduled for September 28, 2017 at 10:30am at Epstein's 71st Street residence. The resulting article about Epstein and Bitcoin was published on October 10, 2017, and Dylan Love shared the link directly with Epstein, cc'ing Drokova.

Separately, Epstein asked Drokova if she had "a writer that you can hire to interview say 15 scientists to document their relationship with me", noting that while Dylan Love was "good, and useful," a different skill set was needed.

Seeking Advice and Expanding Connections (Late 2017–2018)

Epstein connected Drokova with Steven Sinofsky, the former president of Microsoft's Windows division, to evaluate a potential investment by her fund in Center Health, an AI-based glucose monitoring company. After Sinofsky provided detailed feedback, Epstein told Drokova that "Gates said no one smarter" about Sinofsky. Drokova replied by comparing Sinofsky's intelligence to Peter Thiel's, saying "Based on what I read/watched Thiel is equally smart".

In November 2017, Epstein introduced Drokova to Ben Goertzel, an AI researcher. Lesley Groff arranged their meeting, noting that Drokova "will be traveling to Lisbon where Ben currently is" and that "Jeffrey says the two of you should meet up for some interesting conversation." Goertzel later confirmed they "met up and had a great time" and discussed his SingularityNET project.

In November 2017, Drokova and Epstein discussed Russian tech investor Yuri Milner in the context of the Paradise Papers revelations. She shared an article about Russian investments in Facebook and Twitter, defending Milner as "great" and expressing compassion. Epstein responded bluntly that Milner "is not smart" and had "funneled large sums of money for bad Russians".

Palm Beach Visits and Paid Accommodations (December 2017–August 2018)

In late December 2017, Epstein instructed Lesley Groff to "coordinate with Masha and her friend to visit and stay in Palm Beach we pay all". Drokova booked the Four Seasons hotel in Palm Beach, and Epstein's staff arranged for her to be picked up from the hotel on December 26, with Epstein writing "masha drokova right now pick up at 12". She was subsequently reimbursed $7,027.48 for the hotel stay via a check issued by Epstein's accounting department. Bella Klein, who handled the finances, noted that the Four Seasons charge was $5,376.08, with additional trip expenses bringing the total higher. When Drokova did not cash the check by April 2018, Richard Kahn — an executor of Epstein's estate — instructed staff to "don't chase her".

In August 2018, Drokova again visited Epstein at his Palm Beach home. She asked if he would be "in Florida tomorrow", and Epstein confirmed. When Drokova asked for the address the following morning, Epstein replied "358 el brillo way . same as last time", indicating a prior visit.

Gift from Epstein

In August 2017, Epstein arranged for a Prada handbag to be purchased and sent to Drokova. Lesley Groff coordinated the purchase, relaying that "Jeffrey would like a Prada handbag purchased and fed ex'd to Masha Drokova". A black Prada tote bag was selected from the store on Madison Avenue, and Epstein approved the choice as "PERFECT". Groff separately requested Drokova's mailing address to ship the item.

Introducing Women to Epstein (December 2018)

In late December 2018, Drokova introduced multiple women to Epstein. She described three contacts: Katya, who "has a law firm" and understood blockchain regulations; Aleszea, a "film director" working on a human rights VR movie; and Alexandra, an "actress and art expert". She asked Epstein "Do you want to chat to two other girls?" after initial calls. Epstein evaluated each bluntly: "alezea spacey not very smart. . katya smart . alexandra will see in ny to gauge".

The introduction to Aleszea Blanche led to a Skype call, after which Blanche wrote a notable follow-up email in January 2019 referencing Epstein's history. She stated: "I hope you don't feel threatened because I expressed my fear of people that traffic people (and giving you as an example ha!)" and added that she "spoke with Masha after our phone call and realized how crude I may have came off".

Introducing Journalists, Entrepreneurs, and Thiel Fellows (2018–2019)

Drokova continued introducing people to Epstein throughout 2018 and into 2019. She connected Epstein with Jay Jideliov, calling them both "dear friends" and arranging a meeting at Epstein's 71st Street residence for September 5, 2018 at 5pm. That same day, Epstein also met with Nellie Bowles, a New York Times reporter whom Drokova had introduced, with Bowles writing "Thank you Masha! Jeffrey, looks like we're scheduling separately. Can't wait!".

In November 2018, she arranged a meeting between Epstein and Neil Serebryany, a 20-year-old Thiel Fellow, whom she described as a "radically smart" AI security entrepreneur who had "raised money from Palantir founders". In February 2018, she connected Epstein with Francis Pedraza, one of her "portfolio founders", in whom "Thiel and lot of cool people invested". She also arranged for entrepreneur Jake Vartanian to meet Epstein, with the intermediary noting Jake "reminds me Masha Drokova in how peaceful and wise he is".

In February 2019, Drokova introduced Epstein to James Peyer, who ran a "longevity fund apollo.vc". Epstein agreed, and Peyer visited 9 East 71st Street on March 1, 2019 — among the last documented meetings before Epstein's arrest.

Personal Rapport

The correspondence shows a warm personal dynamic. Drokova expressed eagerness to visit Epstein, writing "I really want to see you!!!" while negotiating travel logistics. In June 2018, she sent him a photo and the message "how are you?", to which Epstein replied "cute". In March 2018, they exchanged jokes about Stephen Hawking's death, with Drokova expressing condolences and Epstein joking that "while disabled and in a wheel chair he ran away with his nurse and left his nagging wife". When invited to Paris in May 2018, Drokova responded that "Paris in May sounds amazing!" and asked what the "MacArthur board" had decided.

In March 2019, Epstein complimented an article Drokova had written, saying "good work on article", and they attempted to schedule a final meeting in New York.

4. Connections#

Drokova's primary contact in the archive is Jeffrey Epstein, with whom she shared 6 direct emails and appeared in many more threads through intermediaries. Her most frequent co-correspondent was Dylan Love, the journalist she connected with Epstein for the Bitcoin interview, appearing in 3 shared threads. Yury Molodtsov, who served as Drokova's assistant or associate, appeared in 3 shared threads coordinating logistics such as the initial May 2017 meeting and the reimbursement process.

Ben Goertzel, the AI researcher, was introduced to Drokova at Epstein's direction and met her in Lisbon. Bella Klein handled the financial reimbursement for Drokova's Palm Beach trip. Lesley Groff, Epstein's longtime assistant, coordinated nearly all of Drokova's appointments and introductions. James Peyer visited Epstein at the 71st Street residence on March 1, 2019, introduced by Drokova. Jay Jideliov was introduced to Epstein by Drokova in September 2018.

Drokova's name also appeared on a list Epstein compiled for journalist Michael Wolff in May 2018, alongside names including Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak, Leon Black, Larry Summers, Joi Ito, and Woody Allen. She was listed with the parenthetical "(women Ruemmler)", an apparent reference to Kathryn Ruemmler.

5. Document References#

Drokova appears extensively in DOJ-collected email records from Epstein's accounts, with 20 document mentions in the archive. These are principally PDF renderings of email threads already cited above, held in volumes 9 and 11 of the DOJ collection. They include coordination of her May 2017 initial meeting, scheduling of the Dylan Love interview, reimbursement records for her Palm Beach hotel stay, and the Steven Sinofsky investment consultation. The reimbursement records include communications between Bella Klein and Lesley Groff confirming a check for $7,027.48, as well as a directive from Richard Kahn not to pursue Drokova when the check went uncashed. Drokova does not appear in any known flight logs, court filings, depositions, or criminal investigation documents in the archive.

6. Visits to Epstein Properties#

• Manhattan townhouse (9 East 71st Street): At least 5 documented visits or planned visits

  1. May 18, 2017 — 1:00 PM appointment, first in-person meeting (schedule; coordination)
  2. September 12, 2017 — 12:30 PM visit, with a separate meeting for a Futurism editor at 1:30 PM (thread)
  3. September 18, 2017 — 12:30 PM visit with Alex Klokus for the Futurism interview (document)
  4. March 29, 2018 — 4:00 PM appointment arranged by Lesley Groff (thread)
  5. March 12–16, 2019 — Attempted visit; Epstein suggested Saturday (document)

• Palm Beach (358 El Brillo Way): At least 2 documented visits

  1. December 26, 2017 — Picked up from Four Seasons hotel at noon; hotel stay reimbursed $7,027.48 (pickup; hotel booking; reimbursement)
  2. August 1, 2018 — Afternoon visit; Epstein confirmed the address as "358 el brillo way . same as last time"

• Paris apartment: No documented visits. Drokova expressed interest in visiting Epstein in Paris on at least two occasions — "Paris in May sounds amazing!" and inquiring about Epstein's "plans about Paris in the begging of Feb" — but no completed Paris meetings are recorded.

• Little St. James island: No visits documented in the archive.

• New Mexico ranch (Zorro Ranch): No visits documented in the archive.

7. Criminal Activity#

The archive documents the initial introduction of Drokova to Epstein, in which the intermediary offered that Drokova would help Epstein "find you a young attractive assistant", and Epstein specified a preferred age range of "20-24". While the archive does not document Drokova subsequently procuring assistants for Epstein, this exchange occurred in the context of an intermediary who in the same thread also referenced "Anastasia Kotova from Monaco" as "model looking + smart" with "no job". Separately, in December 2018, Drokova introduced multiple young women to Epstein, asking "Do you want to chat to two other girls?", and one of those women — Aleszea Blanche — subsequently referenced Epstein's trafficking history directly in a January 2019 email.

The documented conduct — introducing young women to Epstein after 2008, when his sex offender status was a matter of public record, and offering to help recruit "young attractive" assistants — falls within the scope of conduct that investigators have examined under 18 U.S.C. § 1591 (sex trafficking) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (aiding and abetting), as described in Criminal Statutes. The archive does not document that any of the individuals Drokova introduced were minors or that any sexual activity resulted from these introductions.