Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel is a German-American entrepreneur and investor who co-founded PayPal, served as Facebook's first outside investor, and co-founded Palantir Technologies and the venture capital firm Founders Fund. The Epstein archive documents an extensive correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein spanning from 2014 to 2019, totaling 2,436 emails across 1,345 threads. The relationship included multiple in-person meetings at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, regular discussions about technology investments and political matters, and a $40 million investment by Epstein in Thiel's venture capital firm Valar Ventures in 2015-2016.

The correspondence began in 2014, years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. However, the archive reveals Epstein was actively seeking an introduction to Thiel as early as August 2009, just one year after his conviction. Thiel and Epstein discussed investment opportunities including Palantir and various technology startups, coordinated meetings with mutual contacts including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Russian diplomat Vitaly Churkin, and exchanged views on topics ranging from technology trends to geopolitics. Notably, Epstein served as a political counselor to Thiel regarding his controversial 2016 endorsement of Donald Trump, with Thiel consulting Epstein before the election about whether the decision was a mistake. As of 2025, Epstein's investment in Valar has grown to nearly $170 million, making it one of the estate's most valuable holdings.

Background#

Peter Andreas Thiel was born in Frankfurt, West Germany on October 11, 1967. His family emigrated to the United States when he was one year old. He studied philosophy at Stanford University (B.A., 1989) and later earned a J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1992. While at Stanford, Thiel co-founded the conservative student publication the Stanford Review.

In 1998, Thiel co-founded PayPal with Max Levchin and others, serving as CEO until the company was sold to eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. In 2004, he made the first outside investment in Facebook for $500,000, which would generate over $1 billion in returns. That same year, he co-founded Palantir Technologies, a data analysis company that works extensively with government agencies and intelligence services, where he serves as chairman. In 2005, he co-founded Founders Fund, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has funded companies including SpaceX, Airbnb, and Spotify.

Thiel is known for his libertarian political views and became a prominent supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. He spoke at the Republican National Convention and donated to Trump's campaign. His relationship with Epstein has been the subject of significant media reporting since documents from the DOJ investigation were released, revealing meetings between 2014 and 2019 despite Epstein's criminal record.

Correspondence with Epstein#

The archive contains 2,436 emails exchanged between Thiel and Epstein from October 2012 to March 2019, with the bulk of correspondence occurring between 2014 and 2019. The relationship appears to have been initiated through mutual contacts in Silicon Valley and tech investment circles.

Origin of the Relationship (2009-2014)

The earliest documented mention of Thiel in Epstein's archive dates to August 2009, when an unnamed associate wrote to Epstein (CC: John Brockman): "yes. I wrote his name on my notes when we were talking. he's a founder of paypal. And Max Levchin. but I don't know these guys... we'd need an introduction. tim o'reilly knows them and tim hosts a future of money conference...." This was in response to Epstein asking "-- peter thiel?" The exchange shows Epstein was actively seeking an introduction to Thiel just one year after his 2008 conviction, with John Brockman (literary agent and founder of Edge.org) CC'd as a potential intermediary. Tim O'Reilly of O'Reilly Media was also mentioned as a possible connection point.

By May 19, 2014, the relationship was clearly established. Epstein emailed Thiel with the subject line "That was fun, see you in 3 weeks" and attached a foreign policy briefing. The email indicates they had recently met in person and were on comfortable terms. The gap between 2009 and 2014 suggests the introduction likely occurred sometime in 2013 or early 2014, though the precise circumstances are not documented in the archive.

Investment Relationship and Valar Ventures

In November 2014, Thiel introduced Epstein to his venture capital firm Valar Ventures. Thiel wrote: "I think it would be worthwhile for you to meet with Andrew and James, two guys that are scouring the world for me to look for terrific early-stage VC investments... It would make sense for you to put in $10-20MM here". Andrew McCormack and James Fitzgerald, the Valar partners, subsequently sent Epstein their fundraising deck.

In December 2014, Thiel explicitly recommended the investment: "You should definitely invest in Valar. I'd recommend something like $10-20MM". Epstein ultimately invested approximately $40 million in Valar Ventures across two funds in 2015 and 2016. A June 2016 update to Valar limited partners announced Fund 3's final closing with $104 million in total commitments, including $30 million from Thiel himself. This meant Epstein's $40 million investment represented approximately 38% of all non-Thiel capital in the fund, making him by far the most important outside investor and giving him enormous leverage over the fund's viability.

The archive contains Valar's standard subscription agreements for Fund III and Fund IV, which include investor questionnaires and anti-money laundering provisions. The Fund IV subscription agreement specifically required investors to represent they had not been "convicted within ten years of the date hereof of any felony or misdemeanor (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security, (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer" under Regulation D Rule 506(d). While these provisions focused on securities-related convictions rather than all criminal history, the broader Know Your Customer and AML obligations applied to all investors. Notably, the archive contains no internal emails discussing due diligence concerns, background check results, or compliance discussions about accepting Epstein's $40 million investment from a convicted sex offender.

In July 2017, Epstein contacted Thiel: "i wanted to talk about valar when you get a momt". This indicates the two had ongoing discussions about the investment relationship. As of 2025, this investment has grown to nearly $170 million, making it one of the most valuable holdings in Epstein's estate.

Technology Discussions and Intellectual Exchange

The correspondence reveals regular exchanges on technology trends and investment opportunities. In January 2019, Epstein asked Thiel: "what are you seeing that's exciting. . rejuvenation? plant biology? , quantum computing?". Thiel shared views on geopolitics, writing in January 2019: "Haven't gone to Davis since 2013... the era of globalization is just over", referring to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

In March 2015, Epstein wrote: "great chomsky stories when you get a chance". This suggests they had discussed linguist Noam Chomsky. The two coordinated potential meetings with Chomsky, with Epstein writing in August 2017: "Chomsky tues or wed". In May 2017, Epstein told Thiel: "i am taking chomsky for the week of june 5 to san diego we will be with deepak chopra, penrose etc. lots of laughs, time you had some." In September 2015, Epstein invited Thiel to a dinner with "chomsky woody alien [Allen]. terje roed larsen dinner sunday, if you like," demonstrating how Epstein used intellectual and social access as an enticement.

The archive also reveals substantive financial and macroeconomic discussions between the two. In April-May 2015, Epstein wrote to Thiel about "option pricing totally out of whack, eurobonds soon the all time great short" and Saudi oil policy. Thiel responded with detailed analysis of negative-yielding notes and Saudi Arabia's "appointment of bin Nayef" suggesting they are "really scared." This exchange reveals a financial advisory dimension to the relationship beyond social networking.

Rothschild Connection

In February 2016, Epstein claimed to Thiel: "as you probably know I represent the Rothschilds. I was hoping to figure out a way for the bank that has 160 b in mgmt can do something in tech. best client list in the world, prehistoric products. - it can wait." This reveals Epstein was presenting himself to Thiel as a representative of the Rothschild banking family and was seeking technology investment opportunities for their bank. In the same email, Epstein also offered: "dont know if you are in fund raising mode but the qataris are in that day to discuss future," suggesting he could connect Thiel with Qatari sovereign wealth investors.

Political Matters and the 2016 Trump Campaign

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Thiel and Epstein discussed Thiel's controversial support for Donald Trump. In October 2016, after Thiel gave a speech defending his support for Trump, Epstein wrote: "i loved the speech, and its delive=y. what was the crowd reaction.?". Thiel responded: "Hard to tell (all media people) -- but far from as hostile as I feared".

The most revealing exchange occurred in August 2017, when Epstein sent Thiel a BuzzFeed article about Trump controversies and wrote: "read the buzz feed article. Careful, ! you asked me before nov 8 did i think you had made a mistake and said defintely not. . donald is vindictive, especially when it is pointed out that he is not the smartest person in the room. or it is just made obvious." Thiel responded: "Yes, agreed... will call later today, sorry I'm so overdue." This exchange reveals that Thiel had consulted Epstein before the November 8, 2016 election about whether his Trump endorsement was a mistake, and that Epstein had reassured him to proceed. It also shows Epstein was monitoring Thiel's political exposure and providing intelligence about Trump's personality, effectively serving as a political counselor. The fact that Thiel sought Epstein's advice on such a consequential political decision—one that would define his public reputation and business relationships for years—demonstrates the depth of trust and influence in the relationship.

Palantir Investment Research

While Epstein invested in Valar Ventures, the archive shows his financial team was also actively researching Palantir Technologies, Thiel's data analytics and government contracting company. In September 2018, Richard Kahn at HBRK Associates (Epstein's financial manager) obtained a detailed PitchBook profile of Palantir showing the company's deal history, cap table, board composition (including Thiel as "Chairman & Co-Founder"), valuation data, and financial metrics. This document was specifically generated for Epstein's investment team, and it indicates active evaluation of Palantir as a potential investment opportunity.

In December 2016, just weeks after the October 2016 lunch with Vitaly Churkin, Richard Kahn emailed Epstein: "not sure your thoughts on Palantir but if remotely positive then david access to shares seems like a 50% discount to market please advise thank you." David Fiszel responded: "Can you see if we can get an update on palantir view. I heard the meeting with Trump was Huge for the company and I can buy more at $5 which is $9.5B valuation. Seems like a home run." This exchange reveals three critical facts: (1) Epstein's team was actively seeking to invest in Palantir through secondary share purchases, (2) they had access to discounted shares, potentially through the Thiel relationship, and (3) they explicitly connected Palantir's meeting with President-elect Trump to the company's enhanced valuation and investment attractiveness. The timing—December 2016, during Thiel's role on Trump's transition team—creates a concerning intersection of Thiel's political access, Palantir's government contracting business, and Epstein's investment interests.

Ehud Barak and Israeli Tech Investments

Thiel served as a bridge between Epstein and Ehud Barak, the former Israeli Prime Minister. In February 2016, Barak wrote to Nicole Junkermann about a meeting: "On 1pm we have there a meeting with two guys we'd never met, who are seniors in a new Investment Fund owned by Peter Thiel and JE", referring to Valar Ventures representatives. The meeting concerned Reporty (later renamed Carbyne), a technology startup Barak was promoting.

Epstein repeatedly sought Thiel's feedback on Reporty. In December 2014, Epstein forwarded Barak's pitch to Thiel: "a video version of 911. seems ripe =. but not my skill set thoughts." In February 2016, Epstein followed up: "any feedback from the valor guys re ehud baraks co=C2 - called reporty?", and again later that month: "no rush, did you get any feedback on the=valor guys view of ehud baraks co.?" The repeated follow-ups suggest Valar did not invest, despite Epstein's persistence.

By May 2018, the pitch had shifted from Valar to Founders Fund. An intermediary from NJF Capital connected Carbyne's CEO Amir Elichai with Trae Stephens at Founders Fund, writing to both Epstein and Barak: "We made the connection to Founders Forum from Peter Thiel. (see below) J, If you want to put in a word with Peter maybe :)" Stephens responded enthusiastically: "Nice to virtually meet you! I'd love to learn more about Carbyne. One of my Partners, Kevin Hartz, and I have spent quite a bit of time talking about next-gen 911, so this is super interesting to us." The email noted: "Given Trae's background at Palantir, we figured there would be a fair amount of serendipity," explicitly linking Palantir personnel to the Epstein-Barak investment channel. Epstein notified Thiel: "FYI trae is meeting carbyne Ehud Barak co". Whether Founders Fund ultimately invested is not documented in the archive, but the exchange demonstrates how Epstein leveraged his relationship with Thiel to facilitate access to Thiel's investment networks for Barak's ventures.

In May 2017, Epstein facilitated connections between Thiel and Barak, writing: "Ehud , my great friend peter will be visiting Israel June 12-15 . I thinks =ou would both enjoy each others company". When Thiel traveled to Israel, Epstein advised: "In israel you might want to see Ehud Barak".

Meetings with Russian Diplomat Vitaly Churkin

One of the most notable documented meetings involved Vitaly Churkin, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations until his death in February 2017. In October 2016, Epstein wrote to Thiel: "will need to schedule churkin." Thiel responded affirmatively: "Would lunch on Friday the 7th work?" Epstein replied "Ok." This exchange shows Thiel actively proposed the date for the meeting with the Russian diplomat, rather than simply accepting an invitation from Epstein.

On October 5, 2016, Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff sent a staff memo: "Jeffrey has an important lunch on Friday with Peter Thiel and Vitaly Churkin. I will get back to you with timing but probably 12:30 ish". Epstein's October 7, 2016 schedule confirmed: "12:30pm LUNCH w/Peter Thiel and Vitaly Churkin." On the morning of the lunch, Lesley Groff emailed Karyna Shuliak (Epstein's girlfriend and companion): "Morning Karyna. Jeffrey would like you to be in charge of the important lunch today. It is for 3pp at 12:30! Peter Thiel and Vitaly Churkin will be coming." Karyna's involvement in hosting this high-level meeting is notable given her intimate relationship with Epstein.

The meeting took on additional political dimensions that morning when Epstein invited Ken Starr, the former Solicitor General and Whitewater investigator: "peter thiel and vitaly churkin for lunch today. you are welcome if you are still in new york." Starr's potential attendance would have added another politically-connected figure to an already sensitive meeting between a major Trump supporter, a Russian ambassador, and a convicted sex offender, occurring exactly one month before the 2016 presidential election.

The archive reveals broader context for Epstein's Russian connections during this period. Epstein's full October 2016 schedule shows he met with Sergey Beliakov (another Russian contact) on October 6, the day before the Churkin lunch. He also met with Leon Black on October 4 and October 19, and Ehud Barak around October 20. Epstein maintained Churkin's contact information in his phone as "PR to the UN, Russia MID."

Significantly, the archive contains the resume of Maxim V. Churkin, Vitaly Churkin's son, who was studying for an MBA at Columbia Business School (2016-2017). This suggests Epstein was attempting to help the ambassador's son with career placement, which would constitute a favor to the Russian diplomat. When Churkin died suddenly on February 20, 2017, Glenn Dubin forwarded the news to Epstein. Paul Fribourg, CEO of Continental Grain, wrote: "Very sad. The father of the young guy you sent us. I met with his son last week. Very nice guy. We don't have anything at this point but gave him a number of ideas." This confirmed that Epstein had been actively connecting Churkin's son with American business leaders like Fribourg for career opportunities, adding a significant favor-trading dimension to the October 2016 lunch with Thiel.

Awareness of Epstein's Public Relations Crisis

A June 10, 2014 email thread involving Joi Ito reveals that Epstein was acutely aware of his "bad press" and was actively strategizing about rehabilitating his public image at the very time his relationship with Thiel was developing. Epstein wrote to Ito: "peter thiel came last night, fun. lets talk during the week. Im also trying to decide whether to let a writer (miachel wolfe,) do a story, to mollify the bad press.? thoughts?" Joi Ito responded by recommending Michelle Kydd Lee of the CAA Foundation, describing her as "the 'mother' of Hollywood. She's the one everyone goes to when famous people under the protection of CAA go to when they get in trouble."

This exchange demonstrates that Epstein's criminal history and reputational problems were active concerns contemporaneous with his dinner meetings with Thiel in June 2014. Despite this, the archive contains no evidence of Thiel ever acknowledging Epstein's conviction, expressing concern about the reputational risk of the relationship, or addressing the criminal history in any correspondence. The absence of such discussions is itself significant given the extensive nature of their correspondence and the business relationship through Valar Ventures.

Pattern of Increasing Distance (2018-2019)

By late 2018 and into 2019, a pattern of cooling becomes apparent in the correspondence. In November 2018, when Epstein asked "Ny ?or Miami," Thiel replied with a deflection: "Mostly west coast for the winter..." In September 2018, when Epstein asked "New York?" Thiel replied: "Avoiding the zoo." Epstein responded playfully: "animals are fun to watch - sometimes."

The final extended exchange occurred in January 2019. Epstein asked "are you in europe?" and Thiel said he hadn't gone to Davos since 2013. Epstein mentioned he was "in Paris" and then "new york, caribean, europe late in month." Thiel asked "Where are you in February?" but then immediately said "Probably in CA through end of March..." — effectively making himself unavailable. This pattern contrasts sharply with the 2014-2016 period when Thiel was actively coordinating lunches and dinners at Epstein's townhouse. While there was no explicit statement ending the relationship, Thiel's consistent unavailability in the final documented period suggests a deliberate distancing, though the archive does not extend past early 2019 and therefore contains no correspondence following Epstein's July 2019 arrest.

An earlier example from November 2, 2015 shows this pattern was already emerging. Epstein had offered expansive invitations: "where are you for thanksgiving,- xmas time. thanksgiving new mexico. xmas island. st barts. many interesting people stopping by. you are welcome to visit with whomever you like and stay as guest." Thiel responded with polite but non-committal deflection: "Thanks for the many invitations!"

Connections#

Thiel's most significant documented connection in the archive was to Epstein himself, with whom he corresponded 2,178 times. Other key connections include:

Ehud Barak: Former Israeli Prime Minister whom Thiel met through Epstein. The archive documents coordination of meetings and investment discussions involving Barak's technology ventures, particularly Reporty/Carbyne.

Lesley Groff: Epstein's longtime assistant, who coordinated 42 emails involving Thiel's meetings and visits to Epstein's properties.

Joi Ito: MIT Media Lab director who appeared in 2 shared emails with Thiel, including a June 2014 dinner at Epstein's townhouse where Epstein mentioned: "peter thiel came last night, fun".

Reid Hoffman: LinkedIn co-founder and venture capitalist who appeared in 2 shared emails, discussed in connection with cryptocurrency investments.

Andrew McCormack and James Fitzgerald: Valar Ventures partners whom Thiel introduced to Epstein for the Valar investment. Both appeared in correspondence coordinating the deal and providing updates to limited partners.

Vitaly Churkin: Late Russian Ambassador to the UN who attended at least one documented lunch with Thiel and Epstein in October 2016, with Thiel proposing the meeting date.

Karyna Shuliak: Epstein's girlfriend who was put in charge of hosting the October 2016 lunch with Thiel and Churkin. Her role in this high-level meeting is notable.

Ken Starr: Former Solicitor General invited by Epstein to join the Thiel-Churkin lunch on October 7, 2016, adding a political dimension to the meeting.

Bill Burns: Likely the former Deputy Secretary of State (later CIA Director 2021-present), who was invited to a September 2014 lunch with Thiel and Bob Kerrey at Epstein's townhouse. At the time, Burns was president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

John Brockman: Literary agent and founder of Edge.org who was CC'd on the August 2009 email when Epstein first sought an introduction to Thiel. This suggests Brockman was a key intermediary.

Richard Kahn and Darren Indyke: Epstein's financial managers who handled the Valar investment administration and researched Palantir investment opportunities.

Document References#

Thiel appears in numerous DOJ documents that illuminate the scope and nature of his relationship with Epstein. The archive includes email PDFs showing regular exchanges about investments, with Thiel introducing Epstein to Valar Ventures investment opportunities and Epstein ultimately committing $40 million. Fund updates to limited partners document Epstein's role as a major investor in Valar Global Fund 3, contributing $40 million to a $104 million fund in which Thiel himself committed $30 million. Valar Ventures marketing materials sent to Epstein detail the firm's investment strategy and portfolio performance, showing Fund 1 achieving a 3.1x gross multiple and investments in companies like Transferwise and Xero.

Standard subscription agreements for Valar Fund III and Fund IV show the due diligence and anti-money laundering provisions that would have applied to Epstein's investment, including Regulation D Rule 506(d) disqualifying events provisions focused on securities-related criminal convictions. The archive contains no internal communications discussing due diligence concerns, background checks, legal counsel opinions, or compliance discussions about accepting money from a convicted sex offender, despite the size of the investment and Epstein's public notoriety.

Palantir research documents generated by PitchBook for Epstein's financial manager show detailed company profiles including Thiel's role as "Chairman & Co-Founder," while December 2016 correspondence reveals Epstein's team seeking discounted Palantir shares and explicitly noting that "the meeting with Trump was Huge for the company" as an investment rationale.

The documents reveal Thiel's involvement in facilitating connections between Epstein and other high-profile figures. Email threads show Thiel coordinating potential meetings between Epstein and Ehud Barak, with discussions about Israeli technology companies. The Carbyne/Founders Fund connection demonstrates how Epstein leveraged the Thiel relationship to access Thiel's investment networks, with an intermediary writing: "We made the connection to Founders Forum from Peter Thiel. (see below) J, If you want to put in a word with Peter maybe :)"

Schedule documents prepared by Epstein's staff confirm a lunch meeting between Thiel, Epstein, and Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin in October 2016, with additional emails showing Thiel proposed the meeting date. The invitation to Ken Starr on the morning of that lunch adds political context. Vitaly Churkin's contact card in Epstein's phone and his son Maxim's resume reveal Epstein was helping the Russian ambassador's son with career placement, with Paul Fribourg's correspondence after Churkin's death confirming "The father of the young guy you sent us."

Communication regarding Trump campaign matters appears in multiple threads during the 2016 election period, with the August 2017 exchange revealing Thiel had consulted Epstein before the election about whether his Trump endorsement was a mistake, and Epstein providing political intelligence about Trump's vindictive personality.

The Joi Ito email thread from June 2014 captures Epstein discussing his "bad press" and seeking PR counsel from "miachel wolfe" (Michael Wolff) immediately after hosting Thiel for dinner, with Ito recommending CAA Foundation's Michelle Kydd Lee as someone "famous people under the protection of CAA go to when they get in trouble."

DOJ documents also capture logistical coordination through Epstein's assistants. Staff memos announced "important" meetings with Thiel requiring meal preparation, with Karyna Shuliak put in charge of the Churkin lunch. Schedule updates listed Thiel among people Epstein wanted to see during specific periods. Correspondence about dietary restrictions and meeting logistics shows the operational details of maintaining the relationship, with emails from Thiel's assistant Alisa Bekins operating from "Thiel Capital" rather than Founders Fund. In the earliest documented 2009 email, an associate wrote to Epstein: "he's a founder of paypal. And Max Levchin. but I don't know these guys... we'd need an introduction," showing the initial connection was being explored with John Brockman as a potential intermediary.

Financial and macroeconomic exchanges from April-May 2015 show substantive discussions about option pricing, eurobonds, and Saudi oil policy. These exchanges demonstrate an advisory dimension beyond social networking. Epstein's claim in February 2016 that "I represent the Rothschilds" and his offer to connect Thiel with "the qataris" reveal how Epstein positioned himself as a gateway to global capital.

Visits to Epstein Properties#

Manhattan Townhouse

The archive documents multiple visits and meetings at Epstein's residence at 9 East 71st Street in New York:

1. June 9, 2014 - Dinner scheduled, with Thiel asking if he "may bring a guest"
2. June 22, 2015 - Lunch at 2pm, menu including sushi or steak
3. September 13 or 14, 2014 - Lunch with Bill Burns and possibly Bob Kerrey
4. October 7, 2016 - "12:30pm LUNCH w/Peter Thiel and Vitaly Churkin", with Karyna Shuliak in charge of hosting and Ken Starr invited to attend
5. November 2, 2015 - Thiel declined, writing it "will be hard to get to your place be=ween meetings"

Epstein's September 2014 "People To See" list included Thiel among figures like Bill Gates, Larry Summers, and Leon Black.

New Mexico Ranch

In December 2014, Epstein invited Thiel to his New Mexico ranch: "if i go t= my ranch next week in new mexico . want to visit?". In February 2016, Epstein extended another invitation: "im in new mexico 3 and 4th if you would like t= visit". In November 2015, Epstein offered: "where are you for thanksgiving,- xmas time. thanksgiving new mexico." There is no confirmation in the archive of completed visits to the ranch.

Little St. James Island

In October 2016, Epstein asked Thiel: "dec island?", apparently inviting him to Little St. James in December. Thiel responded: "Not yet sure on Dec – so far in the future!". In late February 2016, Epstein mentioned: "then island, =o if you want to come around the world going west. come to the islan=". In November 2015, Epstein offered "xmas island" as an option, along with St. Barts, saying: "many interesting people stopping by. you are welcome to visit with whomever you like and stay as guest." No confirmed visits to the island are documented in the archive.

Other Locations

In January 2019, Epstein mentioned traveling to "new york, caribean , europe late in month" in exchanges about meeting up. In September 2018, when Epstein asked if Thiel was in New York, Thiel replied he was "Avoiding the zoo". The correspondence includes multiple casual check-ins about locations: "Ny ?or Miami", "new york?", "are you in europe?".