Kimbal Musk has stepped down from the Burning Man Project Board of Directors following community outcry over his appearance in recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents.
The resignation comes after members of the Burning Man community submitted a February 2026 petition calling for a board review of Musk’s position, expressing concerns about his documented social relationship with the convicted sex offender.
What the Documents Reveal
According to the petition, Department of Justice files released January 30, 2026, show Kimbal Musk was referenced at least 140 times in emails between Epstein and associates from 2012 to 2015, years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution.
The documents describe social interactions, including coffee meetings, gala invitations, and lunch at Epstein’s New York residence. One email chain shows Musk being “connected” with a woman through Epstein’s network, for which he thanked Epstein. An associate warned Musk to “be nice” to the woman because “Jeffrey goes crazy when someone mistreats his girls/friends.”
The files also document an invitation to Epstein’s private island in January 2013.
The petition notes that Musk’s brother, Elon, a longtime Burning Man participant and donor, also appears in the files with at least 16 emails to Epstein between 2012 and 2014.
Community Concerns
Petition signers argued the documented associations raised questions about judgment and alignment with Burning Man’s Ten Principles, particularly regarding consent culture.
“The language in these emails, ‘his girls/friends,’ the warnings about ‘mistreating’ women who were ‘connected’ through Epstein’s network, raises profound questions about the nature of these introductions and whether the women involved were exercising full autonomy and informed consent,” the petition stated.
The community members emphasised they were not alleging criminal conduct, but argued that maintaining social relationships with a convicted sex offender after his conviction “reflects a judgment that our community’s leaders should not embody.”
A Culture Built on Principles
The Burning Man community, which gathers annually in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and at major regional events including AfrikaBurn in South Africa, Midburn in Israel, and regional burns across North America, has built its culture around Ten Principles, including civic responsibility and communal effort. The petition argued that consent culture is foundational to these gatherings, where participants create spaces for expression without fear of exploitation.
Community Response
The petition had requested the board publicly acknowledge the information, conduct a formal review of Musk’s board membership, provide transparency about policies for evaluating board member conduct, and reaffirm the organisation’s commitment to consent culture.
“Board members serve as stewards of this culture,” the petition argued. “Their conduct, both on and off the playa, reflects on our values.”
Musk’s departure from the board addresses the central demand of the community petition, though the Burning Man Project has not yet issued a public statement about the resignation or the concerns raised by community members.