Investor pitched Epstein for $200M Faraday Future funding and 30% Lucid stake
Revealed files show investor David Stern pitched Jeffrey Epstein to commit over $200 million into Faraday Future and acquire a 30% Lucid Motors stake. Epstein never funded these deals, but the connection underscores opaque funding sources and potential reputational risks for Faraday Future’s early-stage financing.
1. Epstein File Reveals Hidden Investor
Documents expose David Stern as a third founding investor in multiple EV startups, leveraging his proximity to Jeffrey Epstein to seek funding. Stern maintained a low profile until internal disputes and lawsuits unveiled his decade-long involvement in high-stakes dealmaking.
2. Funding Pitches to Faraday Future and Lucid
Between 2008 and 2010, Stern pitched Epstein on committing more than $200 million to Faraday Future and on acquiring a 30% stake in Lucid Motors. Despite detailed proposals and persistent outreach, Epstein ultimately refrained from investing in either venture.
3. Opaque Financing and Reputational Risks
These revelations highlight the murky early-stage financing of Faraday Future and similar EV startups, where secretive backers pursued rapid returns. The association with Epstein and undisclosed investors may raise governance concerns and affect stakeholder confidence.