Prince Andrew advisor pitched Jeffrey Epstein on investing in EV startups like Lucid Motors

The article reveals that David Stern, a little-known businessman and close advisor to former Prince Andrew, attempted to involve convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in investing in electric vehicle (EV) startups during the late 2010s. Stern saw an opportunity amid Lucid Motors’ 2017 Series D funding round, where Ford was a potential lead investor but was blocked by Jia Yueting, founder of rival Faraday Future. Stern pitched Epstein on investing in Lucid, Faraday Future, and another EV startup, Canoo, highlighting Jia’s financial struggles and the growing EV market driven by Tesla and other innovators. However, there is no evidence Epstein actually invested in these companies. Lucid eventually raised over $1 billion from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in late 2018, while Faraday secured funding from Chinese conglomerate Evergrande. The documents, part of a Department of Justice disclosure of Epstein-related files, shed light on Epstein’s extensive, previously underreported ties to Silicon Valley and startup ecosystems