Jeffrey Epstein once claimed to be both a financial adviser and crisis manager for Tesla and its embattled founder Elon Musk.

The billionaire pedophile confirmed to the New York Times last year that he was working at some capacity with Tesla and Musk.

The connection between Epstein and the tech mogul only came to light when details of the interview was published this week in the wake of the financier's apparent suicide.

Columnist James B. Stewart said Epstein agreed to be interviewed at his New York mansion last year only if their conversation was for background information and not attributed to him.

Jeffrey Epstein confirmed to New York Times columnist James B. Stewart last year that he was working at some capacity with Tesla and Musk. Musk and Tesla both denied this week that Epstein advised them

Stewart said he had reached out to Epstein after hearing rumors the billionaire was advising Tesla.

It was around the time that Musk had come under fire for tweeting that he had secured funding to take Tesla private.

'I'd heard that Mr Epstein was compiling a list of candidates at Mr Musk's behest - and that Mr Epstein had an email from Mr Musk authorizing the search for a new chairman,' Stewart wrote.

During the interview, Epstein wouldn't reveal specific details about working with Tesla.

Epstein said he would have to stop advising the company if it got out he was working with them.

He described himself as being 'radioactive' - presumably given his past convictions - and said everyone at Tesla would deny ever speaking to him.

Musk and Tesla both denied this week that Epstein was advising them.

Musk was once pictured alongside Epstein's ex-girlfriend and business associate Ghislaine Maxwell at an Oscars after-party in 2014. Maxwell is accused by some of Epstein's alleged victims of facilitating the abuse of young girls by overseeing their recruitment

'It is incorrect to say that Epstein ever advised Elon on anything,' Musk's spokeswoman said.

While there is no evidence Epstein was advising Musk, there are some past public ties between the billionaire and the tech mogul.

Musk was once pictured alongside Epstein's ex-girlfriend and business associate Ghislaine Maxwell at an Oscars after-party in 2014.

Maxwell is accused by some of Epstein's alleged victims of facilitating the abuse of young girls by overseeing their recruitment.

She has previously denied allegations she helped recruit or arrange visits for Epstein's alleged victims.

Regarding the photo of Musk and Maxwell, the tech mogul's spokeswoman said: 'Ghislaine simply inserted herself behind him in a photo he was posing for without his knowledge'.

During Epstein's interview with Stewart, the billionaire had separately bragged about having potentially damaging information on rich, famous and powerful people, including details about their drug use and sexual tendencies.

He claimed that a number of influential people had told him their secrets.