Peter Attia CBS Esptein Files
Dr. Peter Attia denies criminal ties to Epstein, saying their meetings were for research, but admits some 2014-2019 correspondence he calls 'embarrassing and tasteless'. X

Peter Attia built his brand on helping people live longer. Now, his career may be shorter for it.

The 52-year-old physician and bestselling author resigned from CBS News on 23 February after his name appeared more than 1,700 times in the US Department of Justice's release of Jeffrey Epstein files.

The resignation came just one day after John Oliver mocked CBS on 'Last Week Tonight' for keeping Attia on the payroll, saying the network had 'lower standards than a protein bar company,' according to TV Insider.

A Health Empire Under Scrutiny

For millions of Americans, Attia is the voice of longevity science. His podcast, 'The Peter Attia Drive', has racked up over 100 million downloads. His 2023 book 'Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity' sold more than three million copies and hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

His estimated net worth now sits between $10 million and $30 million (£7.4 million and £22 million), drawn from book royalties, podcast sponsorships, speaking fees, and his premium medical practice Early Medical in Austin, Texas. He lives there with his wife Jill and their three children.

CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss had recruited Attia just weeks before the Epstein files dropped on 30 January. He was part of a high-profile stable of contributors that included neuroscientist Andrew Huberman and historian Niall Ferguson. The timing could not have been worse.

The Emails That Ended It

The correspondence spans from 2014 to 2019 and includes exchanges that Attia himself has called 'embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible'.

One 2015 email stands out. Attia wrote to Epstein: 'You know the biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can't tell a soul.'

Another exchange, with the subject line 'Got a fresh shipment', prompted Epstein to reply 'me too' alongside a photograph of an adult woman.

Attia later claimed on X that his original message referred to metformin medication. In 2016, he sent Epstein's assistant a message saying he experienced 'withdrawal' when he did not see the convicted sex offender.

CBS pulled a rerun of a '60 Minutes' segment featuring Attia shortly after the files went public.

Attia's Response

In a lengthy post on X dated 2 February, Attia denied any criminal involvement. He said he met Epstein approximately seven or eight times at his New York City home, always for discussions about research studies or introductions to scientists and business leaders.

'I was never on his plane, never on his island, and never present at any sex parties,' Attia wrote.

He admitted he initially believed Epstein's characterisation of his 2008 conviction as 'prostitution-related charges'. 'I was incredibly naïve to believe him,' Attia wrote. 'I mistook his social acceptance in the eyes of the credible people I saw him with for acceptability.'

The Fallout Grows

Attia had already stepped down as chief science officer of the protein bar company, David, before leaving CBS. His spokesman told the New York Times that his contributor role was newly established and had not yet meaningfully begun.

He joins a growing list of public figures facing professional consequences from the Epstein files. The question now for his millions of followers: can they separate the health advice from the man who gave it?

Attia made his name teaching others how to extend their lives. Whether he can rebuild his own reputation remains to be seen.

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