Who is Ghislaine Maxwell? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In December, French Celebrities Born In December

Also Known As: Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell

Family:

mother: Elisabeth Maxwell

siblings: Ann Maxwell, Christine Maxwell, Ian Maxwell, Isabel Maxwell, Karine Maxwell, Kevin Maxwell, Michael Maxwell, Philip Maxwell

Born Country: France

Socialites American Women

More Facts

education: Balliol College, Oxford

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1

What are the charges against Ghislaine Maxwell?

Ghislaine Maxwell is facing charges related to her alleged involvement in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation, including conspiracy to entice minors to engage in illegal sex acts and perjury.
2

Where is Ghislaine Maxwell currently being held?

Ghislaine Maxwell is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
3

When did Ghislaine Maxwell get arrested?

Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, in Bradford, New Hampshire.
4

Has Ghislaine Maxwell been denied bail?

Yes, Ghislaine Maxwell has been denied bail multiple times as she is considered a flight risk and a danger to the community.
5

What is the latest update on Ghislaine Maxwell's trial?

Ghislaine Maxwell's trial is scheduled to begin on November 29, 2021, with jury selection set to start on November 29, 2021.

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Childhood & Early Life

Ghislaine was born Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell, on December 25, 1961, in Maisons-Laffitte, France, to Elisabeth and Robert Maxwell. She grew up with her eight older siblings. Most of her childhood days were spent at the ‘Headington Hill Hall’ in Oxford, a vintage mansion that Ghislaine’s father had leased for the 'Pergamon Press' office and residential purpose.

Ghislaine attended 'Headington School' and 'Marlborough College,' after which she graduated from 'Balliol College' of the 'University of Oxford.’

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Career

Ghislaine served as the director of the 'Oxford United Football Club' when her father owned the club. She also founded a women's club that was named after the early 18th-century English club named 'Kit-Cat Club.'

As reported by 'The Times' journalist Tom Bower, in 1986, her father renamed 'Lady Mona K,' a luxury motor yacht, 'Lady Ghislaine,' to honor Ghislaine. 'The Scotsman' reported that Robert had gifted Ghislaine a "tailor made a New York company" that manufactured corporate gifts. However, the venture was a failure.

Another 'The Times' report suggested that on November 5, 1990, Ghislaine had traveled to New York to deliver an envelope on behalf of her father. She, however, had no idea that the envelope contained her father’s master plan to steal $200 million from 'Berlitz' shareholders.

Ghislaine became her father’s representative and partner after he purchased the 'New York Daily News' in January 1991. Later, in May 1991, they both traveled to New York on business by 'Concorde.' With this, Ghislaine embarked on her journey to become one of the most talked-about socialites in New York.

Ghislaine worked at a real-estate office on Madison Avenue while she handled the pension scandal following her father’s death in 1991. Back then, she was often spotted socializing with influential personalities such as Ivana Trump and Adnan Khashoggi's son.

Ghislaine founded the environmentalist non-profit organization 'The TerraMar Project,' geared toward conservation of the oceans, on September 26, 2012, at the Blue Ocean Film Festival and Conservation Conference’ in Monterey, California. The organization was closed down in 2019, after Ghislaine was convicted of being involved in a sex-trafficking scandal with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Pension Scandal

In November 1991, Ghislaine’s father’s corpse was discovered floating in the sea near the Canary Islands and the 'Lady Ghislaine,' while it was stationed at Tenerife. She immediately flew to Tenerife to represent Robert as his business associate.

Even though it was confirmed that Robert had died due to accidental drowning, Ghislaine refused to accept that and suggested that her father had been murdered.

Robert had been accused of a major fraud associated with the pension funds of 'Mirror Group Newspapers' that were missing. It was reported that Robert had utilized the fund to keep his bankrupt companies afloat and to buy luxuries for his family. Ghislaine moved back to the US shortly after her father's death. The pension scandal was fueled further when she was spotted flying to the US in a luxury ‘Concorde.’

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In 1992, Ghislaine moved to an apartment in Central Park. The apartment was owned by her Iranian friend. In 1997, while the pension scandal was still being investigated, she stated that "He (Robert) did not commit suicide.’’

Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

According to 'The Times,' Ghislaine and American financier Jeffrey Epstein had first met in New York in the early 1990s. Even though people assumed they were in a romantic relationship, none of the two ever confirmed anything regarding the same.

In 2019, 'The Wall Street Journal' reported that many of Jeffrey’s household employees had revealed that Ghislaine managed both his public and private life. They even referred to her as his “main girlfriend’’ and the "Lady of the House.’’ Around 1992, Ghislaine even started handling staff recruitment and firing.

Around the same time, Ghislaine befriended Prince Andrew, Duke of York, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II. She made several headlines for being spotted attending social functions with Prince Andrew in New York. Ghislaine even introduced Jeffrey to Prince Andrew.

In 2008, Jeffrey served a 13-month sentence for forcing a minor into prostitution. Ghislaine and Jeffrey were no longer seen together in public after he was released from jail, although she continued to attend social events.

Controversies

In 2015, a woman, identified as “Jane Doe 3,” sued Ghislaine in a federal court in the Southern District of New York, for forcing her to have sex with Jeffrey and for trafficking other minor girls into prostitution. The incident had taken place in 1999.

Ghislaine and her spokesperson rejected the allegations of being a supplier for Jeffrey's pleasure. She also denied facilitating Prince Andrew's ''acts of sexual abuse.” In 2017, Ghislaine was again accused of forced prostitution by Sarah Ransome. She claimed that Jeffrey and Ghislaine had threatened her when she did not comply with Jeffrey's sexual needs. The case was settled that year, under undisclosed terms.

In 2018, the real identity of “Jane Doe 3” was revealed. Apparently, she was a lady named Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who had first met Ghislaine at Trump's 'Mar-a-Lago Club' in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1999. Virginia stated that Ghislaine had introduced her to Jeffrey and had later groomed her to be an escort. She had even told her about Jeffrey’s preferences during oral sex.

Virginia again accused Ghislaine of defamation after the latter called her a liar. Following a long legal procedure, the verdict was given in Virginia’s favor. However, the details of the settlement were never made public. Ghislaine had to pay monetary compensation to Virginia.

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Amidst all these controversies, Ghislaine retreated from social events. In April 2016, she sold her New York townhouse for $15 million. By 2017, she was declared absconding, as none of the lawyers claimed to know her address and they even believed she did not have a permanent residence back then.

On April 16, 2019, another accuser, Maria Farmer, filed an affidavit in a federal court in New York, accusing Jeffrey and Ghislaine of sexually assaulting her and her 15-year-old sister in 1996. Maria had reported the incident to the ‘New York Police Department’ (NYPD) and the ‘Federal Bureau of Investigation’ (FBI).

On July 2, 2019, the ‘United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’ passed orders to release the documents from the civil suit filed by Virginia against Ghislaine. Jeffrey was arrested on July 6, 2019, at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

Ghislaine later appealed for a rehearing in a federal court on July 17, 2019, in an attempt to keep the documents sealed. However, on August 9, 2019, the first batch of the court documents, consisting of more than 2,000 pages, were released, just a few hours before Jeffrey committed suicide in his Manhattan prison cell (on August 10, 2019).

Family & Personal Life

Ghislaine’s mother, Elisabeth, was a French-born scholar, while her father, Robert Maxwell, was a Czech-born British media proprietor and the founder of 'Pergamon Press.' Her father belonged to a Jewish family, while her mother was of Huguenot ethnicity.

Ghislaine was born a few days after her older brother Michael slipped into a prolonged coma after a car accident. He died in 1967.

Ghislaine shared a solid relationship with Robert. She was even widely regarded as her father's favorite child. According to a report by 'The Times,' Robert did not allow Ghislaine’s boyfriends at home. He even barred her from being seen with them in public when she attended 'Balliol College.'

Ghislaine was in a relationship with 'Gateway' computers founder Ted Waitt. They broke up in early 2011.

In 2000, Ghislaine moved into a 7,000-square-foot townhouse on East 65th Street, located near Jeffrey’s New York mansion. The townhouse was later sold for $4.95 million to an anonymous limited-liability company. Interestingly, the company’s address matched with that of 'J. Epstein & Co.' Reportedly, Jeffrey’s long-time lawyer, Darren Indyke, represented the buyer.

Facts About Ghislaine Maxwell

Ghislaine Maxwell is a licensed helicopter pilot and has flown helicopters in various locations around the world.

She is multilingual and is fluent in multiple languages, including French and Spanish.

Ghislaine Maxwell has a passion for ocean conservation and has been involved in initiatives to protect marine life.

She has a keen interest in the arts and has supported various artists and art organizations throughout her life.

Despite her high-profile connections, Ghislaine Maxwell has also been known to volunteer her time and resources to charitable causes.

Ghislaine Maxwell Biography

You wanted to know

What are the charges against Ghislaine Maxwell?

Where is Ghislaine Maxwell currently being held?

When did Ghislaine Maxwell get arrested?

Has Ghislaine Maxwell been denied bail?

What is the latest update on Ghislaine Maxwell's trial?