Is Ghislaine Maxwell using her huge net worth to cheat the prison system?

Ghislaine Maxwell was born in France, the youngest of nine children, and reportedly her father’s favorite. Her father, Robert Maxwell was a Czech-born British media mogul and MP (Member of Parliament), whose net worth was over $1 billion when he died.

After his death, Ghislaine found her partner-in-crime Jeffrey Epstein and they became co-conspirators in a sex trafficking ring. Is Ghislaine Maxwell using her net worth to cheat prison? How did the heiress accumulate such a vast fortune? Here’s everything you need to know.

Life before Epstein

Ghislaine Maxwell’s net worth partly comes from her father’s massive fortune. Robert Maxwell was a British media mogul who owned newspapers like The Daily Mirror. Robert Maxwell also owned several other publications before his death, including the New York Daily News, which he purchased in 1991. 

In the late 1980s, Ghislaine Maxwell spent a lot of time on a yacht her father christened after her. The Little Ghislaine featured a jacuzzi, gym, and sauna. Maxwell also received a company from her father. However, this company didn’t bolster her net worth as it was a nonprofit. 

Moving to New York

Ghislaine Maxwell moved to New York in 1991 when her father acquired the New York Daily News. She was sent there to act as his brand emissary which should have boosted her personal net worth. However, she moved there while her father was facing fraud charges. 

It was reported that Maxwell traveled with an envelope to New York. In the envelope, her father directed his staff to hide six figures from investors. At the time, Robert Maxwell was about to default on a 50-million pound loan from the Bank of England and faced numerous financial troubles that could bring his net worth to zero. 

Robert Maxwell died in 1991 while on his yacht. Ghislaine Maxwell stayed in New York and lived off an allowance set by her father’s estate. She was alone without a lot of connections when she met Jeffrey Epstein. 

Ghislaine & Jeffrey

Maxwell worked closely with Jeffrey Epstein for many years. Epstein was arrested in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. However, Maxwell stopped working for him sometime in the mid-2000s before he pleaded guilty, according to her lawyers. “I ceased to be happy in the job and I ceased to be happy spending time with Mr. Epstein,” said Maxwell in the deposition. “He became difficult to work with.”

Despite leaving her job, Maxwell secured a hefty net worth while working for Epstein. For example, she spent years living in a multi-million dollar house bought by an Epstein-controlled corporation and was also the beneficiary of the sale when the property was sold in 2016. She also lived off a trust fund when she moved to the U.S. in 1991 before she got close to Epstein.

Jail time 

Ghislaine Maxwell was Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend and reportedly madam-in-chief in his sex trafficking operation. She introduced Epstein to Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who she was longtime friends with. It’s suspected that she increased her net worth via Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, but it’s unclear how or how much. 

When Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested, her net worth was estimated to be $10 million, including the house she purchased in New Hampshire and several foreign bank accounts. The bank accounts were factored into the decision to deny Maxwell bail, as they contributed to her flight risk.

According to Ghislaine Maxwell, the living conditions within the jail are “inhumane”. It would appear not even a big net worth can make jail a nice place to be especially if you’re Ms. Maxwell.