Short Answer
Ghislaine Maxwell moved to New York after the death of her father, media mogul Robert Maxwell, in 1991. She met Epstein shortly after and quickly became his romantic partner and, according to prosecutors and victims, his chief lieutenant — organizing his household, recruiting young women and girls, and participating in abuse.
In Detail
After Robert Maxwell’s Death
Robert Maxwell died in November 1991 under mysterious circumstances, falling from his yacht near the Canary Islands. His death also revealed that he had plundered hundreds of millions from employee pension funds, leaving the family financially and reputationally destroyed in the UK. Ghislaine, who had been close to her father, relocated to New York shortly after.
Meeting Epstein
The precise circumstances of how Maxwell met Epstein are not fully established, but the two began a relationship in the early 1990s in New York social circles. Ghislaine had connections from her Oxford education and her father’s international network, and Epstein was building his financial and social empire. The relationship became both romantic and professional.
Her Role in the Organization
Prosecutors and victims described Maxwell’s role as central to Epstein’s operation. She allegedly recruited young women and girls, sometimes posing as a friendly older woman offering guidance; participated in the sexual abuse; and managed Epstein’s properties and staff. Multiple victims named her as present during their abuse and as a recruiter.
From Partner to Employee
After the romantic relationship reportedly ended in the mid-1990s, Maxwell remained closely associated with Epstein, managing his Palm Beach, Manhattan, and other residences. Court documents describe her telling staff that Epstein’s preferences for young women were to be accommodated at his properties.
Conviction
Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 of five counts including sex trafficking conspiracy and sentenced to 20 years.