Early Life and Education of Ghislaine Maxwell: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Ghislaine Maxwell, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Ghislaine Maxwell is a British-French-American former socialite convicted of sex trafficking and other offenses related to Jeffrey Epstein. In 2021, she was found guilty of enabling Epstein's abuse of underage girls. In 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in the crimes.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

December 1961: Ghislaine Maxwell's birth

In December 1961, Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell was born.

Others born on this day/year

1967: Death of brother Michael

In 1967, Ghislaine Maxwell's brother, Michael, passed away after being in a prolonged coma since a car accident two days before Ghislaine was born.

1985: Graduation from Balliol College, Oxford

In 1985, Ghislaine Maxwell earned a degree in Modern History with Languages from Balliol College, Oxford.

1986: Naming of the Lady Ghislaine yacht

In 1986, Robert Maxwell invited Ghislaine Maxwell to the naming of his new yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, in her honor at a shipyard in the Netherlands.

November 1990: Delivery of an envelope in New York City

On 5 November 1990, Ghislaine Maxwell flew to New York City to deliver an envelope on her father's behalf, which was part of a plot to steal $200m from Berlitz shareholders.

November 1991: Robert Maxwell's death and aftermath

In November 1991, Robert Maxwell's body was found near the Canary Islands and Lady Ghislaine. Ghislaine Maxwell then flew to Tenerife to attend to his business paperwork. She attended her father's funeral in Jerusalem.

1991: Move to the United States

In 1991, Ghislaine Maxwell moved to the United States shortly after her father's death. She received an annual income from a trust fund.

1991: Death of Robert Maxwell and move to New York

In 1991, following her father Robert Maxwell's death, Ghislaine Maxwell moved to New York City and continued living as a socialite.

June 1992: Arrest of Ian and Kevin Maxwell

On June 19, 1992, two of Ghislaine Maxwell's brothers, Ian and Kevin, were arrested and charged with fraud related to the Mirror Group pension scandal.

1992: Living in an apartment overlooking Central Park

By 1992, Ghislaine Maxwell had moved to an apartment overlooking Central Park and was working at a real estate office and socializing with celebrities, rising to prominence as a New York City socialite.

January 1996: Acquittal of Ian and Kevin Maxwell

In January 1996, Ghislaine Maxwell's brothers, Ian and Kevin, were acquitted of fraud charges related to the Mirror Group pension scandal, three and a half years after their arrest.

1997: Maxwell's belief about her father's death

In 1997, Ghislaine Maxwell stated she believed her father was murdered.

1997: Maxwell Maintains a Residence in London

Since at least 1997, Ghislaine Maxwell has maintained a residence in Belgravia, London.

2000: Maxwell Moves to New York City Townhouse

In 2000, Ghislaine Maxwell moved into a 7,000-square-foot townhouse on East 65th Street, New York City, near Epstein's mansion. The townhouse was purchased for US$4.95 million by an anonymous limited liability company.

2007: Maxwell Lives in Massachusetts Home

Since 2007, Ghislaine Maxwell had been living in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, in the home of Scott G. Borgerson

2010: Maxwell Attends Chelsea Clinton's Wedding as Ted Waitt's Guest

In 2010, Ghislaine Maxwell attended the wedding of Chelsea Clinton as the guest of Ted Waitt, founder of Gateway Computers. In 2010, Maxwell helped Waitt obtain and renovate a luxury yacht, the Plan B, and used it for travel to France and Croatia.

2010: Maxwell Leaves Country Before Deposition

In 2010, according to court documents from a lawsuit filed by Epstein against Bradley Edwards, Maxwell agreed to provide a deposition but left the country a day before it was scheduled, claiming she needed to be with her ill mother. She returned within a month to attend Chelsea Clinton's wedding.

2011: End of Maxwell's Relationship with Ted Waitt

In late 2010 or early 2011, Ghislaine Maxwell's relationship with Ted Waitt ended.

2015: Retreat from social functions

By late 2015, Ghislaine Maxwell had largely retreated from attending social functions.

April 2016: Maxwell's Townhouse Sold for US$15 Million

In April 2016, Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse was sold for US$15 million.

2016: Maxwell's Marriage to Borgerson

Ghislaine Maxwell married Scott Borgerson in 2016. This was not disclosed until December 2020.

2017: Motion for Alternative Service Granted

In 2017, during a lawsuit filed by Ransome against Maxwell, District Judge John G. Koeltl granted a motion for "alternative service" due to persistent efforts to thwart reaching Maxwell, including hiring a private investigation firm and reaching out to her lawyers who refused to relay information.

April 2019: Maria Farmer Goes Public With Allegations

In April 2019, Maria Farmer publicly accused Epstein and Maxwell of sexually assaulting her and her sister in 1996, filing a sworn affidavit in federal court in New York. The affidavit supported Virginia Giuffre's defamation suit against Alan Dershowitz.

July 2019: Court Orders Unsealing of Documents; Epstein Arrested

In July 2019, the US Court of Appeals ordered the unsealing of documents from the civil suit against Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre. On 6 July 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell requested a rehearing on 17 July 2019 to keep documents sealed.

August 2019: Reports and Photos of Maxwell Dining in Los Angeles

In August 2019, Scott Borgerson stated that Ghislaine Maxwell was not living at his home and that he did not know where she was. On 15 August 2019, the New York Post published photographs of Maxwell dining at a fast-food restaurant in Los Angeles. The photos were later revealed to be taken at a meeting with Maxwell's friend and attorney Leah Saffian.

August 2019: Reports Surface of Maxwell Living in Massachusetts Home

In August 2019, reports surfaced that Ghislaine Maxwell had been living in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, in the home of Scott G. Borgerson since 2007.

August 2019: Documents Unsealed; Epstein Found Dead

In August 2019, the first batch of documents was unsealed from the Giuffre defamation suit against Maxwell. On 10 August 2019, Epstein was found dead, reportedly by suicide, in his Manhattan prison cell.

August 2019: Jennifer Araoz Files Lawsuit Against Epstein's Estate and Maxwell

On 14 August 2019, Jennifer Araoz filed a lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court against Epstein's estate, Maxwell, and unnamed staff members, leveraging New York's new Child Victims Act.

August 2019: Maxwell Named in Lawsuit by 'Priscilla Doe'

On 20 August 2019, Ghislaine Maxwell was named in a lawsuit filed in New York against the estate of Jeffrey Epstein. The plaintiff, identified as "Priscilla Doe", claimed that Maxwell recruited and trained her in 2006 to provide sexual services for Epstein.

October 2019: Araoz Amended Her Complaint

In October 2019, Jennifer Araoz amended her complaint to include Lesley Groff, Cimberly Espinosa, and the late Rosalyn Fontanilla.

November 2019: Annie Farmer Sues Maxwell and Epstein's Estate

In November 2019, Annie Farmer, represented by David Boies, sued Maxwell and Epstein's estate in Federal District Court in Manhattan, accusing them of rape, battery, and false imprisonment and seeking unspecified damages.

November 2019: Maria Farmer Interview on CBS This Morning

In November 2019, Maria Farmer was interviewed on CBS This Morning where she detailed the 1996 assault and alleged that Maxwell had threatened her career and her life after the assault.

December 2019: Arguments Against Document Release; FBI Investigation Confirmed

In December 2019, Maxwell's lawyers argued against the further release of court documents. On 27 December 2019, Reuters confirmed that Maxwell was under FBI investigation for facilitating Epstein's criminal activities.

December 2019: Reuters Reports Maxwell Under FBI Investigation

On 27 December 2019, Reuters reported that Maxwell was under FBI investigation for facilitating Epstein. Maxwell was in hiding after his arrest.

2019: Maxwell and Borgerson's Living Arrangement Revealed in Land Court Documents

In 2019, Ghislaine Maxwell and Scott Borgerson filed documents in Massachusetts Land Court about Borgerson's residence, known as Phippin House, during a civil dispute. A property manager attested that Maxwell and Borgerson were living together at the property.

2019: Maxwell Moves to New Hampshire Property

In late 2019, Ghislaine Maxwell moved to a remote property in Bradford, New Hampshire, where she used former British military personnel as personal security.

January 2020: Lawyers Refuse Lawsuit Service

As of 30 January 2020, Maxwell's lawyers refused to accept service of three lawsuits against her on her behalf.

January 2020: Lawsuit Filed Alleging Recruitment and Abuse of Music Student

In January 2020, a lawsuit was filed against Maxwell and Epstein alleging that they recruited a 13-year-old music student at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in the summer of 1994 and subjected her to sexual abuse. The suit claims Jane Doe was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Epstein over four years and Maxwell played a key role in recruitment and participation.

March 2020: Maxwell Sues Epstein's Estate for Legal Costs

On 12 March 2020, Maxwell filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in the US Virgin Islands seeking compensation from Epstein's estate for her legal costs, claiming she was a longtime employee from 1998 to 2006 who managed his property holdings while denying involvement in his criminal activities.

July 2020: Arrest and charges by the U.S. federal government

In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested and charged by the federal government of the United States with crimes including enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls related to her association with Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2020: Maxwell's Arrest in New Hampshire

In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested at a remote property in Bradford, New Hampshire. At the time of her arraignment, federal prosecutors stated that Maxwell was married.

July 2020: Maxwell Under Investigation in US Virgin Islands

In July 2020, a court filing from the USVI Department of Justice, released on 10 July 2020, stated that Maxwell was under investigation for her alleged participation in Epstein's sex trafficking operation in the US Virgin Islands. Authorities were unsuccessful in locating her to serve a subpoena.

July 2020: Maxwell Pleads Not Guilty and Denied Bail

On 14 July 2020, Maxwell appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was denied bail as a flight risk due to concerns about her finances, ability to hide, and France's extradition policy. Her trial was set for 12 July 2021.

July 2020: Additional Documents Released

On 30 July 2020, additional documents from the Giuffre v Maxwell defamation suit were released, including Giuffre's deposition and email exchanges between Maxwell and Epstein from as recent as 2015.

October 2020: Borgerson Steps Down as CEO of CargoMetrics

In October 2020, Scott G. Borgerson stepped down as CEO of CargoMetrics due to the publicity surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell.

December 2020: Bail Request Reiterated and Rejected

In December 2020, Maxwell's attorney reiterated her request for bail on 18 December 2020, offering 24-hour surveillance and residence with a friend in New York City. Her husband offered US$22 million. On 28 December 2020, the bail request was again rejected. Annie Farmer opposed the request.

December 2020: Revelation of Maxwell's Marriage to Borgerson

In December 2020, it emerged that Ghislaine Maxwell had married Scott Borgerson in 2016.

January 2021: Court Hearing Disrupted by QAnon Believers

On 19 January 2021, a court hearing was disrupted by believers in QAnon as the proceedings were illegally livestreamed to YouTube.

January 2021: Motion Challenges Grand Jury Indictment

On 26 January 2021, Maxwell's attorneys challenged her grand jury indictment, claiming it did not reflect the ethnic diversity of the jurisdiction.

March 2021: Maxwell Named in Civil Suit for Trafficking and Rape

In March 2021, Maxwell was named in a civil suit filed against Epstein's estate by a Broward County woman, accusing Epstein and Maxwell of trafficking her after repeated rapes in Florida in 2008.

March 2021: New Sex Trafficking Charges Added

On 29 March 2021, US prosecutors added new charges of sex trafficking a minor and sex trafficking conspiracy, alleging that Maxwell groomed a fourth girl between 2001 and 2004. She pleaded not guilty.

April 2021: Maxwell Held at Metropolitan Detention Center

As of 28 April 2021, Maxwell was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York. Lawyers requested that Judge Nathan release her on $5 million bond.

April 2021: Judge Rules on Separate Trials; Trial Delayed

In April 2021, US District Judge Alison Nathan ruled that Maxwell would face two separate trials. Nathan delayed the first trial to 29 November 2021 after Maxwell's defence lawyers successfully argued that the new charges added in March 2021 did not give them enough time to prepare for trial.

July 2021: Trial Date Set

Maxwell's trial was set for 12 July 2021.

November 2021: Maxwell Appears in Court; Trial Commences

In November 2021, Maxwell appeared in court on 15 November 2021. The trial commenced on 29 November with opening statements.

December 2021: Conviction on five counts, including sex trafficking

In December 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on five out of six counts, including one of sex trafficking of a minor.

December 2021: Twitter Account Monitoring Maxwell's Trial Suspended

In early December 2021, Twitter suspended the account "@TrackerTrial", an account monitoring Maxwell's trial. The account was two weeks old and had 525,000 followers before its suspension.

December 2021: Maxwell Convicted on Sex Trafficking-Related Counts

On 29 December 2021, Maxwell was convicted by a jury in US federal court on five sex trafficking-related counts carrying a potential custodial sentence of up to 65 years' imprisonment.

2021: Guilty verdict in child sex trafficking trial

In 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.

2022: Sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment

In 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment in federal court in New York City.

January 2024: Release of Previously Sealed Documents

In January 2024, over 900 pages of previously sealed documents relating to Giuffre's civil case against Maxwell were made public following litigation by the Miami Herald; further documents were released on 4 January.