Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to John McAfee

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to John McAfee.

John McAfee was a British-American computer programmer and businessman best known for creating McAfee antivirus software in 1987. He founded McAfee Associates to market the software, later resigning and selling his stake in 1994. He became a vocal critic of the company, even urging people to uninstall the software. McAfee was also a two-time unsuccessful Libertarian presidential candidate. Later in life, he faced legal troubles and was known for his controversial and eccentric public persona. His life ended while imprisoned in Spain, awaiting extradition to the United States on tax evasion charges.

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

1968: McAfee met his first wife

Around 1968, McAfee met his first wife, Fran, while he was a doctoral student at Northeast Louisiana State College and she was an 18-year-old undergraduate. Their affair led to his expulsion from the college.

2008: McAfee named in civil court case

In 2008, McAfee was named as a defendant in a civil court case related to his Aerotrekking light-sport aircraft venture, following the death of his nephew Joel Bitow and a passenger.

2010: McAfee's previous drug use

According to a 2016 article, McAfee had been using the then legal drug alpha-PHP, which he imported from China, and which may have caused his paranoia. McAfee reportedly previously used the stimulant drug MDPV beginning in 2010.

April 2012: McAfee's property raided in Belize

In April 2012, McAfee's property in Orange Walk Town, Belize, was raided by the Gang Suppression Unit of the Belize Police Department. He was arrested for unlicensed drug manufacturing and possession of an unlicensed weapon but was released without charge.

November 2012: McAfee named person of interest in homicide

In November 2012, Belize police began searching for McAfee as a person of interest in connection to the homicide investigation of American immigrant Gregory Viant Faull, who was found dead of a gunshot wound at his home on Ambergris Caye, Belize. McAfee evaded police questioning and fled Belize.

December 2012: McAfee admits to drug use on Bluelight forum

In December 2012, McAfee told a Wired reporter that from 2010 to 2011, he had made several posts to the drug discussion forum Bluelight discussing his use and manufacturing of the stimulant drug MDPV under the alias 'Stuffmonger'.

December 2012: Vice reveals McAfee's location

In December 2012, the magazine Vice accidentally revealed McAfee's location at a Guatemalan resort when a photo taken by one of its journalists accompanying him was posted with the EXIF geolocation metadata still attached.

December 2012: McAfee arrested for illegally entering Guatemala

On December 5, 2012, McAfee was arrested for illegally entering Guatemala. His asylum plea was denied, and he was taken to a detention center to await deportation to Belize.

December 2012: McAfee claims heart attacks to avoid deportation

On December 6, 2012, it was reported that McAfee had two minor heart attacks in the detention center and was hospitalized. His lawyer said he had high blood pressure and anxiety attacks, not heart attacks. McAfee later admitted he faked the heart attacks to prevent his deportation to Belize and hasten his return to the United States.

2012: McAfee suspected but not charged in Belize

In 2012, Belize police spokesman Raphael Martinez confirmed that McAfee was neither convicted nor charged in connection with the police raid, only suspected.

January 2014: McAfee describes seizure of assets and house fire

In January 2014, while in Canada, McAfee stated that the Belizean government seized his assets during the raid on his property, and that his house later burned down under suspicious circumstances.

2014: McAfee allegedly earned millions of dollars.

From 2014 to 2018, McAfee allegedly earned millions of dollars and failed to file income tax returns. This accusation formed the basis of his arrest in Spain on October 5, 2020.

August 2015: McAfee arrested for DUI and firearm possession

On August 2, 2015, McAfee was arrested in Henderson County, Tennessee, on one count of driving under the influence and one count of possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

September 2016: Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee documentary airs

In September 2016, Showtime Networks began airing the documentary 'Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee,' which covers McAfee's life in Belize and allegations against him, including drugging and sexual assault claims by Allison Adonizio and accusations of ordering the murders of David Middleton and Gregory Faull. McAfee dismissed these allegations as fabricated in a Bloomberg interview on 8 September 2016.

2016: Report on McAfee's drug use

November 2018: McAfee loses wrongful death lawsuit by default

On November 14, 2018, the Circuit Court in Orlando, Florida, refused to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit against McAfee for Faull's death. McAfee did not appear in court and lost the case by default, being ordered to pay $25 million to Faull's estate.

December 2018: McAfee tweets about his "47 genetic children"

In December 2018, McAfee tweeted that he had "47 genetic children." His third wife described him as "father of many, loved by few" in a Father's Day message.

2018: McAfee allegedly earned millions of dollars.

From 2014 to 2018, McAfee allegedly earned millions of dollars and failed to file income tax returns. This accusation formed the basis of his arrest in Spain on October 5, 2020.

January 2019: McAfee on the run from U.S. authorities

In January 2019, McAfee announced he was on the run from U.S. authorities and living internationally on a boat, following the convening of a grand jury to indict him, his wife, and four of his 2020 Libertarian Party presidential primaries staff on tax evasion charges. The IRS had not confirmed the indictment at the time.

January 2019: McAfee continues campaign in exile

In January 2019, McAfee tweeted that he would continue his campaign "in exile" after reports that he, his wife, and four campaign staff were indicted for tax-related felonies by the IRS. He claimed to be in "international waters" and had previously mentioned going to Venezuela.

July 2019: McAfee arrested in Dominican Republic

In July 2019, McAfee and his entourage were arrested in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on suspicion of carrying high-caliber weapons and ammunition while his yacht was docked. They were released after four days, and the weapons were seized.

August 2019: Comparisons to Jeffrey Epstein's death

McAfee's death in June 2021 ignited speculation and conspiracy theories, drawing comparisons to Jeffrey Epstein's death in August 2019. McAfee had previously claimed he would be murdered if found dead by hanging.

November 2019: McAfee's suicide tweet

In November 2019, McAfee posted a tweet stating, "If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd." This tweet gained renewed attention after his death in June 2021.

August 2020: McAfee claims false arrest in Norway

On August 11, 2020, McAfee falsely claimed he was arrested in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic for refusing to wear a face mask. He later posted a picture of a bruised eye, claiming it was from the arrest, but the photo showed a German police officer, invalidating his claim. German police later confirmed he was not arrested.

October 2020: McAfee arrested in Spain for tax evasion

On October 5, 2020, McAfee was arrested in Spain at the request of the United States Department of Justice for tax evasion. The indictment alleged that he earned millions of dollars from 2014 to 2018 and failed to file income tax returns.

2020: Indictment of staff for tax evasion

March 2021: McAfee formally indicted on tax evasion charges

On March 5, 2021, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York formally indicted McAfee and an executive adviser on tax evasion charges.

June 2021: McAfee found dead in prison

On June 23, 2021, McAfee was found dead in his prison cell hours after the Spanish National Court ordered his extradition to the United States. The Catalan Justice Department indicated that he killed himself by hanging. An official autopsy confirmed his suicide, and a Spanish court ruled the same.

June 2021: Spanish court authorizes McAfee's extradition; possible suicide

On June 23, 2021, the Spanish National Court authorized McAfee's extradition to face charges in Tennessee. Several hours after the authorization, McAfee was suspected of committing suicide. McAfee had previously tweeted in November 2019, "If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd."

January 2025: McAfee's X account launches meme coin and chatbot

In January 2025, McAfee's X (formerly Twitter) account became active, announcing the launch of a new meme coin cryptocurrency and a chatbot titled Antivirus. His widow, Janice McAfee, claimed these were created to "honor John’s legacy and his memory," generating controversy. The meme coin reached a market capitalization of $37 million, but the Antivirus X account was later suspended.