Mystery of Maxwell's millions: Socialite claimed she had 'just' £2.6m

The 60-year-old daughter of disgraced media mogul Robert Maxwell, who was a billionaire at the height of his wealth, also reportedly transferred £15m to her husband Scott Borgerson (pictured).

Ghislaine Maxwell claimed to be worth just £2.6million at the time of her arrest despite buying and selling £16million of mansions since 2015 and having £22million wired to her by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to fund her lavish lifestyle.

The 60-year-old 'favourite' daughter of disgraced media mogul Robert Maxwell, who was a billionaire at the height of his wealth, also reportedly transferred £15million to her husband Scott Borgerson after they secretly married in a move that could protect the majority of her wealth from being claimed by victims.

Fresh details of the British socialite's financial assets can be revealed after she was convicted in a US court of helping to entice vulnerable teenagers to Epstein's homes for him to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004.

She is now facing 65 years behind bars in a federal prison - prompting speculation she could now 'flip' and discuss the actions of others within Epstein's circle in a bid to receive a lighter sentence.

Forensic accountants believe Maxwell had a net worth of £15million ($20.2million) in 2015 - but she claimed this was down to just £2.6million by the time she was arrested in 2020.

Mysterious transactions between Epstein, Maxwell and offshore funds as well as buying and selling homes using private companies have made it impossible for the FBI to fully gauge exactly how much cash and assets the now convicted child sex trafficker has.

Her life of opulence as Jeffrey Epstein's 'second-in-command' was laid bare in court where jurors in the 60-year-old British socialite's trial were shown never-before-seen photographs of paedophile Epstein's £60million fleet of jets, which he used to shuttle Maxwell and teenage girls between his lavish homes.

But Ghislaine Maxwell insisted her wealth had evaporated, forcing her to sell the London home where Prince Andrew allegedly had sex with his accuser to a property developer for £1.75 million in August. It is said to be where the Duke of York was photographed with his arm around the bare waist of then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, one of convicted paedophile Epstein’s victims, now known as Virginia Giuffre.

Maxwell used her impeccable social contacts to introduce Epstein, a gardener's son, to society. In return, she used the financier's millions to support a lavish lifestyle which included a new home for her in Manhattan. He also transferred £22million [$30.7million] to her over a period of eight years, her trial heard.

And five years ago she sold her US home in New York’s Upper East Side for £11.3million. In the same year she bought a £2million mansion with her husband Scott Borgerson in the resort of Manchester by the Sea, Massachusetts, and in 2019 she allegedly bought a New Hampshire ranch called ‘Tuckedaway' with Mr Borgerson, where she was eventually arrested by the FBI.

Maxwell is reported to have bought the house in cash in but those involved in the transaction claim not to have interacted with her, according to the Daily Beast, with the suggestion being she used one of a number of her aliases.

Justice finally caught up with Ghislaine Maxwell at this 156-acre ranch in New Hampshire called Tuckedaway, which she reportedly bought in secret using one of her aliases before her arrest in 2020

The British socialite’s mews house in Belgravia was bought by a property developer for £1.75 million in August to pay for her legal bills

The property is said to be where the Duke of York was photographed with his arm around the bare waist of then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts. In the background, Ghislaine Maxwell

The British socialite also hid at a $3 million mansion (pictured), which is surrounded by trees and at the end of a long private road in Manchester By The Sea

Maxwell was a long-time consort of Jeffrey Epstein (pictured together in 2005) and a procurer of victims in his underage sex trafficking ring


The socialite handed most of her assets into a trust controlled by Scott Borgerson after they secretly married in 2016, according to documents filed at a New York court.

The lawyers said Maxwell and Scott Borgerson, with whom she has been living for the past four years, were offering a $22.5million personal recognizance bond secured by about $8million in property and $500,000 in cash.

They said $22.5million represents all of Maxwell and Borgerson's assets - which were broken down in a chart included in the court papers requesting the staggering bail package that dwarfs other high profile criminals such as Harvey Weinstein.

Borgerson - a 44-year-old tech CEO whose name was redacted in the papers - pleaded for his wife's release in a letter to the court, writing: 'The person described in the criminal charges is not the person we know.

'I have never witnessed anything inappropriate with Ghislaine; quite the contrary, the Ghislaine I know is a wonderful and loving person.'

Jeffrey Epstein transferred £22million [$30.7million] to Ghislaine Maxwell over a period of eight years, the jury heard.

Prosecutors brought into evidence bank statements from JP Morgan which showed transfers worth $30.7million from Epstein or companies he controlled to Maxwell between 1999 and 2007.

Taking the stand on the sixth day of Maxwell's trial, JPMorgan Chase Executive Director Patrick McHugh broke down the transactions between the late financier and his madam.

A bank statement from August 1999 showed the Financial Trust Company, a company Epstein controlled, selling $18.3million of shares which were transferred the same day into a bank account owned by Maxwell.

The reason for the transfer was unclear, but in October 2000 Maxwell paid $4.9million for a townhouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

A statement from September 2002 for an account Epstein owned with JP Morgan showed a sale of $5million of shares which were transferred to a Maxwell bank account at a bank in Palm Beach.

The last transfer was in June 2007 and showed a bank account Epstein owned transferring $7.6million to Maxwell.

The same day she transferred it to a company called Air Ghislaine, which the documents showed she controlled.

The same day Maxwell wired the money to aircraft maker Sikorsky and the reference on the transfer said it was for the purchase of a S76C green helicopter and 'down payment on executive finish.'

Maxwell imposed a 'culture of silence... by design' at Epstein's properties, where staff were told to 'see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing'.

While the 'horrific abuse' was going on, the jury was told how the defendant lived a 'life of luxury' - with the prosecution describing the trafficking as a 'means to support her lifestyle'.

With the fortune he made from his financial dealings, Epstein and Maxwell lived a life of luxury jetting around the world and living at the millionaire's many properties around the world while bragging about being friends with high-profile figures, including former US president Donald Trump.

Maxwell's friends also included royalty. She had known the Duke of York since her days at university and introduced Andrew to Epstein.

The travel was arranged by an array of personal assistants, including Sarah Kellen, with several pictures of her shown to the jury.

One showed a young Miss Kellen standing in front of a twin-engine Cessna 421 with Epstein embracing her from behind and kissing her head. More recent pictures showed her smiling for the camera in the Caribbean.

Epstein's chief pilot Larry Visoski told the court in New York: '[Epstein] had an array of personal assistants, almost like professional shoppers, because there was a lot of items that needed to be purchased for all of the properties that were being acquired.'

He named Miss Kellen, now 42, as the person he spoke to most about scheduling flights. The court heard the pair spoke so often, the pilot had her number on speed dial.

Miss Kellen has previously been described as Maxwell's 'lieutenant' in Epstein's circle of abuse and has been accused of playing a pivotal role in the scandal, helping to procure young girls.

She has been named as the chief fixer who travelled the world with Epstein and was accused by lawyers in legal filings of 'bringing girls to Epstein's mansion to be abused'.

Miss Kellen was said to have had a 'Rolodex' of women she would call for massages at Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

Jurors in the 59-year-old Ghislaine Maxwell's trial were shown never-before-seen photographs of paedophile Epstein's (pictured with his Gulfstream G2B) £60 million fleet of jets

Prosecutors allege the planes flew between his private Caribbean island (pictured), New Mexico ranch, New York City house and a Parisian apartment near the Arc de Triomphe

Epstein's chief pilot Larry Visoski named Miss Kellen, now 42, as the person he spoke to most about scheduling flights. Pictured: Epstein's Boeing 727, dubbed the 'Lolita Express'

Epstein had a Hawker Siddeley 125, a Gulfstream G2B and a Boeing 727 dubbed the 'Lolita Express' (interior pictured) amid claims he used it to fly underage girls around the world

Epstein started his £60 million fleet of jets with this Hawker Siddeley 125

The images entered into evidence reveals the life of luxury Maxwell led as Epstein's closest confidante. Pictured: Epstein's helicopter, which he used for shorter flights


A 2008 deal by Epstein with the US authorities, after he pleaded guilty to procuring a child for sex, saw him strike an agreement protecting his unindicted alleged co-conspirators.

Among the four given future immunity was Miss Kellen, who went on to run her own business after leaving Epstein's employment, but from one of his properties in New York.

She later reinvented herself as 'Sarah Kensington', and became an interior designer who boasts of renovating corporate apartments in New York, the Caribbean and Paris.

On her interior design website in 2015, she described being 'fortunate to say that I've been able to travel to many locations around the world, which in turn has broadened my designing skills'.

But in an interview last year, Miss Kellen, who is married to American racing car driver Brian Vickers, insisted: 'I'm no monster.'

When approached outside her £3.4 million New York home, she claimed she was a victim, saying: 'I've been made out to be such a monster – but it's not true. I'm a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. I was raped and abused weekly.'

The jury were also shown pictures of Epstein's £164m property empire, including a £21m ranch in New Mexico. Pictured: The main house on Epstein's £21million Zorro ranch in New Mexico

Epstein's properties also included a £57 million seven-storey townhouse on New York's Upper East Side (pictured)

Views of the Arc de Triomphe: Epstein also owned £10 million Paris apartment, which the jury was shown pictures of


The photographs of Miss Kellen were part of a batch entered into evidence which reveals the life of luxury Maxwell led as Epstein's closest confidante.

Epstein had a Hawker Siddeley 125, a Gulfstream G2B, a helicopter and a Boeing 727 dubbed the 'Lolita Express' amid claims he used it to fly underage girls around the world.

That plane, which is more than 130ft long, was fitted with an office dubbed 'the red room' because of its furniture, a master bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a lounge area with a large round sofa, and a 'full decked-out' kitchen.

The jury were also shown pictures of Epstein's £164 million property empire, including Little St James, his private island in the US Virgin Islands, worth around £50 million.

Epstein also owned the neighbouring island, Great St James, which is valued at £14 million, while he had a £12 million mansion in Florida.

Other properties included an 8,000-acre, £21 million ranch in New Mexico, a £10 million Paris apartment, and a £57 million seven-storey townhouse on New York's Upper East Side.

From socialite to child sex-trafficker: How Ghislaine Maxwell grew up as the 'favorite' daughter of disgraced newspaper baron Robert and went from mixing with royals, politicians and moguls to 'procuring minors' for Epstein


Ghislaine Maxwell grew up well versed in mixing with royals, politicians and moguls but her life of privilege came to an abrupt end when she was arrested and now convicted of recruiting child victims for Jeffrey Epstein.

As the 'favourite' daughter of disgraced newspaper baron Robert she boasted an impeccable network of contacts and starry circle of friends.

The French born socialite, 58, spent decades at the most exclusive of parties, pictured with the likes of Donald Trump and Prince Andrew and riding private jets with Bill Clinton.

A court has found  she facilitated Epstein's crimes by helping him 'recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse ' girls as young as 14. It also said she participated in the sexual abuse.

The French born socialite, 58, spent decades at the most exclusive of parties, pictured with the likes of Donald Trump, left in 1997, and Prince Andrew and riding private jets with Bill Clinton. She is pictured right with Eptein in 1995

As the 'favorite' daughter of disgraced newspaper baron Robert, Ghislaine boasted an impeccable network of contacts. The father and daughter are pictured in 1984


Until her arrest Maxwell had been virtually invisible since the autumn of 2016. But it wasn't always that way.

In fact, Maxwell, who speaks with a British accent, had been a regular on the New York social scene after meeting Epstein in the 1990s, using her connections to secure them both access to the most exclusive of parties.

As one of Epstein's accusers, Maria Farmer, told The Guardian: 'Ghislaine was key in making me feel safe.'

She added: 'I trusted her because she is a woman...she had that way about her, you know, the popular girl in school, she was one of those. She knew everybody.'

Born in Paris on Christmas Day in 1961 to her French mother Elisabeth and billionaire media mogul father Robert, Ghislaine was the youngest of nine. She grew up at Headington Hill Hall, a mansion leased from the council.

Maxwell, pictured in 1986, had been a regular on the New York social scene after meeting Epstein in the 1990s, using her connections to secure them both access


Maxwell went on to be educated at Marlborough College, then Oxford University and was used to a privileged, public-school and Oxford-educated lifestyle. She is also said to be a helicopter and submarine pilot and able to speak four languages.

But when her father Robert, one of the most powerful media magnates — and most notorious fraudsters — in modern history, died her world crumbled.

Robert spent his business career investing in Israel's economy after losing most of his family during the Holocaust.

He died aged 68 in 1991 in suspicious circumstances after falling off his megayacht named after Ghislaine, the Lady Ghislaine. Her mother reportedly died in 2013.

Heartbroken, Ghislaine is then is said to have fled to New York aged 30 where she is understood to have first met Epstein.

She is said to have been broke after it was revealed her father had stolen nearly £500million ($623 million) from employee pension funds. Robert Maxwell biographer Tom Bower said she 'worshiped rich, domineering men'.

But the relationship was more complicated than that.

Maxwell used her impeccable social contacts, like her friendship with the Prince, to introduce Epstein, a gardener's son, to society. In return, she used the financier's millions to support a lavish lifestyle which included a home on Manhattan's Upper East Side, a wardrobe of designer clothes and helicopter lessons.

Born in Paris on Christmas Day in 1961 to her French mother Elisabeth and dad Robert Ghislaine was the youngest of nine. She is pictured left with her sisters  and right in 1984

Maxwell went on to be educated at Marlborough College, then Oxford University and was used to a privileged, public-school and Oxford-educated lifestyle. She is also said to be a helicopter and submarine pilot and able to speak four languages

Robert Maxwell biographer Tom Bower said she 'worshiped rich, domineering men'


Prince Andrew has publicly invoked his friendship with Maxwell as the reason he came into pedophile Epstein's orbit.

He blamed Maxwell for bringing Epstein to Windsor Castle and Sandringham in 2000. 'Remember that it was his girlfriend (Maxwell) that was the key element in this,' the Prince told Maitlis. 'He was the… plus one.'

The Prince corrected previous reports that he threw a birthday party for Maxwell at Sandringham at which Epstein is believed to have met other members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles: 'It was a shooting weekend,' he said.

Photographs have also emerged of Maxwell joining a grinning Andrew and Epstein at Royal Ascot Ladies' Day in 2000.

And of course, it was at Maxwell's Belgravia Mews house that Virginia Roberts Giuffre alleges Epstein first 'sex trafficked' her to the Prince when she was just 17. It is a charge the Prince has continuously and vehemently denied.

She was photographed at Chelsea Clinton's wedding and she also flew with Bill Clinton on Epstein's private jet, dubbed the 'Lolita Express' because it was used to ferry young girls to his private Caribbean island or ranch in New Mexico.

Maxwell is pictured meeting Princess Diana in 1984. Maxwell used her impeccable social contacts, like her friendship with the Prince, to introduce Epstein, a gardener's son, to society


She has also been photographed with Epstein and Donald and Melania Trump at parties, years before Epstein became a social pariah.

Friend Euan Rellie, told Tatler: 'Every single interesting, pretty, new girl to arrive in New York would end up going for tea with Ghislaine, then being introduced to Jeffrey. She was the acceptable face of a rather mysterious billionaire.'

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