Epstein's Madame: From a rich glamor girl to a full - time pimp

This week, Jilline Maxwell, the ex-partner and companion of billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her central role in getting girls for the purpose of sexually exploiting the tycoon.

How did the daughter of one of Britain's richest men become a cruel criminal who committed such shocking crimes for another person?

Tali Goldstein

02/07/2022

Saturday, 02 July 2022, 07:00 Updated: 08:27

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Accustomed to a life full of wealth and privilege, first in the UK with the rogue father Robert Maxwell and later with Jeffrey Epstein - "No wonder she complains about prison life ... Going from prison to prison is certainly a shocking and unpleasant experience," the prosecution said in response to a woman's complaints. Former girlfriend Jilline Maxwell, who is expected to soon begin a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted this week for her key role in obtaining young girls for sexual exploitation of the tycoon who committed suicide in his cell last year.

What led the billionaire daughter, an Oxford graduate, with all the possible benefits in life that most of us can only imagine, to become the "madam" of such a twisted and dangerous man and to actually give him her love and devotion?

And what happened to her during her life that made her so indifferent and immoral that for years she deliberately and knowingly harmed dozens of young women, some of them minors?

Maxwell's lawyers tried to paint a grim picture of a childhood with a domineering father from whom she moved straight into the arms of a domineering lover, and that in practice, the two men in her life made her a victim herself.

The story takes place against the backdrop of the world of the rich and famous, luxury boarding schools, luxury estates, private jets - and unfolds over two continents.

Anorexia at a young age

Already as a toddler, lawyers said, Maxwell became anorexic and suffered from complete disregard on the part of her parents, until at the age of three she stood before her mother and declared, "Mother, I exist."

Her father, media mogul Robert Maxwell, who died in an accident when he fell off his ship in 1991, was often absent from home, and when he arrived, he used to conduct degrading surprise examinations for his children accompanied by severe reprimands and belt lashes when they were wrong, as his son Ian said.

Lawyers said that when she was 13, Maxwell pasted a pony horse poster on her bedroom wall that had been repainted shortly before.

Robert Maxwell, they argued, was furious when he saw the poster, took the hammer and struck her hand.

According to them, Maxwell's relationship with Epstein was not much different in terms of the balance of power.

"Epstein was the main character: Epstein was the mind, the architect, he was the main exploiter and he was the one who would sing the crimes for his personal satisfaction."

From a domineering father to a domineering spouse.

Jilline Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein (Photo: Official Website, US District Attorney's Office)

Maxwell was born in 1961 in France, the ninth and youngest child of Elizabeth, a French academic and Robert, a media mogul of Jewish-Czech descent.

Two days before she was born, her 15-year-old brother was involved in a car accident that left him in a coma until his death in 1967.

Her mother said the accident affected the whole family and led to Maxwell suffering from anorexia from an early age.

Maxwell grew up in Oxford, England on a 53-room mansion.

She attended private prestigious schools and completed a bachelor's degree in history and languages ​​from Oxford University in 1985.

As a student at Oxford, "it was clear to me that she was very interested in money and power," said Anna Pasternak, a classmate and member of the same social classes.

"She was one of those people at parties who would always look everywhere to see if there was anyone around with more power or more interesting while she would make herself kiss you," she told the BBC.

Rachel Johnson, the sister of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and another university friend, said recently that she recalled the time she saw Maxwell with her brother in the student club room: "One in a high-heeled boot rests on Boris' thigh."

Upon graduation, her father appointed her manager of Oxford United, the football club he owned, and set up a company for her that provided corporate gifts.

Maxwell then went out with Count Gianfranco Chicona, an Italian nobleman.

She also founded a luxury club for women only.

"I remember she was superficially charming to other women, but I do not remember her having close friends," Pasternak said.

"I think women were a means to an end for another powerful man."

"Favorite daughter"

Robert Maxwell grew up in extreme poverty in Czechoslovakia at the time of a Jewish family most of whom were murdered in a row.

He was a British war hero and later became a media mogul, Member of Parliament for the Labor Party and owner of the Daily Mirror, one of the best-selling newspapers in Britain.

He was a businessman who acted like a bully.

At home he was a "dragon father" who abused both physically and verbally, according to John Preston's biography.

Maxwell actually had a close relationship with her father, and according to reports, was even his favorite.

According to reports, he even wanted her to marry John F. Kennedy Jr..

According to Roy Grisley, who worked for him as an editor at The Daily Mirror, the father "loved and invested" in his daughter "as he never did with his sons."

According to Grisley, "he was a monster. He treated the whole family terribly," but when it came to his youngest daughter, "he treated her with more forgiveness."

In the biography "Maxwell: The Rise and Fall of Robert Maxwell and His Empire," Grislaid recalls how one evening while sitting in the office with Robert Maxwell, teenage Jillane suddenly entered.

He said Robert scolded his daughter for "always taking risks and doing dangerous stupid things" after telling him about a shipwreck she had.

"She knew how to treat him," Greenslide removed.

She always spoke to him sweetly, and the father was melted.

"She's like me," he even said proudly.

Dragon Father, Robert Maxwell (Photo: Official Website, Wikipedia)

In January 1991, Robert Maxwell acquired the struggling Daily News in New York and she was sent to represent him at the headquarters in Manhattan and began her career in the local social circle.

But in 1991 Robert Maxwell died in a mysterious accident.

He fell from his luxury yacht, "Lady Jilline" off the Canary Islands.

After his death it was discovered that he had committed a huge pension fraud of his employees.

An inquest into the death found that Robert Maxwell suffered a heart attack and drowned.

Some believe that he committed suicide due to the collapse of his business empire.

Maxwell received praise for the way she handled the tragedy.

"She behaved brilliantly. She never cried and always handled the press," Greenslide said.

The infamous picture with Prince Andrew and prosecutor Virginia Robert (Photo: GettyImages)

After the death of her father, the heartbroken Maxwell moved to the United States.

It is not clear how much money she had in light of the debts of her late father but rumors circulated about a fixed income and a secret fund.

In the United States she used to hang out in exclusive circles that included people with connections in politics.

While her other brothers accepted the fact that their father had died in an accident or suicide, she continued to insist that he be murdered.

According to eyewitnesses, Maxwell was invited to the wedding of Chelsea, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clayton, and was a behind-the-scenes guest at the summit of the Clinton Global Initiative Foundation in 2009.

However, according to Chelsea Clinton spokesman Barry Lowry, the only reason Clinton knew her was because the company woman went out with a mutual friend.

In 2000, Maxwell was photographed with Donald Trump and his then-girlfriend Melania, alongside Epstein.

Maxwell was also present in the background in the infamous picture of British Prince Andrew in which he is seen embracing a young girl named Virginia Roberts.

According to Roberts, she was sexually exploited by Epstein and trafficked by him as a sex slave to his friends, including the prince, all with the help of Maxwell.

Prince Andrew denied the allegations.

In 2005, Harry Mount, a 33-year-old New York Telegraph reporter, came to a party at her five-story mansion in the Upper East Side neighborhood and was fascinated.

According to him, her behavior was a product of her difficult childhood.

"She had great connections and self-confidence, but basically, she was not confident in herself."

He then discovered that she desperately needed money to finance her glamorous life.

There were even rumors that Epstein paid for her house.

In 2012 Maxwell founded a charity called Terra Mar Project, which focused on conserving oceans.

The organization ceased operations in 2019.

That same year, the federal prosecution uncovered a criminal indictment against Epstein for running a sex trafficking network for the purposes of sexual exploitation in 2002-2005, when he paid 14-year-old girls to have sex with him.

Jailin Maxwell in court

In the video: Gileen Maxwell's trial opens (Photo: Reuters)

Epstein paid for her life

Maxwell was Epstein's partner at first, and later became his companion.

Like her father, Epstein was a very wealthy man with modest roots in a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn.

The couple reportedly broke up in the 1990s, but remained close.

Maxwell's name was urgently mentioned in documents revealed last year that she had "obtained" girls from Epstein and other famous and wealthy friends of his.

"She had a personal and professional relationship with Epstein and she was one of the people closest to him," the federal indictment revealed last year read.

"In 1994-1997, she had an intimate relationship with Epstein and also received payment from him for managing the various assets," it read.

Epstein described her as his best friend in a 2003 interview with Unity Fair.

She was the one who introduced him to all the famous characters and organized his life - he paid for her life.

Report of the suicide of businessman Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted of sexual offenses, August 10, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

In the 2000s, Maxwell's name was associated with another man, Ted White.

But she continued to work for Epstein.

In court documents, former employees at Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach described her as the manager of the mansion that oversaw staff, finances and coordinated social events.

A housekeeper testified that Maxwell provided the staff with a 58-page instruction manual and instructed them to speak only if they were spoken to and not to make eye contact with Epstein.

As for the true nature of the relationship between the two, the prosecution argued that the closeness between them was a necessary factor in their pattern of exploitation - Maxwell wanted to provide and please Epstein and nurtured victims for him.

In December 2021, a jury found them guilty on five of six counts - including trafficking for the purpose of sexually abusing a minor.

"Jilline controlled the girls," Sarah Ransom, who she said was exploited by Epstein, told the BBC.

"She was the one reprimanding the girls. She knew what Epstein liked ... it was in most cases a joint effort."

Jane, a pseudonym, testified that Maxwell organized sexual massages for Epstein and sometimes even joined.

Caroline, a fictitious name, who said she was only 14 when Maxwell touched her chest, waist and groin and told her "she has a great body for Epstein and his friends".

"Kate" testified that Maxwell invited her to the mansion and ordered her to give Epstein a sexual massage and asked her to invite more young girls.

Annie Fraser, the only plaintiff to testify on her real and full name, said that when she was 16 Maxwell massaged her bare breasts at Epstein's farm in New Mexico.

Organized sexual massages.

Jilien Maxwell speaks in 2013 (Photo: Reuters)

After Epstein's death, Maxwell maintained a low profile.

She was arrested in July 2020 at her secluded mansion in New Hampshire.

A few months later she was reportedly married to CargoMetrics CEO Scott Burgerson, a 46-year-old millionaire who lives in Massachusetts.

Since her arrest, Maxwell has lived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and awaited trial. 2.7 meters with a concrete bed. ”She is under surveillance 24 hours a day with ten cameras, including one that monitors her every move.

She cannot move to the corner and cannot approach the cell door.

That is its existence. "

According to the prosecution, the reason Maxwell committed the crimes she committed is money.

Some believe that this is a deeper motive.

According to journalist John Sweeney, who is writing a book about Maxwell, "It is impossible to understand what happened to Jeffrey Epstein without understanding her relationship with her father."

Pasternak refuses to pity Maxwell. She told the BBC that "there is no way Epstein could have done what he did and gained access to so many young girls, whose lives were destroyed, without Jiline.

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