Mega Edition: The Rise And Fall Of Robert Maxwell (Part 2) (3/25/26)

·43 min·4 clips

Bobby Capucci dissects why Robert Maxwell's alleged suicide by drowning is implausible, suggesting murder or accident instead.

This episode continues host Bobby Capucci's Saturday series investigating the Maxwell family, focusing on the mysterious 1991 death of media mogul Robert Maxwell. Capucci analyzes a 2019 Guardian article by Caroline Davies that connects Maxwell's life to his daughter Ghislaine's later role with Jeffrey Epstein. The article details Robert Maxwell's rise from a Czechoslovakian refugee to a decorated war hero and powerful press baron who owned the Mirror Group and the New York Daily News. It recounts how he was found dead, naked and with only a shoulder graze, after falling from his yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, near the Canary Islands. An inquest recorded death by heart attack and accidental drowning, though three pathologists disagreed on the exact cause. The episode notes Maxwell had illegally raided his companies' pension funds by roughly £460 million, collapsing his empire. Photographer Ken Lennox, who identified the body, believes Maxwell fell accidentally, while former editor Roy Greenslade thinks it was suicide. The article describes Ghislaine Maxwell as a "daddy's girl" who was devastated by his death and later became a fixture in Epstein's social circle, with some acquaintances describing her as a "half best friend and fixer." Capucci repeatedly disputes the article's framing that Ghislaine's life was "turned upside down," arguing she was not a victim. Capucci argues the photograph of Ghislaine in a Los Angeles burger joint after Epstein's death was likely manipulated to mislead the public. He dismisses the theory that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad killed Robert Maxwell, stating the CIA is a more powerful entity capable of such acts. Capucci speculates Epstein helped Robert Maxwell launder the stolen pension money and that Ghislaine was sent to New York specifically to cultivate that relationship. He suggests Robert Maxwell's body was not thoroughly checked for needle marks, a method he associates with intelligence agency assassinations. The host draws parallels between Robert Maxwell's death and Jeffrey Epstein's, noting similar unanswered questions and dissenting opinions in both cases. Capucci describes Robert Maxwell's personality as bombastic, bullying, and vain, citing an anecdote where he swept cutlery from a casino table for being poorly laid out. The episode reveals Maxwell routinely humiliated his children at family lunches, though Ghislaine reportedly received slightly better treatment. Julia Langdon, a journalist who traveled with Maxwell, said her first reaction to his death was that he was the "least likely to commit suicide." The funeral in Israel, attended by the Prime Minister and President, is presented as evidence of his significant, though disputed, ties to the state. The tone is highly opinionated, conversational, and confrontational, with Capucci frequently interjecting his own theories and moral judgments. The style blends article summary with personal anecdote and cultural references, like comparing the Maxwells to the Lannister family from *Game of Thrones*. Listeners interested in conspiracy theories around powerful figures and critical analyses of mainstream media reporting on the Epstein case would find this episode engaging. Those seeking a neutral, fact-based documentary or who are offended by strong, profane language might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

Robert Maxwell, Ghislaine, and a true-crime episode that stays with the uncertainty around his death.

This episode stays with Robert Maxwell's story as told through a 2019 Guardian article, moving between the rumors around spy agencies and the shadow he cast over Ghislaine Maxwell.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a Saturday Maxwell update that stays close to Robert Maxwell's life, death, and Ghislaine's shadow, this one goes there.

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