Infamous – “Jeffrey and Ghislaine's Secrets | Part 2”

Podcast by Campside Media / Sony Music Entertainment
Airdate: September 18, 2025
Summary by [Your Summarizer]

Overview:

In the second episode of the “Jeffrey and Ghislaine’s Secrets” miniseries, hosts Natalie Robehmed and Vanessa Grigoriadis, along with reporting from Gabriel Sherman, dig deep into the relationships and mechanisms that fueled Jeffrey Epstein’s rise to power—especially his mysterious finances and the key roles that both Ghislaine Maxwell and billionaire Les Wexner played. The episode explores how money, manipulation, and access to elite circles enabled Epstein’s crimes, and how Ghislaine’s own background and ambitions entwined her fate with his. The episode exposes the murky world behind the glamor of wealth, luxury, and the early days of the Victoria’s Secret empire, focusing on how power was abused and masked by charisma and connections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jeffrey Epstein’s Entry Into High Society (01:33–04:28)

• The episode opens in Aspen, Colorado, 1986, where Epstein meets Les Wexner, founder and CEO of L Brands (owner of Victoria’s Secret, The Limited, etc.).
• Epstein fabricates a story about Wexner’s money manager stealing from him to gain the billionaire’s trust.
• Epstein quickly dazzles Wexner and becomes his financial fixer—this access “is Epstein's big break… Les Wexner is going to give Epstein the keys to the kingdom, access to billions of dollars, luxury real estate, and the kind of lifestyle Epstein always wanted” (Narrator/Host, 03:15).

2. Ghislaine Maxwell’s Partnership with Epstein (05:12–09:00)

• After her father Robert Maxwell’s death and scandal, Ghislaine moves permanently to New York and forms a close personal and professional relationship with Epstein.
• Ghislaine describes how she became Epstein’s assistant, decorator, and later, general manager of his properties. “Epstein said, well, you can keep helping me. You can help me find a house and you can decorate the house, and it gave me something to do” (Ghislaine Maxwell, 05:36).
• Their romantic relationship fades in the late ’90s, but she continues as his employee, earning a sizable salary: “I think salary-wise... it ended at around a quarter of a million a year” (Ghislaine Maxwell, 08:55).

3. The Power and Influence of Les Wexner (09:00–12:34)

• The podcast details Wexner’s modest Ohio upbringing, his vision for The Limited, and the eventual purchase and transformation of Victoria’s Secret.
• Wexner’s approach: focus on affordable, everyday items but later pivot to the emotional appeal and exclusivity of lingerie. “Lingerie has emotional content. You know, men wear underwear, women wear underwear. But lingeries, you know...” (Les Wexner, 10:49).
• He creates Victoria’s Secret as a “ladies paradise,” an empire awash in fantasy and wealth.

4. Epstein as Wexner’s Fixer—and Beneficiary (15:08–19:41)

• Epstein leverages a supposed “bounty hunter” role for the ultra-rich, supposedly finding lost or stolen money, to insert himself into the highest financial circles.
• Ghislaine recalls “Epstein will go and find the billion dollars and we'll take a portion of the money that was stolen as a fee and give back the remainder. That would be on a percentage basis” (Ghislaine Maxwell, 15:44).
• Epstein manages or acquires high-value real estate from Wexner at below-market rates—including the infamous Upper East Side mansion, a literal and metaphoric symbol of Wexner’s trust and Epstein’s ascent.

5. The Extraordinary Trust: Power of Attorney (19:59–21:33)

• Wexner grants Epstein power of attorney, vastly expanding Epstein’s financial and personal reach.
• Raises central mystery: “Why would Wexner, a shrewd businessman who could have his pick of any financial advisor… go with Epstein?” (Narrator/Host, 19:59).
• Questions and rumors swirl about the nature of their relationship; both deny any sexual aspect.

6. Exploiting Connections: The Victoria’s Secret Modeling Ruse (22:38–28:27)

• The episode pivots to the glitzy world of Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, attended by celebrities and spotlighting “angels” like Tyra Banks and Gisele Bündchen.
• Epstein uses his perceived status to lure young women with false promises of modeling opportunities at Victoria’s Secret:
  • Model Alicia Arden recounts a disturbing hotel encounter: “He said, let me manhandle you. And I was feeling terrified… I said, Jeffrey, I'm not a prostitute. I want to be in the Victoria's Secrets catalog” (Alicia Arden, 25:52).
  • Other victims recount similar stories: being sent to Epstein for interviews or massaging, only to face sexual abuse.
• Official statements confirm Epstein was never employed by Victoria’s Secret or authorized by L Brands (26:59).

7. Ghislaine’s Role in Recruiting & Systemic Abuse (28:27–29:51)

• Ghislaine admits to introducing women to Epstein and seeking out “masseuses” at his request:
  • “If I met friends who were interested, he was constantly asking me to meet new and interesting people. I did do that… I viewed it as… part of my responsibility” (Ghislaine Maxwell, 28:27).
  • She says she “did look for masseuses… And of course, if she was attractive” (Ghislaine Maxwell, 28:56).
• The episode concludes with a somber portrait of escalating abuse, enabled by Epstein’s wealth and power, as the lies and manipulation grow more elaborate and damaging.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Epstein’s dazzling manipulations:
  “He presents himself as a big time money manager who can take care of all the investments and homes and assets of a man as rich as Wexner. Epstein is charismatic, charming, the kind of guy who can pull the wool over even a very intelligent man’s eyes.”
  – Narrator/Host, 02:34

• On status and image:
  “Being a Victoria’s Secret angel was a huge deal. It was a job that every aspiring model dreamed of… having a Victoria’s Secret model on your arm, that was a form of cachet for an image obsessed man.”
  – Vanessa Grigoriadis, 23:26

• On finances and abuse of power:
  “Nothing lends more credence to this than the fact that Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney. Power of attorney means you have the legal right to make decisions in someone else’s name. It’s usually only given to someone you know very well, someone you trust with your life.”
  – Narrator/Host, 19:59

• Survivor testimony:
  “He said, let me manhandle you. And I was feeling terrified.”
  – Alicia Arden, 25:52

• On Ghislaine’s involvement:
  “If I met friends who were interested, he was constantly asking me to meet new and interesting people. I did do that. At the time, I viewed it as… part of my job, or part of my responsibility.”
  – Ghislaine Maxwell, 28:27

Important Segment Timestamps

• Epstein’s introduction to Les Wexner in Aspen: 01:33–03:33
• Ghislaine describes starting her work for Epstein: 05:36–06:23
• Wexner’s “ladies paradise” vision for Victoria’s Secret: 11:14–12:14
• Epstein receives Upper East Side mansion: 18:19–19:41
• Alicia Arden’s testimony about Epstein’s abuse: 24:28–26:59
• Ghislaine admits her role in finding “masseuses”: 28:27–29:08

Tone

The episode weaves meticulous reporting with firsthand accounts and candid interviews, balancing a journalistic, fact-driven narrative with intimate, often haunting, testimonial voices. It is direct and at times chilling, but careful to let survivors’ voices and primary figures like Ghislaine Maxwell and Les Wexner speak in their own words.

Takeaway

This episode lays bare how Epstein’s wealth and abuse of trust (especially with Les Wexner) enabled not just his financial ascent but his unchecked abuse of power and people. Ghislaine’s complicity, rooted in privilege and dependence, further blurred the line between victim and perpetrator. The narrative leaves listeners questioning society’s faith in wealth and status, and the many ways power shields wrongdoing—until investigative journalism brings the truth to light.