Year-ender: Names under the spotlight in 2019

Jeffrey Epstein

This year, American financier Jeffrey Epstein made international headlines twice. First, he was accused in early July of sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of underage girls in the early 2000s, and then for committing suicide in his jail cell.

The exact origin of Epstein's wealth remains unknown. He first worked as a teacher at a very exclusive New York City private school, Dalton, and was later hired by Alan Greenberg, head of Bear Stearns. In 1982, Epstein started his own company and eventually reincorporated his businesses in the US Virgin Islands.

In early July, the former hedge fund manager was accused of sexual exploitation, prostitution and abuse of dozens of underage girls in the early 2000s. He was denied bail weeks after and would face up to 45 years in prison if convicted. His clientele allegedly involved dozens of billionaires.

On Aug 10, the disgraced financier was found dead by suicide in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Two weeks before his death, Epstein was found semiconscious with marks on his neck in his cell in an apparent initial suicide attempt.

US federal prosecutors said the 66-year-old financier had lured those girls to his homes in Florida and New York, among other places, and paid them for sex.