Did Maxwell Leave A House Of Cards?

For a world-class publicity hound, Robert Maxwell certainly kept his personal finances under wraps. The British media baron projected a gilt-edged image: Buzzing to and from his Oxford estate by helicopter and buying and selling companies like chess pieces. In its annual roundup of billionaires last July, Forbes estimated Maxwell's net worth at $1.9 billion.

But since the tycoon's mysterious death at sea on Nov. 5, the facade has been crumbling. As his creditors start picking through the Maxwell estate, they're making an unpleasant discovery: Most of Maxwell's wealth was illusory. The 68-year-old mogul had mortgaged nearly every family asset to underwrite his acquisitions.