Clare Bronfman

The couple married in 1975, two years after Edgar Bronfman's divorce from his first wife.

Webb gave birth to Sara the following year, and had Clare two-and-a-half years later.

Shortly after Clare's birth, Webb (who had renamed herself Georgiana) asked Edgar for a divorce.

Clare Bronfman (born 1979) is an American heiress, convicted felon and former leader of NXIVM, a multi-level marketing company and cult based near Albany, New York.

She is the youngest daughter of billionaire philanthropist and former Seagram liquor chairman Edgar Bronfman Sr..

They remarried in 1983, but again divorced.

After their parents' second divorce, the girls visited their father at his estates outside Charlottesville, Virginia, and in Westchester County; his home in Sun Valley; and his apartment on Fifth Avenue.

However, they resided in England and in Kenya with their mother.

Bronfman is of Jewish ancestry on her father's side.

After a brief equestrian career, Bronfman began involvement in NXIVM, a business engaged in criminal activities during 1998–2018, which led to indictments on federal charges, including sex trafficking.

In December 1999, Bronfman competed in the Millstreet Indoor International Horse Show.

In May 2001, Bronfman won the Grand Prix at CSI-A Eindhoven (NED).

On September 23, 2001, Bronfman's team placed seventh in the World Final of the Samsung Nations Cup Series (Jumping).

On May 26, 2002, Bronfman won the Grand Prix in Rome (ITA); her team placed sixth in the competition.

In October 2002, Bronfman placed 13th at the CSI-A competition in Bremen.

Through her sister Sara, Clare Bronfman became involved in 2002 in NXIVM's personal advancement program and "Executive Success Program" ("ESP") workshops.

The sisters became committed followers and financial backers of NXIVM founder Keith Raniere, relocating to upstate New York to work as NXIVM trainers.

Clare Bronfman also served as event coordinator for "Vanguard Week," an annual festival celebrating Raniere's birthday, stating that "the purpose of 'V Week' is to get the chance to experience a civilized world... [and] craft for ourselves a more fulfilling, purposeful life."

Clare and her sister introduced their father, billionaire Edgar Bronfman, Sr., to NXIVM.

Edgar broke with the group after learning that Clare had given Raniere and Salzman a $2 million "loan" at 2.5% interest.

In October 2003, Forbes magazine featured Raniere on its cover along with the title "The World's Strangest Executive Coach".

The article quoted Edgar Bronfman, Sr. as stating that he thought NXIVM was "a cult".

Clare Bronfman eventually became "NXIVM's operations director and one of its largest financial contributors".

Raniere reportedly blamed Clare Bronfman for the bad publicity, faulting her for telling her father about the $2 million loan.

Ultimately, Clare Bronfman would spend $150 million on NXIVM.

Clare Bronfman installed keylogger software on her father's computer, allowing NXIVM members to access his email for years thereafter.

From 2007 to 2009, Clare Bronfman, allegedly at the direction of Raniere, employed private firms to investigate perceived enemies of the group, including six American federal judges.

Eager to distance themselves from cult allegations in the press, NXIVM members sought the endorsement of The Dalai Lama, spending $2 million on the project.

Clare, along with her sister Sara, and NXIVM founder Keith Raniere formed an organization called the World Ethical Foundations Consortium.

Clare and Sara were credited with being able to bring The Dalai Lama to Albany to participate in the World Ethical Foundations Consortium's inaugural event on May 6, 2009.

On May 6, 2009, The Dalai Lama traveled to Albany, NXIVM's hometown, to give a talk; during the event, he presented Raniere with a khatag (the ceremonial white scarf with the symbolic meaning of "purity" in Tibetan Buddhism) onstage.

The Dalai Lama additionally wrote already in April 2009, the foreword to Ranieri's occult book entitled The Sphinx & Thelxiepeia.

Eight years later, it would be revealed Clare's sister Sara had a 2009 sexual relationship with Lama Tenzin Dhonden, The Dalai Lama's gatekeeper who arranged the appearance, who as a monk had taken a vow of celibacy.

On October 1, 2018, after her involvement with the NXIVM group came to light, Bronfman was permanently banned by the United States Center for SafeSport, which investigates and issues sanctions to members of Olympic sports accused of sexual misconduct.

This rendered her ineligible for any involvement with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), which governs horse sports in the United States.

In April 2019, Bronfman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for financial gain, and to fraudulent use of identification.

The prosecution requested a sentence of five years in prison.

In September 2020, Judge Nicholas Garaufis sentenced Bronfman to six years and nine months imprisonment.

Bronfman is a daughter of Canadian billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr.. and Rita Webb, the daughter of an English pub owner from Essex, England.

Bronfman's parents met in Marbella, Spain.