HBO's true-crime docuseries The Vow takes on the unsavory case of NXIVM, a multilevel marketing company that, on the surface, promoted personal-development classes. While claiming to offer self-help, NXIVM has become associated with a disturbing sex cult and a pyramid scheme in recent years. At the center of NXIVM's chaos is its leader, Keith Raniere, a self-proclaimed genius who, with a cadre of top associates, preyed on women. Not long ago, NXIVM members faced multiple charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. To complement your viewing of the HBO documentary, read ahead for a timeline that gives a detailed look at the events that mark NXIVM's rise and fall.