Pablo Escobar was one of the most notorious and powerful drug lords in history. He was the leader of the Medellín cartel, which dominated the global cocaine trade in the 1980s and early 1990s. He amassed an estimated net worth of $30 billion by the time of his death in 1993, making him one of the richest criminals ever
In this article, we will explore the life, career, and wealth of Pablo Escobar, as well as some interesting facts and stories about him. We will also look at his social media presence and answer some frequently asked questions about his net worth.
Pablo Escobar Biography
| Name | Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria |
|---|---|
| Birth day | December 1, 1949 |
| Birth place | Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Age | 44 (at the time of death) |
| Birth sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Mother | Hermilda de los Dolores Gaviria Berrío |
| Father | Abel de Jesús Dari Escobar Echeverri |
| Spouse | Maria Victoria Henao (m. 1976) |
| Siblings | Roberto Escobar, Luz Maria Escobar, Alba Marina Escobar, Argemiro Escobar, Luis Fernando Escobar, Gloria Inés Escobar |
| College | Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana (dropped out) |
Pablo Escobar Net Worth
According to various sources, Pablo Escobar’s net worth at the time of his death was around $30 billion. This would be equivalent to about $70 billion today when adjusted for inflation However, some estimates suggest that his net worth could have been much higher or lower depending on how much money he had hidden or lost over the years.
His main source of income was obviously his cocaine business, which generated billions of dollars every year. He controlled over 80% of the cocaine market in the United States and shipped about 15 tons of cocaine every day. He also had investments in real estate, gold, and other asset
Some of the interesting stories about his wealth include:
- He spent about $2,500 a month on rubber bands to wrap his stacks of cash. He also wrote off 10% of his money every year due to damage by rats, water, or fire. He sometimes buried or hid his money in various locations, some of which he forgot or never recovered
- He once burned $2 million in cash to keep his daughter warm while they were on the run from the authorities. He also offered to pay Colombia’s national debt of $10 billion in exchange for a full pardon and no extradition
- He owned a fleet of planes, helicopters, boats, and cars to transport his drugs and himself. One of his planes, a Learjet, was seized by the U.S. government and later used by President Bill Clinton
- He had a collection of animals that he imported from Africa and other parts of the world for his zoo at Hacienda Nápoles. Some of the animals included elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, tigers, and bears. After his death, some of the animals were relocated to other zoos or sanctuaries, but some remained at the estate and became feral. The hippos in particular became an invasive species and a threat to the local ecosystem
About Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar was born into a lower-middle-class family in Rionegro, Colombia. He had a troubled childhood and was involved in various petty crimes from an early age. He sold fake diplomas, counterfeit lottery tickets, stolen cars, and even tombstones. He also kidnapped and held people for ransom
In the early 1970s, he started working for different drug smugglers and soon established himself as a major player in the cocaine business. He founded the Medellín cartel with other criminals and created a vast network of smuggling routes from South America to the United States. He used violence, bribery, and intimidation to eliminate his rivals and expand his empire. He was responsible for thousands of deaths, including police officers, judges, politicians, journalists, and civilians. He also funded social projects and political campaigns in Colombia, earning him some popularity among the poor and the marginalized
Some of his achievements and controversies include:
- He was elected as an alternate member of the Chamber of Representatives in 1982 as part of the Liberal Party. However, he was soon exposed as a drug lord and forced to resign
- He built a luxurious estate called Hacienda Nápoles, which featured a zoo with exotic animals, a soccer field, a bullring, a private airstrip, and a collection of cars. The estate was later looted by locals and turned into a tourist attraction
- He orchestrated several terrorist attacks against the Colombian government and the United States, such as the bombing of Avianca Flight 203 in 1989 that killed 110 people and the bombing of the DAS Building in Bogotá in 1989 that killed 52 people. He also ordered the assassination of several prominent figures, such as presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán in 1989 and Justice Minister Rodrigo Lara Bonilla in 1984
- He negotiated a deal with Colombian President César Gaviria in 1991 to surrender to authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence and no extradition to the United States. He was allowed to build his own prison called La Catedral, where he continued to run his cartel and enjoy various privileges. However, he escaped from prison in 1992 after learning that he would be transferred to another facility
- He was killed by Colombian security forces on December 2, 1993, after a massive manhunt that involved U.S. intelligence and special forces. He was shot on the rooftop of a house in Medellín where he was hiding with his bodyguard. His death marked the end of an era of violent drug trafficking in Colombia
Pablo Escobar Social Media
Pablo Escobar died before the advent of social media, so he never had any official accounts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. However, there are many fan pages and accounts dedicated to him and his legacy.
FAQs about Pablo Escobar
How much money did Pablo Escobar make a day?
According to some estimates, Pablo Escobar made about $60 million a day from his cocaine business. This means he made about $22 billion a year
How did Pablo Escobar launder his money?
Pablo Escobar used various methods to launder his money and avoid detection by the authorities. Some of them included:
- Using front companies and shell corporations in different countries to disguise the origin and destination of his funds.
- Investing in legitimate businesses such as construction, agriculture, mining, banking, and tourism.
- Bribing or threatening officials, bankers, accountants, lawyers, and politicians to facilitate his transactions or look the other way.
- Smuggling cash in suitcases, planes, boats, cars, or even human bodies.
What happened to Pablo Escobar’s family after his death?
After Pablo Escobar’s death, his family faced many difficulties and dangers. His wife Maria Victoria Henao and his children Juan Pablo (later changed to Sebastián Marroquín) and Manuela fled Colombia and sought asylum in various countries such as Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and Mozambique. They also changed their names and identities several times to avoid retaliation from Escobar’s enemies or prosecution from the authorities. They eventually settled in Argentina, where they lived under the name Henao Marroquín.
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