From his brutal murders to his obscene wealth, discover some of the most astonishing facts about the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
In the later 1970s and eighties , Pablo Escobar reign as the king of cocaine . Known as “ El Padrino , ” “ El Patrón , ” and “ Don Pablo , ” the Colombian drug lord build up out his Medellín Cartel , made himself billions , and wipe out anyone who stand in his mode . But who was Pablo Escobar ?
Below , discover 19 fact about the notorious drug kingpin , from his stunning net Charles Frederick Worth to his pet river horse to the gruesome agency that he die .
Who Is Pablo Escobar?
Eric VANDEVILLE / Gamma - Rapho via Getty ImagesColombian drug lord Pablo Escobar , picture in 1988 .
Pablo Escobarwas the head of theMedellín Cartel , a Colombian drug trust that trafficked cocaine . From thefounding of the cartelin the 1970s until Escobar ’s destruction in 1993 , the lucrative drug trade made Escobar one thousand million .
During his spirit , Escobar lived by the mantra of “ plata o plomo , ” which roughly translates to “ silver or lead ( bullets ) , ” and delineate how he used both violence and bribery to get his way . He and his combine killed police force , politicians , journalists , and average citizens who happened to be in the amiss place at the wrong prison term . In 1989 , the cartel was even accused of planting a bomb on a domestic rider trajectory , killing over 100 people on the aeroplane .
Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesColombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, pictured in 1988.
But many Colombians also escort Escobar as a “ Robin Hood ” figure . He build infirmary and housing for the poor and was elected to the Colombian parliament in 1982 . As such , he has a somewhat complicated legacy in the state today as both a violent drug lord and a altruist .
Where Is Pablo Escobar From?
Born on December 1 , 1949 , in Rionegro , Antioquia , Colombia , Pablo Escobar spring up up in a suburban area of Medellín called Envigado . There , square off to make it rich , he gravitate toward offense at a untried age . Escobar allegedly falsified diplomas , take tombstones from graveyards to resell , and stole cars .
Who Was Pablo Escobar’s Mother?
Pablo Escobar ’s female parent was Hermilda de Los Dolores Gaviria Berrío . Unlike her criminal son , she had a jurisprudence - digest vocation as a school teacher . Escobar ’s father , Abel de Jesús Dari Escobar Echeverri , was a farmer and a watcher .
Who Was Pablo Escobar’s Wife?
Pablo Escobar encounter his married woman , Maria Victoria Henao , when she was just 12 years erstwhile and he was 23 . Henao send for the much older Escobar the “ love of her life history , ” and they got married three age by and by when she was 15 .
According to her autobiography , Mrs. Escobar : My Life with Pablo , Henao did n’t ab initio live what her husband did for a living . “ I grew up being regulate by Pablo to be his married woman and the female parent of his child , not to expect questions or dispute his choices , to wait the other direction , ” she drop a line .
But while Henao focused on being Escobar ’s wife and the female parent of their Word and girl , her husband entertained several extracurricular personal matters , let in a relationship with the Colombian journalistVirginia Vallejo .
YouTubePablo Escobar, pictured with his son Juan Pablo, his daughter Manuela, and his wife Maria Victoria Henao.
Who Is Pablo Escobar’s Son?
YouTubePablo Escobar , picture with his son Juan Pablo , his daughter Manuela , and his married woman Maria Victoria Henao .
Officially , Pablo Escobar had just one boy : Juan Pablo Escobar Henao , who goes by Sebastián Marroquín today and lives in Argentina .
Born in 1977 as the firstborn child of Escobar and Henao , Juan Pablo had a loving , luxurious childhood . His father dot on him . And Escobar ’s massive fortune signify that his son never lack for anything .
JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty ImagesA descendant of one of the hippos imported by Pablo Escobar to Colombia in the 1980s.
But Escobar ’s crimson career made life difficult for his folk . After he orchestrated the execution of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla , Colombia ’s Minister of Justice , Juan Pablo , his mother , and his baby were squeeze to go on the run .
“ My sprightliness was the life of a criminal , ” Juan Pablo later recall . “ I was suffering the same as if I had ordered all those murder by myself . ”
He was force to hark back to liveliness as a runaway after Escobar ’s death in 1993 . Then , Juan Pablo , his mother , and his sis started a new aliveness in Argentina . Juan Pablo dwell there to this mean solar day and work out as an architect .
Sebastián Marroquín/Sins Of My FatherPablo Escobar, pictured with his son at the White House in 1981.
However , Pablo Escobar allegedly also had a bit of “ illegitimate ” shaver with other fair sex during his adulterous relationship , including at least one other son identify Roberto Sendoya Escobar , according toBritish GQ .
Who Is Pablo Escobar’s Daughter?
Pablo Escobar and Maria Victoria Henao also had a girl namedManuela Escobar , who perish by Juana Manuela Marroquín Santos today .
Born in 1984 , Manuela enjoyed a charmed childhood . Despite his solar day occupation as a drug kingpin , Pablo Escobar was an attentive father . When Manuela tell him she wanted a unicorn for her natal day , Escobar staple a horn onto a white sawhorse and presented it to her . ( The horse sadly kick the bucket subsequently . )
But like her blood brother , Manuela ’s life took a coloured spell following Escobar ’s death in 1993 . Then , she fled with Juan Pablo and her female parent to Argentina .
Wikimedia CommonsPablo Escobar’s body following his death on 7 February 2025.
Though both her female parent and buddy have since spoken publicly about their relationship with Pablo Escobar , Manuela has stay out of the limelight . Allegedly frightening that her father ’s enemies will take revenge , Manuela has become something of a troglodyte and has n’t been go steady publicly in years .
Who Were Pablo Escobar’s Brothers?
Pablo Escobar had six sibling , but his piece of work in the drug cartel was just a mob business . His baby , Luz Maria Escobar , eventold theBBCthat she did n’t know about her brother ’s cocain empire until the former 1980s . But Pablo ’s brother , Roberto Escobar , did play a role in the Medellín Cartel .
At first , Roberto was more interested in ride bikes than dealing drugs and even raced professionally . But as his small brother became more powerful , Roberto started to work for the Medellín Cartel as an accountant .
In that role , Roberto handle great sums of money . The New Yorkerreportsthat the cartel had so much money lying around that Roberto once confuse a briefcase with $ 100,000 into a river because it was too “ heavy . ”
It should also be noted that Escobar had two other blood brother , Luis Fernando Escobar and Argemiro Escobar , but they were never in the spotlight .
Did Pablo Escobar Have Hippos And What Happened To Them?
JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP via Getty ImagesA descendant of one of the Hippo import by Pablo Escobar to Colombia in the 1980s .
Yes , Pablo Escobar did have river horse . In fact , the drug swivel pin had an intact zoo at his estate outdoors of Medellín . This zoo included four hippopotamuses that he ’d illicitly import into Colombia in the 1980s .
After Escobar ’s end , authorities thought that the hippos would simply expire as well . But alternatively , the animals flourish .
Today , the 100 hippos roaming the Colombian countryside , thanks to Escobar , are considered an incursive species . The Washington Postreportsthat authorities have started to sterilise them to limit their counterpane .
What Was Pablo Escobar’s House Like?
Unsurprisingly , Pablo Escobar had a sprawling , gilded home . He bought a 7,000 - acre estate in 1978 and named itHacienda Nápoles , after Naples , Italy .
The grounds of Hacienda Nápoles included a Spanish colonial house , an airport , swim pools , a sculpture garden , and , of course , Escobar ’s menagerie , which housed his infamous hippos as well as birds , elephants , and other exotic animal . Though Hacienda Nápoles was n’t the only dimension that Escobar owned , it was clearly the position that he call home .
Years after Escobar ’s death , the footing of his former estate became a report car park call the Parque Temático Hacienda Nápoles . However , citizenry still sneak onto Hacienda Nápoles ’ ground with a shovelful — hope to turn over up any money that Escobar conceal .
What Was Pablo Escobar’s Net Worth?
Pablo Escobar ’s Medellín Cartel brought in an estimated $ 70 million a day in the 1980s . Thus , Escobar ’s net worthwas gauge to be between $ 30 and $ 60 billion during his life . Today , that issue would be more than double .
Was Pablo Escobar Richer And More Powerful Than El Chapo?
Mexican drug lord Joaquín “ El Chapo ” Guzmán had a net worth of about $ 1 billion . As such , Pablo Escobar was much richer .
Though power is more difficult to assess , Escobar wielded a lot of it . Not only did he supply 80 percent of the existence ’s cocaine , but he also dipped his toe into government and even dream of becoming the president of Colombia .
According toBusiness Insider , El Chapo had no such ambition , and his Sinaloa Cartel see just 35 percent of cocaine produced in Colombia .
However , his combine is believed to have a massive outside footprint , bringing drug ( including , but not trammel to , cocaine ) into some countries that Escobar did not have a direct connection with . All in all , it can certainly be reason that Escobar was the more herculean of the two . But as with many thing relate to the infernal region , it ’s tough to add up to a definite answer .
How Did Pablo Escobar Take A Photo At The White House?
Sebastián Marroquín / Sins Of My FatherPablo Escobar , pictured with his son at the White House in 1981 .
In 1981 , Pablo Escobar brought his son to the United States , where they snapped a now - infamous photo in front of the White House . How did the drug swivel pin care to do that without getting nail ?
At that percentage point , Escobar was just on the edge of infamy . A few year by and by , in 1984 , he orchestrated the murder of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla , Colombia ’s Minister of Justice who dared stand up to him . And in 1989 , he allegedly plotted to plant a dud on Avianca Flight 203 ( incorrectly believe that succeeding Colombian president César Augusto Gaviria Trujillo was on board ) , killing over 100 people on the plane and even a few masses on the solid ground .
The 1980s also picture an increase in cocaine consumption in the United States , which made Escobar more of a scourge to American sanction . But in 1981 , Escobar plainly was n’t considered quite that dangerous — yet .
How Many People Did Pablo Escobar Kill?
Infamously brutal and ruthless , Pablo Escobar killed anyone who dared to stick out in his way . He ’s estimated to have been responsible for the deaths of some 4,000 people , including law officer , political science officials , journalists , average citizen , and member of rival cartels .
Did Pablo Escobar Go To Prison?
Yes , Pablo Escobar did go to prison house — but under his own condition . In 1991 , Escobar struck a sight with Colombian sureness in which he agreed to turn himself in , but only if he could obviate extradition to the United States and work up his own prison house in Colombia to his specification .
Incredibly , the Colombian political science agreed to Escobar ’s marriage proposal . On the day that they censor deport criminals in the new Colombian constitution , Escobar surrendered . And he went to a prison house that he ’d designed himself near Medellín , which was dubbedLa Catedral .
Unlike most prison house , La Catedral had a sweat room , a jacuzzi , a billiards way , and a disco . And unlike most prisoners , Escobar bear on to impart business enterprise from behind legal profession . In 1992 , he ordered the deaths of several cartel leaders .
Colombian authorities then decided to move him to a unlike prison house — but Pablo Escobar get by in July 1992 before they got to La Catedral .
When Did Pablo Escobar Die?
Pablo Escobar ’s escape from La Catedral triggered a monolithic manhunt . And about a year and a half afterwards , he was cornered by Colombian force and died on December 2 , 1993 , just one daylight after his 44th birthday .
How Did Pablo Escobar Die?
Wikimedia CommonsPablo Escobar ’s body following his death on December 2 , 1993 .
Pablo Escobar diedafter being shot in the wooden leg , torso , and auricle , while fleeing Colombian authority on rooftop in the Los Olivos barrio of Medellín .
But the interrogative sentence of who killed him is the issue of some debate .
Who Killed Pablo Escobar?
Officially , a especial Colombian chore military force organized to discover Pablo Escobar , known as Search Bloc , killed the drug kingpin .
“ Viva Colombia ! ” a Search Bloc soldier screamed after Escobar fell . “ We have just killed Pablo Escobar ! ” But some member of Escobar ’s family , including his son , Juan Pablo , take a firm stand that Escobar killed himself .
Juan Pablo claims that his father ’s prescribed autopsy was falsified to make the Colombian bureau wait like hero . He importune that , once his father was cornered , he died by suicide before he could be vote down .
concord to theNew York Post , Juan Pablo said , “ Forensic investigators who do the autopsy severalize us it was suicide but that they were threaten by the authorities not to disclose the Sojourner Truth in their concluding news report . ”
What Caused Pablo Escobar’s Death?
Pablo Escobar ’s death was a foresighted time add up . After he escape from La Catedral in July 1992 , Escobar was on the run for 16 month . But two different mathematical group were red-hot on his trail during this whole clock time .
The first chemical group was Search Bloc , a Colombian police force unit that had been create to track down Pablo Escobar . According toBusiness Insider , this grouping was assisted in their pursuit by the U.S. special forcefulness , U.S. Army intelligence information , the CIA , and the Drug Enforcement Administration .
The 2nd was the “ Perseguidos por Pablos Escobar , ” which translates to “ People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar . ” NicknamedLos Pepes , this group was composed of Escobar ’s enemy , including other drug vender . One member , Rodolfo Berna , was allegedly credited with fire the shot that killed the drug kingpin , though this account has never been affirm .
In any case , the two groups worked inexhaustibly to get across down the drug lord — and vote out him . So , what come about to Escobar ’s loved ones after his death ?
What Happened To Pablo Escobar’s Family?
After Pablo Escobar was killed , his married woman , son , and daughter fly Colombia . After they tried — and failed — to get mental hospital in Germany and Mozambique , they settle in Argentina . There , they exchange their name .
They ’ve largely stayed out of the spot ever since , although Escobar ’s married woman and Logos have written playscript and given audience in late eld .
“ He was a love father , ” Escobar ’s son , Juan Pablo , enunciate in one consultation . “ It would be easy to try and fit in and say he was a defective man , but he was n’t . ”
grand of Colombians , however , are potential to differ .
After reading through these fact about Pablo Escobar , discover thesefacts about Mexican drug lord El Chapo . Then , take a spirit at Colombian drug kingpinGilberto Rodriguez Orejuela , the former leader of the Cali Cartel .
