Escobar was born in Rio Negro on December 1, 1949. He was the third child among seven siblings. His parents were farmers who owned land near the town of San Vicente del Caguán. When he was about 14, he moved to Medellín where he met his future wife, Maria Victoria Henao, who was eight years older than him. They married in 1968 and lived together for 20 years. In 1969, they had their first son, Juan Manuel.

In 1970, Escobar joined the Colombian National Army, becoming a soldier in the anti-guerrilla unit known as “Los Pepes”.

Escobar’s Wife, Son and Daughter

The Colombian cartel leader Pablo Escobar had a wife, three sons and a daughter. But he died without ever knowing about the existence of his youngest child. His widow, Emma Coronel, gave birth to her third child in prison in 1993. She named him Juan Pablo Escobar Gaviria. When she got out, she told the boy that his father had been killed. He grew up believing that his father had committed mass murder.

Emma Coronel met her second husband while working as a secretary for the Colombian government. Her boss was murdered shortly after she began dating him. She later became involved with another man and left her family behind. After divorcing her second husband, Coronel moved to Spain with her son. There, she joined a cult called Opus Dei and changed her name to Maria Victoria Henao. In 1996, she returned to Colombia and married Jose Antonio Ochoa Vanegas, a member of Medellin’s Cali Cartel. They had two sons together.

In 1999, Henao met Pablo Escobar, who offered to help her start a business selling clothes for babies. Soon thereafter, Henao divorced Ochoa and took over management of the business herself. Escobar soon became romantically involved with Henao

Criminal career

Escobar began his criminal career while still a teenager, working as a thief and con artist. In 1967 he joined a car theft ring, and soon became known as one of Colombia’s best auto bandits. As he got older, Escobar branched out into drug dealing, smuggling, extortion, and murder. By the mid-1980s, Escobar had become notorious throughout Latin America.

In 1986, Colombian authorities arrested him on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine. Escobar pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence. He escaped from jail in 1990, but was recaptured three weeks later. He was sentenced to another 30 years in prison.

After serving half of his sentence, Escobar was extradited to the United States in 1991. He was convicted of importing tons of cocaine and served seven years in a Florida federal penitentiary.

He returned to Colombia in 1998, where he resumed his criminal activities. His reign of terror continued until 2003, when he was killed in a shootout with police.

How Many People Did Pablo Escobar Kill?

The death toll of Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was never known exactly. Estimates range between 7,000 and 10,000 killed during his reign of terror. Most of those victims were innocent civilians. He also murdered many police officers and judges, among others.

Escobar was responsible for the killings of thousands of people, especially politicians, civil servants, and journalists. During his reign of terror, he unleashed his wrath on his enemies in the hope of influencing Colombian politics. He wanted a no-extradiction clause and amnesty for drug lords in exchange for giving up drugs.

He was eventually captured by Colombian authorities and extradited to the United States where he received a life sentence.

Escobar at the height of his power

The rise of Pablo Emilio Escobar Gil to become one of the richest men in Latin America began in earnest during the late 1960s. A young man born into poverty, Escobar became fascinated with wealth. At age 15, he took part in a robbery of a jewelry store, and soon afterward joined the Medellin Cartel. By 1975, he had already amassed a fortune worth $1 billion.

In 1977, he founded the Cali Cartel, which grew rapidly in size and influence. Between 1980 and 1993, drug trafficking cost the lives of more than 50,000 Colombians and caused economic losses totaling almost $30 billion.

In 1983, Escobar won election to the Colombian Senate, where he served until 1985. During this period, he continued building up his empire. His control over the city of Medellin expanded dramatically, and he set about improving conditions there. He built schools and hospitals, paved streets and improved transportation systems.

He also established a foundation to help those suffering from AIDS. For many people living in impoverished areas, Escobar was a hero. But he never forgot his roots, and worked tirelessly to improve the lot of others.

Facts About the King of Cocaine

Mucho Dinero

The Medellin Cartel ruled Colombia during the 1980s, becoming one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world. Its leader, Pablo Escobar, earned an estimated $420 million per week, and according to Forbes magazine, he was the third richest person in the world.

His lavish spending included private jets, extravagant homes, and lavish parties where guests danced naked under giant disco balls. He reportedly spent $100 million on a single party.

Escobar also used his wealth to buy political influence. He paid politicians to pass laws favorable to him, and he bribed judges to avoid jail time.

In 1986, Colombian authorities arrested Escobar and extradited him to the United States. There, he was charged with trafficking tons of drugs into the U.S., and eventually convicted of murder. Escobar died in prison in 1993.

Hacienda Nápoles

The sprawling Colombian hacienda once belonged to Pablo Escobar, one of history’s greatest narco lords. He built the compound in the 1980s and lived there until his death in 1993. During his reign, the estate became a symbol of power and wealth. After his death, local residents began looting the property, taking everything of value — including paintings, cars, and even animals — while many of the buildings fell into disrepair. Today, the estate is a popular tourist destination.

Today, the estate is a major draw for tourists. Visitors can tour the grounds and take photos next to the statue of a giant crocodile. There are plenty of shops selling T-shirts and souvenirs, and you can even book tours to see the inside of some of the abandoned rooms. You can also take horseback rides around the ranch and spot some of the wildlife that lives there.

King of the Jungle

In 1991 Colombian police found Pablo Escobar dead inside one of his luxury homes. He had been shot several times. His bodyguards had killed him. But there was another man in the house – a white rhino named “Kiko.”

The rhinos are notoriously aggressive animals. Kiko was shot too, but he survived. And he escaped.

He wandered off into the jungle and eventually wound up in a small village where he met a local woman. She fed him, cared for him, and gave birth to three baby rhinos.

They grew quickly and became very popular among tourists.

But the government didn’t like it. So officials rounded up the young rhinos and took them away.

Today, just four remain.

Robin Hood

– Pablo Escobar Was Colombia’s Robin Hood”

The Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar had a reputation as a man of the people. But it wasn’t just because he gave away millions of dollars to build schools and hospitals. It was because he also paid off politicians in exchange for votes.

Escobar, whose real name was Carlos Lehder Rivas, rose to become one of South America’s most notorious criminals. In 1986, he was named head of the Medellin cartel, which controlled 80% of cocaine production in Latin America.

He went on to amass billions of dollars through drug trafficking. And while he earned the nickname “King of Cocaine,” he also came to be known as “Robin Hood.”

In fact, Escobar was such a popular figure among Colombians that he was elected to an alternative seat in the country’s congress in 1982.

But two years later, he was forced to step down after a campaign to expose him for corruption.

And the justice minister who helped lead the effort against him was gunned down.

“Plata o Plomo”

The drug lord Pablo Escobar didn’t mince words when it came to dealing with problems — either bribe or bullets. “He always wanted someone dead,” says author John E. Walsh. “If you weren’t willing to pay him off, he’d shoot you.”

Escobar believed that there was nothing wrong with killing people. If you’re going to kill someone, you might as well do it quickly and efficiently, rather than waste time negotiating over money. And while he preferred bribery, he had no problem shooting his enemies.

In 1986, Escobar was arrested in Medellin. His brother Roberto was sent into hiding. But the Colombian authorities couldn’t find enough evidence against him to extradite him to the United States. So they turned to another tactic: They told him that if he cooperated, they wouldn’t send him to prison in the US. Instead, he could spend the rest of his life living comfortably in Colombia.

After nine months of negotiations, Escobar agreed to become an informant. He began wearing a wire and recording conversations with high-ranking members of the Cali Cartel.

His goal? To bring down the entire organization.

La Catedral

In 1991 Pablo Escobar wanted to build a prison of his own design. He asked Colombian President Virgilio Barco Vargas to help fund such a project. The president agreed, and construction began in November 1991 at the site of the former San Pedro Prison.

The facility included a nightclub, a saunah, a waterfall, and even a soccer field. But most importantly, it had telephones, computers and fax machines.

Unfortunately for Escobar, those plans were derailed when he murdered two inmates while being held there. After he escaped, the government moved him to another prison.

The King Is Muerto

After his escape, the Colombian authorities launched a massive manhunt for Pablo Escobar. His death came just days after he turned 44. He had been celebrating it with friends and family, including a lavish party at his home in Colombia. But on December 3, 1993, the police raided Escobar’s mansion in Medellin. They found him dead in bed. At least one person claims that he killed himself, while others believe he was murdered.

Escobar has become known for his extravagant lifestyle, but there are some people who think that he could have survived. In fact, he did survive, but only because of help from the United States government.

Olduvai Gorge

The Olduvai Gorge is one of the oldest places on Earth. Located in the Serengeti Plains of Tanzania, it covers an area of about 200 square miles. The area contains some of the best preserved evidence of early hominin evolution. In fact, the fossils found here are among the most complete ever found.

There are three distinct geological layers in the gorge, each containing different types of fossils. These include volcanic ash, sandstone, limestone, and clay. The first layer dates back to 2.1 million years ago. Fossils of animals such as elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys, birds, fish, reptiles, and insects have been found here.

The second layer is dated to around 3.5 million years ago. Here, the fossils consist mostly of elephant bones and teeth, along with those of hyenas, lions, baboons, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and porcupines. There are also large amounts of animal dung present.

The third layer is dated to about 4.4 million years ago. Most of the fossils found here are of early humans. They include skulls, jaws, leg bones, pelves, ribs, and vertebrae. Some of the specimens show signs of having been pierced by sharp stones.

In addition to the fossils, the region hosts many important archaeological sites. Among these are the Koobi Fora and Laetoli footprints, which date back to 3.6 million years ago.

Leptis Magna

The ruins of Leptis Magna are located about 50 km south of Tripoli in western Libya. They include the remains of temples, villas, baths, public buildings, fortifications and a large amphitheater.

The site is significant because it provides evidence of the development of Roman culture in North Africa during the late Hellenistic period. The amphitheater, built around 200 CE, is the most impressive structure at the site.

Meroe

The ruined city of Meroe lies on the east bank of Lake Nasser in present-day Sudan. The city was founded in the 1st millennium BC and became the southern administrative center of the kingdom of Kush around 750 BC. In the late 3rd century AD, it became the capital of Kush. After being conquered by Aksumite forces in the 4th century AD, the city declined. The pyramids, palatial buildings, and temples of Merowe are stunning examples of the architectural and cultural achievements of the Kushites, who ruled over much of Africa during the 2nd millennium BC.

Great Zimbabwe

The extensive stone ruins of this Africa Iron Age city are located near the southeast portion of the modern day country of Zimbabwe. It is thought that the Central Ruins and surrounding valley supported a population of 10,000 – 20,000 people. The site is known for it’s stonework and other evidences of an advanced culture. The site was incorrectly attributed to various Ancient Civilizations including the Phoenicians, Greek, and Egyptian. These claims were refuted when the British Archaeologist and Anthropologist David Randall MacIver concluded in 1905, that the ruins were Medieval and of exclusively African Origin.

Rock-hewn churches of Lalībela

Lalībela, located near the capital city of Addis Ababa, is famous for its 11 rock-hewn churches. These ancient structures, carved out of solid volcanic rock over hundreds of years, contain some of the most beautiful examples of medieval art in Africa.

The churches are arranged in two groups, connected by underground passages. The larger group includes 10 churches, including the Church of Our Lady Maryam, which is notable for its frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. The smaller group consists of the Church of Saint George, known for its elaborate goldwork, and the Church of Saint Michael, where Lalībela’s grave lies.

Centuries after they were built the churches still draw thousands upon thousands of pilgrims around important religious holidays.

Timbuktu

The ancient city of Timbuktus’ location on the banks of the Niger River makes it one of the most important cities in West Africa. In 1235, the Moroccan Sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf declared himself sultan of Mali, making Timbuktu his capital. He ruled over a vast empire stretching across much of present day Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and parts of Nigeria, Chad, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Yemen.

Mali was a major player in the trans-Saharan trade routes, and Timbuktu was a prosperous city where scholars and merchants met to discuss religion, politics, economics, and art. Although the city was conquered by European powers in 1894, French colonial rule did little to change the city’s character. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, Timbuktu continues to attract thousands of tourists each year.

Who Killed Medellin Drug Kingpin Pablo Escobar?

Escobar was killed during a shootout with police forces on December 2, 1993, in what became known as “the day of the Tiles.” He was shot dead while trying to escape his house, which was surrounded by Colombian soldiers. The event is widely considered one of the biggest moments in modern Latin American history.

The man behind the gun was none other than General Gustavo Alvarez Martínez, commander of the Colombian National Police Special Forces unit called DAS. His goal was to capture Escobar alive, and he succeeded in doing so. But there are still many unanswered questions about how exactly it happened.

Pablo Escobar networth

The son of a poor farmer starts his own business and becomes one of the richest men in the world. This is the story of drug lord Pablo Escobar, whose career can be followed in the Netflix series “Narcos”.

In some scenes, such as when Escobar sits in front of a gigantic pile of wads of money, the viewer involuntarily wonders whether the series creators didn’t exaggerate a bit in depicting Escobar’s wealth. The answer: You probably understated.

Because Pablo E. was absurdly wealthy at his best. Estimates are that his fortune could have been $30 billion — of course, it’s impossible to say exactly because of the illegal origin of the money. Escobar’s very special handling of money, on the other hand, is shown in the following, better documented examples.

1. Pablo Escobar made about $420 million (€385 million) a week from his Medellín cartel

Extrapolated for the year, that is 22 billion dollars  (20.2 billion euros). This made Escobar probably the richest drug lord of all time. At the height of his power, four out of five coke lines snorted in the United States were from him and his cartel. Escobar’s men smuggled a total of 15 tons of cocaine into the United States every day – and they weren’t even particularly careful: the shipments were flown out of Colombia by plane and either dropped off the coast of Florida or directly in the American state, collected and transported on.

2. Pablo Escobar was losing $2.1 billion a year and didn’t give a damn

When you control most of the world’s cocaine trade, the revenue soon reaches proportions that make it impossible to launder all the money (we know that in miniature from Walter White in Breaking Bad). Escobar had to hide his money in old warehouses, wall it up in cartel members’ houses, or bury it in fields. He didn’t really care that the rats destroyed part of his money, for example – he didn’t know what to do with it anyway. The cartel therefore writes off around 2.1 billion dollars (1.9 billion euros) a year – for shrinkage of all kinds.

3. Pablo Escobar spent $2,500 a month on rubber bands

Somehow you have to bundle your money in the literal sense. Unfortunately, it is not known how many bills were held together with the rubber bands.

4. Pablo Escobar was on the Forbes list of the richest people in the world

From 1987 to 1993. In 1989, Escobar was even the seventh richest person in the world , according to Forbes.

5. Pablo Escobar once burned $2 million

But not just like that, but because he was worried about his children. Because while he and his family were hiding in the Colombian mountains, his daughter was in danger of becoming hypothermic. On the other hand, Escobar did what any good family man would do: he built a campfire.

6. Pablo Escobar was considered Robin Hood in Colombia

Not only did he keep his wealth to himself, he also gave cash to the poor and invested some of his wealth in houses for the homeless and soccer fields for children. That’s why they loved him.

7. Pablo Escobar built his own prison

In the early 1990s, Escobar offered the Colombian state a deal: he would end the war with the police and military and go to prison voluntarily. However, only in one that he had built himself. And the government agreed to the crazy offer: in 1991, Escobar moved into his private prison “La Catedral”  and did not have to do without any luxury there: terraces, barbecue areas and a soccer field were part of the facilities. Escobar was also able to continue his business from prison, allegedly he also let cocaine and prostitutes come to jail. In any case, he was allowed to receive visitors whenever he wanted. Perhaps for this reason the prison was very close to another property he had built for his family.