Pablo Escobar was born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, Colombia. He grew up in the city of Medellin, where he began his criminal activities as a young man. Escobar’s rise to power in the drug trade began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was the leader of the Medellin Cartel, which was responsible for an estimated 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States.
As the leader of the Medellin Cartel, Escobar became incredibly wealthy, with his net worth peaking at around $30 billion. He used his vast fortune to fund a wide range of activities, including political campaigns, soccer teams, and even a zoo filled with exotic animals. At the height of his power, Escobar was considered one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world.
However, Escobar’s violent tactics drew the attention of the Colombian government and the international community. He was responsible for countless acts of terrorism and violence, including the bombing of an Avianca flight that killed 107 people. In 1991, Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities, but he continued to run his criminal empire from prison.
In 1992, Escobar escaped from prison and went into hiding. A massive manhunt was launched to capture him, and in 1993, he was tracked down and killed by Colombian police. The legacy of Pablo Escobar remains controversial, with some viewing him as a Robin Hood-like figure who improved the lives of many poor Colombians, while others see him as a ruthless criminal who caused immeasurable harm to his country and its people.
