How Much Do You Know About The King Of Cocaine?

Pablo Escobar remains one of the most infamous and complex figures in modern history. While most of the world sees him as the ruthless leader of the powerful Medellín Cartel, others see him as a benevolent Robin Hood figure because of his philanthropic actions. No matter how you see it, however, his story is undeniably intriguing, filled with lavish estates, absurd wealth, and a reign that both horrified and fascinated the world. Here are 20 facts about the infamous Pablo Escobar. 

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1. He Had A Private Army

At the height of his power, Escobar had thousands of armed men at his disposal. This included hitmen, bodyguards, and enforcers with automatic rifles, explosives, and even military vehicles.

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2. He Was One Of The Wealthiest People In The World

Forbes Magazine listed Escobar as the seventh richest man in the world in 1989. He had a personal net worth of $25 billion ($50 billion in today's money), and his cartel was making an estimated $200 million daily.

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3. He Offered To Pay Off His Country's Debt

In the 1980s, Escobar reportedly offered to pay off Colombia's debt of $10 billion in exchange for immunity from extradition. However, this was more of a PR stunt than a real offer, designed to make him look patriotic to the public.

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4. He Had A Private Zoo

Escobar was so absurdly wealthy that he had his own private zoo located on his massive estate, Hacienda Nápoles. He imported a variety of exotic animals like hippos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, exotic birds, and big cats. 

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5. He Was Nicknamed Robin Hood

Escobar spent large sums of money building schools, hospitals, soccer fields, and housing for the poor. This earned him the image of a benevolent "Robin Hood" figure and helped him gain local support, despite his criminal activities.

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6. He Escaped From Prison

Escobar escaped from prison in 1992 after the Colombian authorities attempted to transfer him from the luxurious prison he had built to a normal one. He walked out of the prison he helped build, manned with his own loyal bodyguards. It sparked a country-wide manhunt.

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7. He Had A Brief Political Career

In the early 1980s, Escobar wanted to gain legitimacy by entering politics. He was elected as an alternate member of the Colombian Chamber of Representatives, but his hopes were dashed by the opposition, who exposed his criminal ties. He was forced to resign, and the justice minister who led the investigation was assassinated.

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8. He Was Ruthless

Escobar was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 4,000 people, including presidential candidates, government ministers, Supreme Court justices, police officers, journalists, and innocent civilians. His cartel even allegedly blew up a plane carrying 100 people. 

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9. He Built His Own Prison

In 1991, he offered the Colombian government to give himself up as long as he could serve his sentence in a prison of his own design. The result was the lavish "La Catedral," which had its own club, gym, soccer field, bar, jacuzzi, and waterfall.

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10. His Cartel Supplied The World's Cocaine

A whopping 80 percent of the world's cocaine was controlled by Escobar's Medellín Cartel. They smuggle about 15 tons of cocaine into the US every day. 

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11. He Used "Plata o Plomo" Threats

Escobar launched a war against the Colombian government after it threatened to extradite drug traffickers to the US. He used the strategy "plata o plomo" (silver or lead), which means you either accept a bribe or face assassination, to control government officials.

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12. He Was Killed In A Shootout

Escobar's escape from prison proved to be his ultimate downfall. The country was on a fully fledged manhunt for him, and it culminated in a shootout with the Colombian National Police the day after his 44th birthday. 

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13. He Had A Lavish Lifestyle

Escobar owned several luxury estates, private jets, and a huge collection of luxury cars. He often hosted high-profile guests and held extravagant parties. He walked around with bags full of cash and was known to literally burn money.

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14. He's The Reason There Are Hippos In Colombia

Escobar imported exotic animals from Africa and India for his private zoo, including hippos. The hippos ended up becoming an invasive species in Colombia. They continue to thrive in the country's rivers.

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15. His Cartel Collapsed After His Death

Escobar's Medellín Cartel largely collapsed after he died in 1993. Internal conflicts intensified, and law and military pressure increased, taking advantage of the weakened leadership.

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16. He Started Out Selling Gravestones

Before he was a famous drug lord, Escobar dealt gravestones, erasing inscriptions on older ones and reselling them. He also stole cars, sold cigarettes, and sold fake lottery tickets. 

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17. Rats Ate His Money

Because there was so much cash coming in, Escobar had to get creative with where to stash it. Much of it was buried or hidden in walls, which, over time, got infested with rats. About 10 percent (millions of dollars) of Escobar's massive fortune was allegedly eaten by rats.

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18. His Funeral Was Massive

Despite the terror he inflicted on his own people, Escobar's funeral was a massive spectacle. It drew over 25,000 mourners, many of whom came from poor families who benefited from his public works.

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19. His Death Remains Contested

Escobar had a motto: "We prefer a grave in Colombia to a cell in the U.S." This led many people close to him to speculate that he wasn't shot by police, but instead, took his own life.

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20. His Legacy Is Paradoxical

Escobar was responsible for the deaths of thousands, left terror, and suffering in his wake. However, he also poured money into poor communities, giving him a conflicting legacy. He's seen as a ruthless terrorist by some and a folk hero by others.

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