Pablo Escobar Net Worth: How the Notorious Drug Lord Became 1 of the 10 Richest People Until His Death

Pablo Escobar is one of the big names in the illegal drug trade, not just in Colombia but also in its neighboring countries, such as Mexico. Escobar's name precedes him, with all the news about his notorious crimes, ingenious drug trafficking methods, and overwhelming wealth.

The late Colombian drug kingpin was born into a humble family and was the third child of a smallholder farmer and a schoolteacher. Their family's farm was in the village of El Tablazo, where he spent much of his formative years.

He then moved with his family to the neighborhood of La Paz, close to Medellin, and launched his criminal career in 1996. Reports said that the teenager Escobar started by stealing tombstones, which he sandblasted and resold. However, some sources believe it was not the case.

Some claimed that Escobar started running street scams by selling fake lottery tickets to moving into car theft. He then became more involved in bigger crimes when he started kidnapping VIPs for ransom.

Pablo Escobar Net Worth at Peak

Pablo Escobar's initial criminal group kidnapped local industrialist Diego Echavarria in 1971. However, the victim was still killed despite paying the $50,000 ransom. It was in the same year that Escobar made his career in the cocaine smuggling trade. In the mid-1970s, the drug kingpin formed the Medellin Cartel.

Escobar had a peak net worth of $30 billion during his lifetime, with Medellin Cartel distributing 80% of the world's cocaine market at the time. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Escobar was among the 10 wealthiest people in the world, with his multi-billion net worth at the height of his criminal career.

His cartel managed to smuggle 15 tons of cocaine into the U.S. daily. He managed to smuggle the drugs between Colombia, Panama, and routes across the U.S. By the mid-80s, the Medellin Cartel was reportedly netting around $420 million a week.

Some of his luxurious estates include Hacienda Napoles in Puerto Triunfo in Colombia. It was a 7,000-acre country estate, with the entrance arch embellished with a replica of Escobar's plane.

The hacienda also housed more than 200 exotic animals, including elephants, giraffes, and hippos. Escobar also bought a pastel-pink Miami beach house for $765,500, which his cartel men used as a cocaine drop safehouse.

Escobar's favorite getaway place was his estate, La Manuela, named after his daughter. It was reportedly built with double-layered walls so cocaine and cash could be hidden away.

The mansion was bombed by a vigilante group known as Los Pepes. According to Atlas Obscura, they were allegedly funded by rival Cali Cartel and other enemies of Escobar.

Escobar also had a hideout in Tulum, Mexico, called Casa Malca. It was abandoned after his death in 1993 and was not rediscovered until 2003. The drug kingpin has an affection for lavish real estate properties.

When he was imprisoned, he created a compound called "La Catedral," known for its grandeur. It was unofficially called "Club Medellin" or "Hotel Escobar." It featured a bathroom with a jacuzzi and a bedroom with a circular, rotating bed.

What Happened to Pablo Escobar's Money After His Death?

The Colombian government confiscated a huge part of Pablo Escobar's money after he died. Government officials forced his family to sign over any liquid assets he left behind and seized the money that could be traced back to his close associates.

The Cali Cartel and Los Pepes also took some of his possessions and money, while some cartel members stole properties and cash from the family, who used the little remaining money left after Escobar's death.

Escobar left no money for his children in the event of his passing. However, two of his siblings, Alba Marina and Roberto, had some access to his estate.

Escobar's son, Sebastian, allegedly asked his aunt Alba to retrieve $60 million from a secret hiding place. However, Alba came back and said there was barely any money left.

Sebastian believed that his aunt had stolen the money. The Escobars fled Colombia and lived a middle-class life in Argentina.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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