Pablo Escobar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gavaria
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| Born | December 1, 1949 |
| Died | December 2, 1993 (aged 44) |
| Occupation | Leader of the Medellín Cartel |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Victoria Henao |
| Children | Juan Pablo Escobar Manuela Escobar Gabe Jones |
| Parent(s) | Abel de Jesús Escobar Echeverri, Hermilda de los Dolores Gaviria Berrío |
| Criminal penalty | Sentenced to 60 years in prison |
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (born December 1, 1949 – died December 2, 1993) was a powerful figure from Colombia. He became known for leading a large group involved in illegal activities. Many people believe he was one of the wealthiest people in history who gained his money through crime. In 1989, Forbes magazine estimated he had about US $25 billion.
Escobar's story is still talked about today. While many people strongly disagreed with his actions, some in Colombia saw him as a "Robin Hood-like" person. This was because he helped build things like houses and soccer fields for poor communities. After he died, more than 25,000 people attended his funeral. His large private estate, Hacienda Nápoles, has even been turned into a theme park. His life has also inspired many movies, TV shows, and songs.
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Early life
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, Antioquia Department, Colombia. He was the third of seven children. He grew up in a poor area in the nearby city of Medellin. His father was a small farmer, and his mother was a teacher.
Escobar left high school in 1966, just before his 17th birthday. He returned two years later with his cousin, Gustavo Gaviria. Life on the streets of Medellin was tough, and they became very street-smart. They left school again after more than a year. Escobar, however, found ways to get fake high school diplomas. He then tried to study in college, hoping to become a lawyer, a politician, and even the president. But he had to stop because he didn't have enough money.
Rise to power
In 1976, Escobar started a group called the Medellín Cartel. This group created ways to move goods illegally from countries like Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, through Colombia, and into the United States. He quickly became one of the richest people in the world. However, he was constantly in conflict with other groups, which led to many problems and the deaths of police officers and important people.
In 1982, Escobar was elected as a member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. Through this role, he helped with community projects. He built houses and soccer fields, which made him popular among the people in the towns he visited.
In 1991, Escobar turned himself in to the authorities. He was sentenced to five years in prison for various charges. He made a special agreement with the Colombian President, César Gaviria. This agreement meant he would not be sent to another country for trial. Instead, he was allowed to stay in his own self-built prison, called La Catedral. In 1992, authorities tried to move him to a more regular prison. Escobar escaped and went into hiding, leading to a large search across the country.
Death
In 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed in his hometown by the Colombian National Police. This happened one day after his 44th birthday.
Family life
In March 1976, when he was 26 years old, Escobar married María Victoria Henao, who was 15. Her family did not approve of the marriage, thinking Escobar was not good enough for her. So, the couple ran away and got married. They had two children together: a son named Juan Pablo (who later changed his name to Sebastián Marroquín) and a daughter named Manuela.
See also
In Spanish: Pablo Escobar para niños
