Pablo Escobar’s net worth: what happened to his money after passing?

Pablo Escobar, recognized as one of history’s wealthiest and most influential individuals, earned staggering daily profits as a notorious drug kingpin. Operating the Medellín Drug Cartel, renowned for its extreme violence, Escobar amassed immense wealth. Explore Pablo Escobar’s net worth and the destination of his fortune following his demise.

Engaging in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering is a risky endeavor pursued by individuals seeking rapid wealth. In Colombia, drug lords have consistently faced challenges in their ongoing conflicts with law enforcement. The wealth amassed by Pablo Escobar from such activities continues to be unearthed even today.

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What was Pablo Escobar’s net worth?

When Pablo Escobar passed away in 1993, his net worth was estimated to be around $30 billion. His vast wealth was primarily amassed through involvement in illegal drug trade, solidifying his status as one of the wealthiest criminals in history.

How much would Pablo Escobar be worth today?

As of today, Pablo Escobar’s estimated peak net worth would be approximately $70 billion. This substantial fortune was accumulated through his notorious involvement in the drug trade.

How much did Pablo Escobar make per day?

It is claimed that Pablo Escobar received more than $50 million in cash daily from his illicit drug sales. The Medellin Drug Cartel, under his leadership, was immensely influential and, at its zenith, supplied approximately 80% of illicit drugs in the United States. The cartel managed to smuggle 15 tons of narcotics into the United States each day.

Facing constant pursuit by authorities, Escobar lived a life on the run. At a certain juncture, he reportedly offered the Republic of Colombia a staggering $10 billion in exchange for a complete pardon for his criminal activities.

At one point, while evading capture, Pablo Escobar reportedly burned $2 million to stay warm, and annually, he accounted for $500 million as spoilage. During the peak of the cartel’s activities, it is estimated that they generated over $70 million per day. Escobar’s illicit trade brought in around $420 million every week.

What happened to Pablo Escobar’s money?

After Pablo Escobar’s death, the Colombian government confiscated a significant portion of his wealth, compelling his family to relinquish any remaining liquid assets. Additionally, funds associated with his close associates were seized by the government.

Rival factions, such as the Cali cartel and Los PEPES, demanded compensation for their role in bringing down the drug lord. Consequently, these groups pressured Escobar’s family to surrender any liquid assets left by the government, resulting in further losses of assets and cash for the family.

Some members of Escobar’s cartel also engaged in looting the remaining funds for personal gain, aiming to secure their financial stability following the demise of their leader.

The surviving members of Pablo Escobar’s immediate family relied on the remaining funds after his demise. The drug lord had not specified a designated amount for his children in case of his death. However, two of his siblings, Roberto and Alba Marina, had some access to his estate.

When the children depleted their funds, Sebastian, Escobar‘s son, approached his aunt Alba to retrieve $60 million from a secret hiding place. Upon Alba’s return, she reported that there was hardly any money left. Sebastian alleged that his aunt had stolen the funds.

Sebastian also accused his uncle Robert of betraying the family by writing a book containing false claims for personal gain. Due to security concerns, the immediate family of the drug lord relocated across various countries. Eventually, they settled in Argentina, leading a middle-class life.

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What happened to Pablo Escobar’s houses?

The residences of the drug lord have been repurposed into tourist attractions and a hotel, as detailed below.

Hacienda Nápoles

Pablo’s renowned estate, known as Hacienda Nápoles, was situated in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia. The estate included a Spanish colonial residence, an airstrip, a zoo, and a kart-racing track.

Pablo had brought in hippos from Africa, and their descendants still inhabit the property. Currently, Hacienda Nápoles has been transformed into a theme park.

La Catedral

Upon his arrest, the affluent drug lord negotiated with authorities to construct his own prison instead of being confined to a conventional one. This custom-built facility, known as La Catedral, allowed him to live in luxury.

The premises boasted amenities such as a bar, a disco area for hosting wedding receptions, a jacuzzi, sauna, a waterfall, and a billiards room. Additionally, there was a full-size dollhouse for visits from his daughter, Manuela Escobar.

Remarkably, law enforcement officers were prohibited from coming within a 12-mile radius of his prison. Following his death, the property was left abandoned. However, a group of Benedictines later repurposed it into a meditation site for individuals seeking a retreat from urban life.

La Manuela party mansion

La Manuela served as a vacation or party mansion for the Escobar family, having been constructed over a five-year period. The family enjoyed significant time at the mansion. Unfortunately, a rival cartel extensively damaged it in 1993. Presently, La Manuela has been transformed into a tourist attraction site accessible to the public.

Tulum house

Pablo Escobar possessed an opulent residence in Tulum, Mexico, which remained abandoned for a period. In 2012, Lio Malca, a gallery owner and art collector, acquired the property. Malca transformed it into a boutique hotel named Casa Malca, showcasing his extensive art collections.

Isla Grande house

Pablo Escobar possessed an extravagant estate on Island Grande in the Caribbean, consisting of individual apartments, a swimming pool, and a helipad. It was speculated that the separate apartments served as accommodations for his cartel members. Presently, the property is in a state of disrepair, with half of it demolished, and it has become a habitat for wild animals.

Miami house

Before his death, Pablo Escobar possessed a lavish 6,500-square-foot mansion in Miami Beach, boasting four bedrooms. The U.S. government seized the property while he was alive and subsequently sold it to another individual. In 2016, the new owner, Christian de Berdouare, opted to demolish the house and construct a new one to suit his preferences.

During the demolition, de Berdouare discovered a metal safe. Although a second safe was located beneath the floor, it was stolen. The first safe remains stored in a bank vault, unopened to this day.

Was Pablo Escobar’s money found on a farm?

In 2015, Jose Mariena Cartolos stumbled upon a staggering $600 million in various large blue containers while excavating trenches for irrigation on his family’s land. The funds were suspected to be a portion of the drug lord’s wealth.

Taking an honorable stance, Cartolos turned over the discovered money to the authorities. In recognition of his act, the Colombian government rewarded him with a $3,000 grant for surrendering the substantial sum.

Is Pablo Escobar’s money still buried?

The infamous drug lord was known for stashing large amounts of cash within walls, beneath floors, and in concealed areas while on the run, leading to ongoing discoveries of his hidden wealth.

In 2020, headlines surfaced revealing that Pablo’s money had been located inside a wall in one of his residences. His nephew, who made the discovery, asserted that the amount was approximately $18 million, attributing the revelation to a vision that precisely guided him to the location of the money:

Every time I sat in the dining room and looked towards the car park, I saw a man entering the place and disappearing…The smell was astonishing. A smell 100 times worse than something that had died.

Nevertheless, a portion of the banknotes was already in a deteriorated condition and deemed unusable. He mentioned that this discovery wasn’t the initial instance of finding money on the property where he had resided for five years. Previous findings included a gold pen, an undeveloped roll of film, satellite phones, and a typewriter.

Finding Escobar’s Millions – the TV show

In November 2017, a television program named “Finding Escobar’s Millions” was broadcast. The documentary series focused on the quest to discover any remaining money concealed by the drug lord. In the show, two former CIA agents embarked on a journey to Colombia, employing modern technology to locate any hidden cash.

How did Escobar die?

The drug kingpin met his demise in 1993 when he was fatally shot by Colombian policemen. This occurred after the authorities discovered his hideout, concluding an extensive search for him.

Did Pablo Escobar leave any family members behind?

The drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar, was wed to Maria Victoria Henao, and together they had two children. Their son, Juan, later adopted the name Marroquin, while their daughter goes by the name Manuela.

What is Pablo Escobar’s son’s net worth?

Sebastián Marroquín, the son of Escobar, is reported to have an approximate net worth of $30 million. Residing in Argentina, he works as an architect but has made visits to Colombia to honor his father’s resting place. Additionally, he has authored works that provide insights into life within the household of a drug dealer.

Did Pablo Escobar’s son inherit the money?

The exact wealth inherited by Pablo Escobar’s son has not been disclosed, as the details of the inheritance arrangements are kept confidential.

What is Pablo Escobar’s wife’s net worth?

Maria Victoria Henao, Pablo Escobar’s wife, is estimated to have a net worth of $30 million. Born in 1961, she was married to Pablo for 17 years. Maria is a designer and businesswoman currently residing in Buenos Aires.

Which drug did Pablo sell?

The notorious drug lord gained infamy for trafficking illegal substances into the United States. At the height of his operations, his cartel supplied approximately 80% of the illegal substances in the country.

How much money did Pablo Escobar spend on rubber bands?

The drug lord accumulated such immense wealth that he reportedly spent around $2,500 weekly on rubber bands, as disclosed by his brother, Roberto.

How much money did Pablo Escobar lose to rats?

Roberto reported that approximately 10% of the drug lord’s money, totaling around $2.1 billion, was either lost to rats or destroyed by the elements.

Pablo Escobar vs El Chapo’s net worth

In a comparison of their net worths, Pablo Escobar, and El Chapo, also known as Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, are considered two of the world’s most powerful drug traffickers. While Pablo Escobar amassed a net worth of $30 billion as the leader of the Medellin Cartel, El Chapo’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion as the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Key facts about Pablo Escobar

• His father was a farmer, while his mother was a schoolteacher.
• He married Maria Victoria Henao, who was then just 15.
• He bought a Learjet specifically for flying his cash.
• He was first arrested in 1974.
• He tried to pay off Colombia’s debt.
• In 1989, Forbes magazine declared him as the world’s 7th-richest man.
• Before getting into the drug trade, he sold stolen tombstones to smugglers and stole cars.
• He ordered the killing of numerous civilians and government officials.
• He bought a lot of rubber bands to organize his money.
• He was blamed for bombing Avianca Flight 203 in 1989.
• He died on 2 December 1993, just a day after his 44th birthday.

At the time of his death, Pablo Escobar had accumulated an estimated net worth of $30 billion, primarily derived from his involvement in drug trafficking. Following his demise, a significant portion of his wealth was seized by the government, acquired by members of the Medellin Drug Cartel, and claimed by his rivals.