Early Life and Education of Pablo Escobar: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Pablo Escobar. A timeline of key moments.

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord and the leader of the Medellín Cartel. Known as the "King of Cocaine," he amassed a vast fortune, estimated at $30 billion, by monopolizing the cocaine trade into the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s. His cartel's operations involved widespread violence and corruption, making him a notorious figure in history.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1948: Construction of Miami Beach Mansion

In 1948, a waterfront mansion was built at 5860 North Bay Road in Miami Beach, Florida. This property was later owned by Pablo Escobar.

December 1949: Birth of Pablo Escobar

In December 1949, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born in Rionegro, Antioquia Department, Colombia, into a family of Spanish origin with Basque roots. He was the third of seven children and grew up in poverty in Medellín.

Others born on this day/year

December 1949: Pablo Escobar's Birth

In December 1949, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born. He later became a notorious Colombian drug lord, narcoterrorist, politician, and the founder and leader of the Medellín Cartel.

Others born on this day/year

1966: Escobar Drops Out of High School

In 1966, Pablo Escobar dropped out of high school shortly before his 17th birthday, before returning two years later with his cousin Gustavo Gaviria.

1971: Kidnapping of Diego Echavarria

In the summer of 1971, Pablo Escobar's gang kidnapped businessman Diego Echavarria and eventually killed him after receiving a $50,000 ransom from the Echavarria family. This incident made Escobar's gang well known for kidnapping.

March 1976: Escobar's Marriage to María Victoria Henao

In March 1976, 26-year-old Pablo Escobar married 15-year-old María Victoria Henao. The relationship was initially discouraged by the Henao family, but the pair eloped.

May 1976: Escobar's Arrest in Ecuador

In May 1976, Pablo Escobar was arrested in Ecuador on his return from drug trafficking. Agents found 39 kg of cocaine hidden in his car's spare tire, though he later bribed a judge to secure his release.

1976: Founding of the Medellín Cartel

In 1976, Pablo Escobar founded the Medellín Cartel, a powerful drug trafficking organization. The cartel established the first smuggling routes from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, through Colombia, and eventually into the United States, distributing powder cocaine.

1976: Investigation of Escobar's Arrest

In 1976, Rodrigo Lara-Bonilla's subordinates investigated Pablo Escobar's arrest. Lara-Bonilla later became a strong opponent of Escobar.

April 1978: Meeting of Drug Lords

In April 1978, Pablo Escobar met several drug lords on a farm, leading to the expansion of the Medellín Cartel. By the end of the year, they had transported approximately 19,000 kilograms of cocaine to the United States.

1978: Development of Norman's Cay

In 1978, Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lehder began developing Norman's Cay in the Bahamas as a trans-shipment point for the Medellín Cartel, purchasing land to construct an airstrip, harbor, hotel, and a refrigerated warehouse to store cocaine.

1982: Escobar Enters Politics and is Elected to Colombian Congress

In 1982, Pablo Escobar entered politics and was elected to the Colombian Congress. He was an alternate, automatically granted parliamentary immunity and a diplomatic passport. Simultaneously, he became known as the "Paisa Robin Hood" due to his charitable work.

1982: Purchase of Hacienda Nápoles

In 1982, Pablo Escobar purchased 20 square kilometers of land in Antioquia to build the Hacienda Nápoles, a luxurious estate featuring a zoo, a lake, a sculpture garden, and a private bullring.

1982: Escobar elected to Chamber of Representatives

In 1982, Pablo Escobar was elected as an alternate member of the Chamber of Representatives in the Colombian parliamentary election as part of the Liberal Party. This role allowed him to initiate community projects but also made him a target for government opposition.

January 1984: Escobar Announces Retirement from Politics

In January 1984, after being expelled from the Liberal Party, Pablo Escobar announced his retirement from politics, although this did not end his involvement in criminal activities.

1984: Assassination of Rodrigo Lara

In 1984, Rodrigo Lara, Colombia's justice minister, was assassinated. Sebastián Marroquín sought forgiveness from Lara's sons in the documentary "Sins of My Father".

November 1985: Escobar Requests Conditional Surrender

In the fall of November 1985, Pablo Escobar requested the Colombian government to allow his conditional surrender without extradition to the United States. The proposal was rejected and Escobar subsequently supported the Los Extraditable Organization, which fought against the extradition policy.

1986: Colombia's Supreme Court Declares Extradition Treaty Illegal

In late 1986, Colombia's Supreme Court declared the previous extradition treaty illegal because it had been signed by a presidential delegation and not the president. This was a short-lived victory for Escobar, as the new president quickly renewed the agreement with the United States.

1988: Car Bombing of Edificio Mónaco

In 1988, the Edificio Mónaco, built for Escobar's wife, was gutted by a Cali Cartel car bomb and remained unoccupied until it was demolished in 2019.

August 1989: Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán

On August 18, 1989, Luis Carlos Galán was assassinated on Pablo Escobar's orders. Escobar also planted a bomb on Avianca Flight 203 in an attempt to assassinate Galán's successor, César Gaviria Trujillo, resulting in the deaths of all 107 people on board.

1989: Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán

In 1989, presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán was assassinated. Sebastián Marroquín sought forgiveness from Galán's sons in the documentary "Sins of My Father".

1991: Escobar Surrenders to Authorities

In 1991, Pablo Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities after negotiating a deal for a reduced sentence and preferential treatment during captivity. The extradition of Colombian citizens to the United States was prohibited by the newly approved Colombian Constitution of 1991.

July 1992: Escobar Escapes from La Catedral

On July 22, 1992, Pablo Escobar escaped from his luxurious private prison, La Catedral, after the government attempted to move him to a more conventional jail due to reports of his continued criminal activities.

1992: Escobar Escapes From Prison

In 1992, Pablo Escobar escaped from La Catedral when authorities attempted to move him to a standard holding facility, leading to a nationwide manhunt and the eventual crumbling of the Medellín Cartel.

December 1993: Death of Pablo Escobar in Medellín

On December 2, 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed in Medellín by Colombian special forces, who were using technology provided by the United States to track him down after he made a call to his family. He was shot while trying to escape from the roof.

1993: Death of Pablo Escobar

In 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed in his hometown by the Colombian National Police, one day after his 44th birthday, marking the end of his reign and the downfall of the Medellín Cartel.

1995: Family Flees Colombia

In 1995, Escobar's widow, son, and daughter fled Colombia due to safety concerns. The Cali Cartel spared them, due to Maria's demonstrated loyalty to Pablo.

October 2006: Exhumation of Escobar's Body

On October 28, 2006, Escobar's body was exhumed to confirm paternity and remove doubts about the body's identity, leading to controversy and accusations of exploitation by relatives.

2008: Case Reopened

In 2008, Vallejo's statements about Escobar financing the Palace of Justice siege led to the reopening of the case, prompting her testimony and confirming events through Colombia's Commission of Truth.

August 2011: Santofimio Sentenced

In August 2011, Santofimio was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his involvement in Galán's assassination.

2014: Purchase by Christian de Berdouare

In 2014, Christian de Berdouare, proprietor of the Chicken Kitchen fast-food chain, bought the dilapidated Miami Beach mansion that was previously owned by Pablo Escobar.

June 2018: Accusation of Money Laundering

On June 5, 2018, María Isabel Santos Caballero (formerly María Henao) and her son, Sebastián Marroquín Santos, were accused by Argentine federal judge Nestor Barral of money laundering with two Colombian drug traffickers, leading to the seizing of assets.

February 2019: Demolition of Edificio Mónaco

On February 22, 2019, Medellín authorities demolished the Edificio Mónaco, a former apartment complex of Escobar, to honor cartel victims and showcase the city's evolution.