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 immense wealth, estimated at $30 billion, by monopolizing the cocaine trade to the US in the 1980s and early 1990s. His actions involved narcoterrorism and significantly impacted Colombia's social and political landscape during that period. Escobar's influence and wealth made him one of history's wealthiest and most notorious criminals.

Sections (5)

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

1948: Construction of Miami Beach mansion

In 1948, the four-bedroom estate, built on Biscayne Bay at 5860 North Bay Road in Miami Beach, Florida, was constructed.

December 1949: Pablo Escobar's Birth

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

Others born on this day/year

1966: Escobar Leaves High School

In 1966, Pablo Escobar left high school just 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, who was eventually killed, and Escobar received a $50,000 ransom from the Echavarria family.

March 1976: Escobar marries María Victoria Henao

In March 1976, the 26-year-old Escobar married María Victoria Henao, who was 15. The relationship was discouraged by the Henao family.

May 1976: Escobar's Arrest and Release

In May 1976, Pablo Escobar was arrested by the Colombian Security Service (DAS) for drug trafficking in Ecuador. He was found with 39 kg of cocaine, but managed to bribe a judge for his release.

1982: Purchase of Hacienda Nápoles

In 1982, with the profits from the Norman's Cay route, Pablo Escobar purchased 20 square kilometers of land in Antioquia to build the Hacienda Nápoles.

November 1985: Los Extraditable Organization

In November 1985, Pablo Escobar requested the Colombian government to allow his conditional surrender without extradition to the United States. The proposal was initially rejected, and Escobar subsequently founded and implicitly supported the Los Extraditable Organization, which aims to fight extradition policy

1985: Escobar's role in the Palace of Justice siege

In 1985, according to Virginia Vallejo, Escobar financed the Palace of Justice siege which was committed by M-19; she blamed the army for the killings of more than 100 people.

1986: Supreme Court Declares Extradition Treaty Illegal

In late 1986, Colombia's Supreme Court declared the previous extradition treaty illegal due to being signed by a presidential delegation, not the president.

August 1989: Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán and Bombing of Avianca Flight 203

In August 1989, Pablo Escobar ordered the assassination of Luis Carlos Galán and planted a bomb on Avianca Flight 203 in an attempt to assassinate César Gaviria Trujillo, resulting in the deaths of 107 people.

1991: Escobar's Surrender

In 1991, Pablo Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities after negotiations with the government, in exchange for a reduced sentence and preferential treatment, and the newly approved Colombian Constitution of 1991 prohibited extradition of Colombian citizens to the United States.

1991: Escobar's Surrender and Imprisonment

In 1991, Pablo Escobar surrendered to authorities and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, but struck a deal of no extradition with Colombian President César Gaviria and being housed in his own prison.

July 1992: Escobar's Escape from La Catedral

On 22 July 1992, Pablo Escobar escaped from his luxurious private prison, La Catedral, after the government attempted to move him to a more conventional jail, leading him to evade the police for the remainder of his life.

1992: Escobar's Escape from La Catedral

In 1992, Pablo Escobar escaped and went into hiding when authorities attempted to move him to a more standard holding facility, leading to a nationwide manhunt.

1995: Escobar's family flees Colombia

In 1995, Escobar's widow (María Henao), son (Juan Pablo) and daughter (Manuela) fled Colombia after failing to find a country that would grant them asylum.

July 2006: Vallejo taken to the United States for safety reasons

On July 18, 2006, Virginia Vallejo was taken to the United States on a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) flight for "safety and security reasons" because of her cooperation in high-profile criminal cases.

October 2006: Escobar's body exhumed for DNA sample

On October 28, 2006, Escobar's body was exhumed at the request of some of his relatives in order to take a DNA sample to confirm the alleged paternity of an illegitimate child and remove all doubt about the identity of the body.

2008: Reopening of the Palace of Justice siege case

In 2008, Virginia Vallejo's statements prompted the reopening of the case regarding the 1985 Palace of Justice siege. Vallejo was asked to testify, and many of the events she described in her book and testimonial were confirmed by Colombia's Commission of Truth.

Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar / Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar (MTI) (Spanish Edition)

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2009: Escobar's hippos escape and attack

In 2009, two adults and one calf hippopotamus escaped the herd and, after attacking humans and killing cattle, one of the adults (called "Pepe") was killed by hunters.

August 2011: Santofimio sentenced to prison for Galán's assassination

In August 2011 Santofimio was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in Luis Carlos Galán's assassination.

February 2019: Demolition of Edificio Mónaco

On February 22, 2019, Medellín authorities demolished the six-story Edificio Mónaco apartment complex, where Escobar planned attacks. A park honoring cartel victims was planned in its place.