How Pablo Escobar Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Pablo Escobar across different fields.

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord and the leader of the Medellín Cartel. Known as the "King of Cocaine," he became one of the wealthiest criminals in history, controlling a significant portion of the cocaine trade into the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s. His cartel's activities and immense wealth made him a notorious and influential figure.

Sections (5)

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

October 2006: Escobar's Body Exhumed

On 28 October 2006, Escobar's body was exhumed at the request of some of his relatives to take a DNA sample to confirm the alleged paternity of an illegitimate child and remove all doubt about the identity of the body that had been buried next to his parents for 12 years.

2007: Hippo population grows

By 2007, hippos at Hacienda Nápoles, which Escobar kept, had multiplied to 16 and had taken to roaming the area for food in the nearby Magdalena River.

2007: Two Major Feature Films on Escobar Announced

In 2007, two major feature films on Escobar, 'Escobar' (2009) and 'Killing Pablo' (2011), were announced.

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2009: Release of 'Sins of My Father' documentary

In 2009, Argentinian filmmaker Nicolas Entel's documentary 'Sins of My Father' chronicles Sebastián Marroquín's efforts to seek forgiveness, on behalf of his father, from the sons of Rodrigo Lara and Luis Carlos Galán, who were assassinated in 1984 and 1989 respectively.

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2009: Escaped Hippos Attack Humans and Cattle

In 2009, two adult hippos and one calf escaped the herd and, after attacking humans and killing cattle, one of the adults (called "Pepe") was killed by hunters under authorization of the local authorities.

2009: Release of 'Escobar' Film

The feature film 'Escobar' was released in 2009.

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October 2010: 'Sins of My Father' Premieres on HBO

In October 2010, the documentary 'Sins of My Father', which chronicles Marroquín's efforts to seek forgiveness, premiered in the U.S. on HBO after being shown at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

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2011: Release of 'Killing Pablo' Film

The feature film 'Killing Pablo' was released in 2011.

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2014: Hippo population reaches 40

As of early 2014, 40 hippos have been reported to exist in Puerto Triunfo, Antioquia Department, from the original four belonging to Escobar.

2014: Roberto Escobar founds Escobar Inc.

In 2014, Roberto Escobar founded Escobar Inc with Olof K. Gustafsson and registered Successor-In-Interest rights for his brother Pablo Escobar in California, United States.

2014: Publication of 'Pablo Escobar, My Father'

In 2014, Sebastián Marroquín published 'Pablo Escobar, My Father' under his birth name. The book provides a firsthand insight into details of his father's life and describes the fundamentally disintegrating effect of his death upon the family.

2016: Projected Hippo Population Growth

As of 2016, without management, the population size is likely to more than double in the next decade.

2018: Differing Opinions on Impact of Hippos

In 2018, National Geographic published an article which found disagreement among environmentalists on whether the hippos were having a positive or negative impact, but that conservationists and locals were mostly in support of their continued presence.

February 2019: Demolition of Edificio Mónaco

On 22 February 2019, Medellín authorities demolished the six-story Edificio Mónaco apartment complex where Escobar planned some of his attacks. It was demolished to erect a park honoring cartel victims.