Pablo Escobar (1949–1993) was the Colombian drug lord and founder of the Medellín Cartel, dubbed the "King of Cocaine" for monopolizing the US cocaine trade in the 1980s, amassing an estimated net worth of US$30 billion. After growing up in poverty, he built his empire from 1976 onward, smuggling cocaine via routes from Peru and Bolivia, but his brutal methods—including assassinations and bombings—led to a nationwide manhunt and constant conflicts with rival cartels. He briefly entered politics in 1982 as a Liberal Party congressman, gaining popularity as a "Robin Hood" figure through community projects, but surrendered to authorities in 1991 to serve a five-year sentence in his self-built prison, La Catedral, under a no-extradition deal. When officials tried to transfer him, he escaped in 1992, triggering a massive manhunt that led to his death by the Colombian National Police on 2 December 1993, the day after his 44th birthday. Despite his heinous legacy, his funeral drew over 25,000 mourners, and his estate, Hacienda Nápoles, has since been transformed into a theme park, while his life has inspired countless films, TV shows, and songs.