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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Billionaire Druglords: El Chapo Guzman, Pablo Escobar, The Ochoa Brothers

Forbes

Sources say that the net appears to be closing in on the world’s most powerful drug dealer. Guzman is spending more money to defend the cartel than in previous years, and he’s expanded his activities outside his native country to avoid the heat from Mexican authorities.
An additional indication that the footsteps are closing in: last year, Guzman reportedly sent his 22-year-old wife to Los Angeles County to give birth to the couple’s twin daughters.
Despite Guzman’s defensive spending, the Mexican government recently struck two significant blows against the Sinaloa empire: December 2011 brought the arrest of a top Sinaloa lieutenant quickly followed in February by the capture of the leader of the cartel’s armed wing.
Guzman appears on Forbes 2012 World’s Billionaires List for the fourth year running. His admission to this elite set has always been controversial–last year the son of a famed Colombian drug dealer accused Forbes of “lying ”–but Guzman is certainly not the first drug lord to make our list of the world’s wealthiest.
In 1987, we included Colombian cocaine tycoons Pablo Escobar Gaviria and the Ochoa brothers–Jorge Luis Ochoa Vasquez and his brothers Fabio and Juan David–on our first World’s Billionaires List.
(Below:Escobar)
The reason for including these notorious names has always been, and continues to be, quite simple: they meet the financial qualifications. And they run successful private businesses–though their products are quite illegitimate.
Escobar’s biography from the 1987 inaugural Forbes Billionaires issue reads like a how-to guide for ambitious, P.R.-savvy entrepreneurs: from a lowly position as smuggler, enforcer and bodyguard, Escobar worked his way to the top, first by saving enough money to invest in his own cocaine business. By 1978, Escobar was moving about 35 kilos of coke a month out of Medellin. He took over a Medellin newspaper, became influential in politics, and successfully ran for public office.
He built houses for the poor, soccer fields, and a zoo for the public. Eventually, he was indicted on charges of cocaine marketing, money laundering, and contract killing. In 1987, Escobar controlled an estimated 40% of the Medellin drug cartel’s business, and had accumulated at least $3 billion over the years, Forbes reported. Escobar remained on the Forbes Billionaires List for seven years, appearing for the final time in the July 1993 Billionaires issue. Five months later he was killed.
The Ochoa brothers followed a similar business plan, building their wealth by expanding their influence in the cocaine trade. Jorge Luis Ochoa Vasquez took over a cocaine exporting business in 1977 by having his boss executed, DEA sources told Forbes. Jorge was a founding member of the Medellin cartel; a meeting he convened in 1981 led to the development of the powerful network.
He also developed a distribution network into the U.S. Fabio, on the other hand, was in charge of business development outside Colombia: he moved to Florida and was believed to have personally run thousands of pounds of cocaine out of a house in Coral Gables. By 1983, the family had acquired a fleet of 55 aircraft, including helicopters. Together, brothers Fabio, Juan David and Jorge eventually controlled 30% of the Medellin cartel’s cocaine trade. Jorge was indicted by the U.S. government in 1984.
Forbes said in 1987 that the brothers shared more than $2 billion. In January 1991, Jorge turned himself in to Colombian authorities; his brother Fabio followed, and Juan David became the final brother to surrender that February. The Ochoa brothers remained on the Forbes Billionaires List for six years, last appearing in the rankings in 1992. All three brothers are still living, Fabio in a U.S. prison.
In 1988, Forbes added Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha to our second World’s Billionaires List. Rodriguez operated out of Bogota but had ties to the Medellin cartel; U.S. authorities said he was in charge of all cocaine distribution on the West Coast of the United States. Rodriguez rose to power as Escobar’s lackey: he was alleged to have killed a left-wing Colombian political leader whose guerrilla activists were interfering with coca farmers, and he set up Yari laboratories, one of the world’s largest cocaine production centers.
Rodriguez helped expand the trade in Nicaragua with his ties to the Sandinistas; he also was said to have disguised his product as it was shipped into the U.S., tricking airport sniff dogs by embedding the cocaine with flower shipments.
Forbes estimated Rodriguez’s worth at $1.3 billion in 1988. The drug lord appeared on the Forbes Billionaires List only two years, with his second and final appearance in July 1989. Five months later, he was killed in a shootout with Colombian police.
As I mentioned before,Sebastian Marroquin, son of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, said last year that we weren’t right about Guzman–he accused Forbes of lying.
Forbes wasn’t lying, of course. As we’ve written before, we value Guzman’s fortune in the same way that we value the fortunes of all business people running private enterprises: by interviewing experts, government officials and academics who understand El Chapo’s business. The first year that Forbes put Guzman on the billionaires list, we explained in the magazine how we calculated his net worth. You can read that story here.    
Look, we don’t like the fact that drug dealers make billions by ruining lives and shedding blood–but it’s a cold, hard reality of the global economy. That’s why we continue to cover people like Guzman.

42 comments:

  1. El chapo might be rich, but it would never compare to the type of money El Mayo Zambada, or el Azul Esparragosa have. Both these men are the true veterans of all of this. Being in Jail held el Chapo back a lot, even if he was working from inside it would have been for a small amount.

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  2. Smoke Tobacco and drink alcohol as they don't ruin lives!
    Cough and puke your way to an early death!

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  3. Its only a matter of time before he gets captured or killed they all do sooner or later. Especially now that calderons term of babysitting him is coming to an end

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  4. Look, I don't mind if you include an organized crime boss on your list, but it doesn't speak well to the honest people also on your list.

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    1. News flash, nobody on that list is honest

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  5. Breaking news major firefight between los zetas and unindentified group possibly marines in nuevo laredo tamaulipas 15 confirmed dead at this points shootouts broke out in three parts of the city!!

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  6. Read: Los Señores Del Narco, author Anabel Hernandez. This is the best detailed book so far. If what she writes about Chapo is true! Then what goes around comes around! This man has backstab & burn many bridges! Doesn't care about anyone but himself. And idiots see himas a hero? This fool is the type that will be-friend, Then screw your wife, your mom, and your daughter. Addicted to sex, viagra and money. Before Calderon leaves office this SOB will be handed to American authorities. It's all about Politics his end is near!!

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  7. Forbes and the US government do nothing but lie. All bullshit. The US wants to control the drug trade and are funding Zetas and Sinaloa. They are hoping one finally comes out on top to topple that organization and take control completely with no middle man.

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  8. I for one am really pleased with Forbes instead of lying to everyone and not incluiding the obvious,rich drug lords,they said you know what im tired of lying,ignoring this to the people it does exist and guess what their income is massive enough to be on the list.

    I for one think they deserve a round of applause.

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  9. Why is Amado Carillo Fuentes aka ( El Señor de los cielos ) with an estimate networth of $25bill US during his reign as boss of bosses ever mentioned when they talk about these billioner Druglords? He was believed to be bringing into Mexico at his prime an estimated $200 million US a week in profit from cocaine shipments into the US market.

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    1. Cause they hate on him cause his Mexican.you could double p.Escobar networth, n he's still 8 billion shy of amado carrillo.

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  10. Take one down and another one rises. You can imprison and murder people all you want, it will never be enough, the market will always be there. You would have about the same success trying to outlaw beef.

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  11. Anyone interested in the drug wars should read the book "Killing Pablo" about how Los Pepes and the paramilitaries hunted down and killed anyone connected to Escobar. Exactly what needs to be done to the Zetas and their criminal accomplices in ordinary society. KILL THEM ALL!

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  12. What about Amado Carrillo Fuentes? He may have been the wealthiest of them all.

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  13. I think the 25 billion figure of Amado Carillo is overblown, and thats exactly why he isnt included in the Forbes list. Same with Azul and Zambada. No doubt they have a lot of money, but as of right now, its pretty clear Chapo has the most. Thats why Forbes put him on their. Granted, he is also the most visible. But Forbes isnt beholden to Chapo. If Zambada had more money im sure Zambada would be on the list.

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    1. How the hell is it pretty clear as you say? There is no way any of these old geesers at forbes have the slitest idea what these guys are worth. They analyse and shit but there is no fucking way anybody knows how much money they accumalate over a long period of drugtrafficking and other illicit ways of making $$$.

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  14. The richest in the world are sauids and other middle eastern dictators. And chinese ruling elites! and afghan dictators! and russian dictators/oligarchs! forbes list is wrong! way wrong!

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  15. If Fuentas was so wealthy, why in the hell did he opt for a 2-bit, low budget plastic surgeon from Mexico??? Biggest fail ever. His bro is still doing well I hear.

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    1. its so freaking obvious he had the okay from the mafia to retire he made them the most mondy they had ever seen in thier lifes.... fake ur own death how da hell therd ganna find out pay off docs an what not to go with the story

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  16. read the article idiots

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  17. Has history taught us nothing??? The biggest and wealthiest drug lords get busted. Think about it.

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  18. they aint got shit on chapo

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  19. fuck forbes they know what they are doing psychological/subliminal shit, they are all corrupt evil scum on there lists a nrotten clubhouse. sorta like the movie scarface influenced and inspired many to criminal suicide... mind games they play.

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    1. Wait a minute u think like me

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  20. The Carillo Fuentes family is huge when it comes to money,lets not forget that chapo mayo azul all worked for the carillo fuentes.Vicente Carillo is following his brothers footsteps by not bragging about his power or wealth.They are very respected in Sinaloa.

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  21. are you sure @ 9:33

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  22. You think Forbes is doing subliminal shit? Barely anyone even reads forbes. It doesnt influence anything. Take ur tin foil hat off. Saying a huge well known drug dealer is rich?? Wow knock my socks off why dont you. Next you'll tell me snooki is pregnant!

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  23. YEAH EVERY BODY HERE KNOWS THAT MAYO ZAMBADA IS THE ONE THAT CONTROLS THE CARTEL OF SINALOA...HE IS THE LEADER AND CHAPO AND AZUL ARE BELOW HIM.....CHAPO IS JUST MORE HANDS ON AND HE DOES A LOT MORE BUT MAYO CALLS THE SHOTS...CHAPO IS THE FACE MUCH LIKE OBAMA IS BLAMED FOR SO MUCH BUT ITS NOT HIM RUNNING THE COUNTRY..COMO DIJO EL GRINGO "ITS COMMON KNOWLEDGE" HERE WHERE I'M FROM THAT MAYO ES EL MERO MERO JEFE DEL GRAN CARTEL DE LA SIERRA!

    ---SINALOENSEBOY

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  24. Anon March 14, 2012 11:54 PM,I hate to burst your bubble,but Esparragoza,Guzman & Zambada were never peons/minions/ or workers of Amado Carrillo.Carrillo & the rest of these guys worked with & for Felix Gallardo.Carrillo went to prison on weapons charges back in the late 80s early 90s & didnt make the scene again until 93 or 94!By this time Guzman was in prison himself & Zambada was hard at work with the Beltranes & Esparragoza,(his compadre).However,Esparragoza who was detained in 86 was imprisoned with Carrillo up until 92,when Esparragoza was released.

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  25. A Juan garcia Abrego se le estimaba que tenia mas de 20 billones de dollares, casi le llegaba a la fortuna de Carrillo Fuentes.

    Osiel Cardenas perdio con la estafa de Allen Stanford como 400 millones de dlls.

    Las cantidades que pone Forbes no son nada creibles, puro show.

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  26. THE BEST DRUG LORD....AMADO CARRILLO FUENTES "EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS"

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  27. The difference between El chapo Guzman and Pablo Escobar is that El chapo Guzman cares only about himself and Pablo Escobar cared about himself and his people

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  28. El chapo is more powerful than Pablo was. El chapo is a real businessman and he is probably more rich than that.

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  29. These Drug lords deserve a bullet in the head

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  30. Juan Garcia Abrego $35 billion. The biggest of them all. Of them all!!!

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  31. This thing about Chapo, Chayo, Azuz and Carrillo being richer than Pablo Escobar, is all rubbish. In Mexico there are more than 10 different cartels who're competing with one another for profits, while Escobar's organization only had 1 competitor (The Cali Cartel). Furthermore, at the prime of his height, his organization (The Medellin Cartel) was said to be controlling more than 80% of worlds drug trade. That 80% amounted to billions and billions of dollars. They estimated his wealth to be around $30 Billion in USD during the year he died, and that was after 2 years of him waging war directly with the Colombian government, which cost him billions of dollars. This held the entire country of Colombia hostage. The American government spent billions of dollars buying intelligence equipment to help kill not capture him (Escobar). People who claim that any Kingpin from Mexico can compare to Pablo, is simply out of his/her mind, or they're Mexican, and trying to boast about their narco brethren.

    Pablo Emillio Escobar Gaviria was, is, and will continue being the grandest, richest and probably the most powerful of them all!!

    SORRY AMIGOS, BUT YOUR CHAPO AND CHAYO ARE JUST MERE CABRONS COMPARED TO ESCOBAR

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    1. Are you on drugs....80% of the drug trade? You probably meant 80% of the Yayo trade,you must have a manpurse full of cocoa leaves that your chewing on watching Pablo Escobar soap operas on Netflix. Pablo was a wholesale distributer which he sold candy for about 300 to 500 dollars at that time. He wasnt bringing it straight to the buyers in any continent like your bazooka Joe brain thinks. He was in competition with his own compares in his own back yard and made a deal with Don Felix-Gallardo who was The Chairman of the Board at that time which guaranteed his product to a certain place for a certain price and that wasnt Jorge Jung flying all that product to the U.S either.... GQ magazine brought out an article around the time they killed Pablito, and yes Mr Amado Carrillo Fuentes not to be confused with the Cifuentes Tobacco Cigars guy had his Fleet of 747 cargo planes practlically flying straight to Chicago and New York for a hefty profit than Emiliano was making wouldnt you agree.. If im not mistaking in that GQ Magazine article, the DEA estimated- thats "ESTIMATED" The Man Who Controlled the Sky was making 10Billion a year maybe more. Now you tell me who really was making it rain in the Colombian forrest. Don't get me wrong those guys are one in a million and that's why we're making our judgement on Men who took risks and did things how their higher being made them.. I might be wrong so don't quote me on any of my pennyless thought i just made. Oh yea during Pablos days i think there were only five cartels in that small country called Mexico compared to that big continent known as Columbia and its two superpower cartels...

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Men I really think el mayo el azul and el chapo are worth 30 billion plus each el mayo and el azul used to be Amado's right hand men when he was worth 25 billion and they don't appear on Forbes? Its because they ain't stupid like Pablo and Amado who bragged a lot they don't need any heat from a stupid magazine they have a lot of us and Mexican politicians on their payroll they are really very smart and low key and they work closely with the u.s government Vicente zambada made a deal of handing over 4 billion dollars and el mayo not even on Forbes? El mayo really is the richest smartest and most powerful drug lord ever chapo Amado and Escobar are boyscouts compared to el Mas grande.

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