Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born in Rionegro, Colombia, to Abel de Jesús Dari Escobar Echeverri, a farmer, and Hilda de Los Dolores Gaviria Berrío, an elementary school teacher. He was the third of seven children.

Escobar began his life of crime as a teenager, engaging in activities such as selling fake diplomas, smuggling stereo equipment, and stealing tombstones to resell. He also stole cars, leading to his first arrest in 1974.

Escobar helped found the crime organization that later became known as the Medellín Cartel, partnering with the Ochoa brothers: Juan David, Jorge Luis, and Fabio. He served as the head of the organization, focusing on the production, transport, and sale of cocaine.

Escobar's cartel became one of the most powerful in the world, controlling a significant portion of the global cocaine trade. He amassed an estimated net worth of $30 billion by the time of his death, equivalent to $58 billion as of 2018.

Escobar began a brutal campaign against the Colombian government, starting with the assassination of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, Colombia's Minister of Justice who favored extradition. This marked the beginning of a nearly decade-long terroristic campaign.

A personal dispute between Escobar and one of the Cali Cartel leaders, Pacho Herrera, led to a perpetual feud between the Medellín and Cali cartels. This conflict continued until the demise of the Medellín Cartel in 1993.

Escobar escaped from La Catedral prison, leading to a 16-month manhunt by the Colombian National Police. This period marked the beginning of the end of his reign.

Los Pepes, a vigilante group made up of enemies of Escobar and financed by the Cali Cartel, was officially formed. Led by brothers Carlos and Fidel Castaño, the group played a crucial role in the eventual downfall of the Medellín Cartel.

Pablo Escobar was shot and killed by the Colombian National Police in a shootout in the barrio Los Olivos in Medellín. The exact circumstances of his death remain disputed, with some claiming he was killed by the police and others suggesting he may have taken his own life.