Part 3: More Badass Facts About History’s Notorious Gangsters
Al Capone, one of the most notorious gangsters in American history, had a surprising side to him during the Great Depression. Unbeknownst to many, Capone ran a soup kitchen in Chicago that provided free meals to over 2,000 people daily. This act of kindness initiated in 1930 could have been Capone’s way of making amends for the violent crimes he had committed.
Pablo Escobar, the infamous drug lord who made headlines in the ’80s and ’90s, made an impressive entry into the Forbes billionaires list for seven consecutive years, beginning in 1987. Escobar’s wealth peaked in 1989, where he ranked seventh among the world’s richest people. Nonetheless, Escobar’s riches came under scrutiny during the Colombian authorities’ seizures of some of Escobar’s prominent possessions. In his collection, there were an astonishing 142 planes, 20 helicopters, 32 yachts, and 141 houses and offices, all of which were found belonging to Escobar.
Another female gangster with an interesting story is Griselda Blanco, also known as the “Queen of Cocaine.” Although Blanco spent most of her life in the drug trade, she ordered the assassinations of three of her husbands. This dangerous woman was captured in her early thirties and was later arrested many times for her activities, but the most fascinating part about Blanco’s life was her cold-blooded nature, which led her to order the murder of her newborn daughter because she saw her as a threat to her husband’s infidelity.
A notorious gangster, who gained his superstar status in the drug business, was El Chapo, formerly known as the leader of the Sinaloa cartel. El Chapo’s wealth and influence brought him many luxuries, amongst which was his private zoo. The zoo housed an array of exotic animals, such as lions, tigers, and panthers. El Chapo’s extravagant lifestyle continued when he acquired a diamond-encrusted pistol, which was worth a staggering one hundred thousand dollars. El Chapo’s net worth was estimated to be $1 billion by Forbes, which ranked him amongst the top richest persons in the world.
These are just some of the badass facts about history’s most famous gangsters. The stories of their criminal activities and extravagances continue to make us shudder with their violence and decadence, but these intriguing facts reveal the less known but fascinating realities about these notorious characters.
