El Chapo’s net worth is estimated to be $3 billion US Dollars. He was a powerful drug trafficker, and according to authorities, he has over $400 million in US currency stacked in various parts of Mexico. His children inherited his empire and wealth after he was captured by the DEA.
El Chapo Net Worth
As of March 2023, El Chapo’s net worth stands at $3 billion US dollars. In 2010, his net worth had peaked at over $26 billion US dollars.
Net Worth$3 Billion USD
Highest Net Worth$26 Billion USD
Cash Reserves$400 Million USD
Gold & Diamonds$70 Million USD
Inventory$2 Billion USD
Assets$350 Million USD
Investments$90 Million USD
Last Updated March 2023
El Chapo’s Peak Net Worth
Between 2005 and 2011, El Chapo’s net worth peaked at over $26 billion US dollars, which placed him among the top 20 richest people in the world. During this time, he stockpiled over 60 tonnes of drugs worth over $15 billion US dollars in various warehouses in Sinaloa, which were intended to be shipped to the United States.
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Net Worth Growth Rate of El Chapo
Net Worth in 2023$3 Billion USD
Net Worth in 2015$7 Billion USD
Net Worth in 2010$26 Billion USD
Net Worth in 2005$10 Billion USD
Net Worth in 2000$140 Million USD
About El Chapo
Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera was born on April 4, 1957, in a poor family in La Tuna, Badiraguato, Sinaloa, Mexico. He grew up in a family of cattle ranchers, and there were rumors that his father might have also been an opium poppy farmer. Guzmán had six siblings, two younger sisters, and four younger brothers. He gained the nickname “El Chapo” during his teenage years for his short height and stocky build.
When Guzmán was a teenager, his father kicked him out of the house, and he went to live with his grandfather. Most people in Badiraguato worked in the poppy fields of the Sierra Madre Occidental, but Guzmán left his hometown in search of greater opportunities. He joined organized crime in his twenties, leaving behind his hometown and seeking a better life through his uncle Pedro Avilés Pérez, who was one of the pioneers of Mexican drug trafficking.
El Chapo Cash
Every day, cash from drug sales in the United States flowed into Mexico, estimated to be more than $100 million for El Chapo alone. The massive cash pile was too large to launder, prompting El Chapo to purchase safe houses to stash the money. When authorities caught up with him in one of these safe houses, they found over $180 million in cash hidden away.
Currently, El Chapo’s sons manage over 50 safe houses scattered throughout Mexico, with an estimated $400 million in cash stored inside them. To tackle the issue of money laundering, the DEA has frozen several bank accounts associated with the Sinaloa Cartel, recovering over $700 million in cash deposits from these accounts.
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El Chapo Assets & Money Laundering
Starting in 2009, Chinese players helped El Chapo move large sums of money quickly and quietly. With El Chapo’s support, Chinese money brokers based in Mexico rose to prominence in the global money laundering market.
El Chapo worked with accountants to exploit banking systems in the United States and Europe. Among his various money laundering techniques, the most popular involved depositing amounts below $10,000 to avoid reporting regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
El Chapo’s “trade-based money laundering” technique was one of his most successful methods for cleaning large sums of cash. He accomplished this by buying easily sellable items like clothes or electronics from a legitimate US company and then selling them on the Mexican side of the border for pesos.
After El Chapo’s Arrest the Sinaloa Cartel Continued Operation
Despite El Chapo’s arrest, the Sinaloa Cartel has remained one of the world’s largest drug distributors. The cartel continues to operate by identifying and exploiting weaknesses in the social systems that enable global civilization to function.
El Chapo Net Worth Highlights
- El Chapo began his career earning only $2 US dollars per day.
- In 1992, El Chapo’s net worth crossed the $1 million mark.
- By 2005, his net worth had surpassed $1 billion US dollars.
- At the time of his arrest, El Chapo’s net worth was estimated to be $19 billion US dollars.
- After his arrest, El Chapo’s wealth was divided equally among his children.
FAQs
How was El Chapo able to amass such a vast fortune?
El Chapo’s wealth was a result of his highly successful drug trafficking operations, which earned him millions of dollars every day.
What happened to El Chapo’s fortune after his arrest?
El Chapo’s wealth was divided equally among his children after his arrest by the DEA.
What was El Chapo’s peak net worth, and when did it occur?
El Chapo’s net worth peaked at over $26 billion US dollars between 2005 and 2011.
How did El Chapo manage to evade authorities for so long?
El Chapo was able to avoid arrest for many years by constantly changing locations and using bribes and violence to silence potential informants.
How has the Sinaloa Cartel continued to operate after El Chapo’s arrest?
The Sinaloa Cartel has continued to operate by identifying and exploiting weaknesses in the social systems that enable global civilization to function.
