Argemiro Escobar was one of Pablo Escobar’s older brothers who lived a quiet life away from the drug trade and the notorious Medellín Cartel. Unlike his famous brother, Argemiro chose a different path rooted in the values instilled by his mother. He worked as a schoolteacher in Colombia, following in the footsteps of Hermilda Gaviria. Very little is known about his personal life as he deliberately stayed in the shadows. He stayed out of the spotlight while Pablo built his criminal empire and became one of the world’s most feared drug lords.
Argemiro died in 2020 at the age of 81. He had distanced himself from Pablo’s violent world and the cartel leadership that brought terror to Colombia. The family rarely spoke about him in public, protecting his privacy and quiet existence. He represented the normal life Pablo left behind in rural Antioquia. Argemiro’s story shows not everyone in the family chose crime or sought the wealth and power that came with the drug trade. His quiet existence stands in sharp contrast to his brother’s notorious legacy.
Quick Bio of Argemiro Escobar
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Argemiro Escobar Gaviria |
| Date of Birth | 1939 |
| Date of Death | 2020 |
| Age at Death | 81 years old |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Profession | Schoolteacher |
| Famous For | Being Pablo Escobar’s older brother |
| Family | Son of Abel de Jesús Escobar and Hermilda Gaviria |
| Siblings | Pablo Escobar, Roberto Escobar, and others |
| Known Involvement in Crime | None – stayed away from drug trade |
| Public Profile | Very low – lived privately |
| Residence | Colombia |
| Legacy | Represented the non-criminal side of the Escobar family |
Family Roots of Argemiro Escobar
Argemiro Escobar was born into a humble Colombian family in 1939. His father, Abel de Jesús Escobar, worked as a farmer and later a watchman in the countryside. His mother, Hermilda Gaviria, was a schoolteacher who valued education above all else. The family lived in rural Antioquia, struggling to make ends meet in their modest home.
The Escobar family had seven children in total, including all the siblings who would later take vastly different paths in life. Argemiro was one of the older siblings in the household. His younger brother Pablo would later become the world’s most notorious drug lord and head of the powerful Medellín Cartel. The family shared a small home and faced financial hardships together, with their father working long hours on the land.
Hermilda Gaviria had a strong influence on her children’s upbringing and moral character. She taught them the importance of education and hard work, values that would shape their futures. Argemiro followed his mother’s footsteps and became a teacher, dedicating his life to shaping young minds. His choice reflected the values his mother instilled in him and his desire for an honest life.
The Escobar family roots were deeply tied to Colombian peasant culture and the struggles of poor families. They experienced poverty but maintained close family bonds despite their limited resources. Argemiro grew up in this environment of simplicity and struggle, surrounded by brothers and sisters. These early years shaped his decision to live an honest life unlike his infamous brother who would later fill the world with violence and bloodshed.
Who Were Abel de Jesús and Hermilda?
Abel de Jesús Escobar was a hardworking farmer from rural Colombia who understood the value of perseverance. He owned a small piece of land where he grew crops to support his family and worked as a countryside caretaker. Later in life, he took a job as a watchman to earn extra income for his hijos. He was a quiet man who valued family above everything else and tried to keep his children grounded.
Hermilda Gaviria was an elementary school teacher with strong principles and a caring nature. She believed education was the key to a better life for her children and worked tirelessly as a dedicated educator. She was known in her community as a caring educator who shaped many young lives. Hermilda was the moral backbone of the Escobar household and influenced her children’s character development.
The couple married young and settled in the Antioquia region where they built their family story. They raised seven children despite their limited financial resources and the challenges of poverty. Abel worked long hours while Hermilda balanced teaching and motherhood with remarkable strength. Their home was modest but filled with love and discipline, creating family bonds that would last through difficult times.
Both parents tried to instill good values in their children, hoping to give them a better future. Abel taught them the importance of hard work and perseverance in the face of hardship. Hermilda emphasized education and proper behavior in society, following strict Catholic principles. Despite their efforts, they could not prevent Pablo from choosing a criminal path that would lead to the Medellín Cartel.
Brothers and Sisters Around Argemiro Escobar
Argemiro grew up with six siblings in the Escobar household, forming the core of the Escobar clan. His most famous brother was Pablo Escobar, born in 1949, who would later become a feared criminal. Roberto Escobar, also known as “El Osito,” was another brother who became Pablo’s accountant and managed the cartel’s finances. The family also included sisters like Luz María and Alba Marina Escobar who tried to maintain normal lives.
Roberto Escobar played a major role in Pablo’s drug cartel operations and was deeply involved in the criminal empire. He managed the finances and kept track of the massive drug money flowing through the organization. Unlike Argemiro, Roberto chose to work closely with Pablo’s criminal empire and its violent operations. He later spent years in prison for his involvement in the drug trade, paying the price for his choices.
The Escobar sisters lived quieter lives compared to their brothers, avoiding the cameras and reporters. They tried to maintain normal family relationships despite Pablo’s notoriety and the family name becoming synonymous with terror. Some siblings distanced themselves from the criminal activities entirely, choosing different paths for their futures. The family remained divided between those involved in crime and those who weren’t, creating complex family dynamics.
Argemiro had the least public presence among all his siblings, living as a private citizen. While Pablo and Roberto made headlines worldwide, Argemiro stayed hidden from the media and public eye. His sisters also kept low profiles to protect their families from the dangers associated with the Escobar legacy. The siblings shared blood but lived vastly different lives from each other, representing both sides of the family story.
A Quiet Life for Argemiro Escobar
Argemiro Escobar chose a peaceful profession as a schoolteacher in Colombia, far from the world of crime. He worked in local schools teaching children basic subjects and values, following his mother’s example. His career was the complete opposite of his brother Pablo’s violent empire and cartel leadership. Argemiro found satisfaction in shaping young minds rather than seeking wealth or power through illegal means.
He lived in a modest home away from the media spotlight and avoided all public attention. Argemiro avoided interviews and public appearances throughout his life, maintaining his privacy at all costs. While Pablo’s name spread across the world, Argemiro remained unknown to most people and lived quietly. He preferred the simple comfort of family and community over fame, choosing a path of simplicity.
Argemiro maintained distance from Pablo’s criminal activities and associates, refusing any connection to the cartel. He refused to get involved in the drug trade despite potential riches and the temptation of easy money. His decision to stay clean kept him safe from law enforcement troubles and the violence surrounding the cartel. This quiet resistance showed his strong moral character and independence from his brother’s influence.
He spent his days teaching, reading, and enjoying a normal family life away from danger. Argemiro never sought attention or tried to profit from his brother’s name or the family legacy. His peaceful existence lasted until his death in 2020 at age 81, marking the end of a quiet life. He proved that not everyone in the Escobar family chose the path of crime or violence.
Abel de Jesús Escobar Echeverri: Kidnapping and Death
Abel de Jesús Escobar Echeverri was Pablo Escobar’s father who lived a simple life despite his son’s wealth. In 2001, he was kidnapped by guerrilla fighters in Colombia who saw an opportunity for ransom. The kidnappers demanded a large ransom for his release from the family, creating a traumatic event. This shocking incident deeply affected the remaining Escobar family members and brought back painful memories.
The kidnapping happened years after Pablo’s death in 1993, when the family thought the violence was behind them. Abel was an elderly man in his seventies at the time, frail and vulnerable. The guerrillas saw him as a way to extract money from the wealthy Escobar family and their inheritance. His capture brought back painful memories of Colombia’s violent past and the family’s troubled history.
Abel spent several months in captivity under harsh conditions that tested his strength. The family worked desperately to negotiate his safe return home, fearing for his life. Eventually, a ransom was paid and Abel was released alive, but forever changed by the ordeal. However, the ordeal took a severe toll on his health and spirit, weakening him significantly.
Abel de Jesús died in October 2001, shortly after his release from captivity. The kidnapping experience had weakened his already fragile condition significantly, contributing to his muerte. His death marked the end of an era for the Escobar family and closed a difficult chapter. He passed away having witnessed both his son’s rise and the family’s tragic fall, leaving behind grandchildren and a complex legacy.
Grandchildren and Legacy
The Escobar family grandchildren grew up under the shadow of Pablo’s infamous legacy and notorious reputation. Pablo’s own children, Juan Pablo and Manuela Escobar, changed their names to escape the past and build new identities. They moved to Argentina and tried to build normal lives away from Colombia and the violence. Other grandchildren from Argemiro and his siblings also sought anonymity and peace, hoping to avoid the spotlight.
Many of the Escobar grandchildren have spoken out against violence and drug trafficking in recent years. Juan Pablo, now known as Sebastián Marroquín, became an architect and author who works to make amends. He has publicly apologized to victims of his father’s crimes on multiple occasions, acknowledging the pain caused. The younger generation works hard to separate themselves from Pablo’s criminal history and the family’s dark past.
Argemiro’s own descendants chose paths similar to their grandfather’s quiet life and honest values. They avoided the spotlight and pursued honest careers in various fields, away from criminal activities. Unlike Pablo’s children who faced constant media attention, Argemiro’s grandchildren remained largely unknown to the public. This anonymity allowed them to live without the burden of constant judgment or association with the cartel.
The Escobar legacy remains deeply complicated for all family members today, representing both terror and normalcy. While Pablo’s name represents terror and destruction, people like Argemiro showed another side of the family story. His grandchildren carry forward his example of living with dignity and honesty, honoring his memory. The family hopes future generations will remember the good members, not just the criminal ones who brought shame.
Why So Little Is Known About Argemiro Escobar
Argemiro Escobar deliberately stayed away from the public eye throughout his life, maintaining strict privacy. He never gave interviews or spoke to journalists about his family or his brother’s criminal activities. Unlike Roberto Escobar who wrote books about the cartel, Argemiro chose complete silence. His decision to remain private was a conscious effort to protect himself and his family from danger and attention.
The media focused almost entirely on Pablo and his criminal empire, ignoring the quiet family members. Reporters had little interest in a quiet schoolteacher with no criminal connections or involvement in the drug trade. Argemiro’s ordinary life simply wasn’t newsworthy compared to Pablo’s violence and wealth that dominated headlines. This lack of media attention allowed him to live peacefully without harassment or fear.
Argemiro actively distanced himself from Pablo’s world of drugs and crime, refusing any association. He refused to associate with cartel members or attend family events linked to illegal activities. This separation meant he had no stories to tell about the cartel’s operations or the violence that surrounded it. His absence from Pablo’s inner circle left him with nothing for historians to document in their research.
The Escobar family also protected Argemiro’s privacy after Pablo’s death, keeping his name out of public discourse. They rarely mentioned him in books, documentaries, or public statements about the family and its troubled history. This protective silence helped keep Argemiro safe from enemies and curiosity seekers who might have targeted him. His quiet legacy remains intact because so few people ever knew his story or even searched for information about him.
Frequently Asked Question
What was Argemiro Escobar’s relationship to Pablo Escobar?
Argemiro Escobar was Pablo Escobar’s older brother who worked as a schoolteacher in Colombia.
Did Argemiro Escobar work in the drug cartel?
No, Argemiro stayed completely away from Pablo’s drug trade and lived an honest life as an educator.
When did Argemiro Escobar die?
Argemiro Escobar died in 2020 at the age of 81 years old.
How many siblings did Pablo Escobar have?
Pablo Escobar had six siblings, including Argemiro, Roberto, and several sisters.
Why is Argemiro Escobar not famous like Pablo?
Argemiro chose a quiet life as a teacher and deliberately avoided the public spotlight and criminal activities.
What did Argemiro Escobar do for a living?
Argemiro worked as a schoolteacher, following in his mother Hermilda’s footsteps in education.
Was Argemiro Escobar ever arrested?
No, Argemiro was never arrested because he had no involvement in Pablo’s criminal empire.
Who were Argemiro Escobar’s parents?
His parents were Abel de Jesús Escobar, a farmer, and Hermilda Gaviria, a schoolteacher.
Did Argemiro Escobar have any children?
Information about Argemiro’s children remains private, as the family kept his personal life away from public attention.
How did Argemiro Escobar avoid cartel life?
Argemiro made a conscious choice to pursue education and distance himself completely from Pablo’s criminal activities.
Final Thought
Argemiro Escobar lived a life that most people never heard about, remaining in the shadows while his brother became infamous. He was Pablo Escobar’s older brother but chose a completely different path rooted in his family’s original values. While Pablo became a ruthless drug lord who built a criminal empire, Argemiro remained a simple schoolteacher dedicated to education. His story proves that family names don’t define who we become and that even within troubled families, individuals can choose honor over crime.
Argemiro died peacefully in 2020 at the age of 81, far from the violence that consumed his brother. He spent his whole life away from crime and violence, maintaining his moral character until the end. His quiet dignity stands as a powerful contrast to his brother’s legacy of terror and bloodshed. Argemiro Escobar showed the world that even in the darkest families, good people can exist and live with integrity.
