Inside Pablo Escobar's Exclusive Car Collection 20 Years Later!!

Pablo Escobar will go down in history as one of the most notorious drug lords of all time. What you probably don't know about him is that in his prime he was an avid lover and collector of classic cars and other transportation vehicles. His beloved collection matched the taste of a man who escaped the slums of Medellin and went on to become the wealthiest criminals to walk the Earth.

Eccentric With Expensive Taste

Since his death in 1993, his beloved collection now sits decaying at his luxurious Hacienda Napoles ranch, used only to appease tourists. As equally interested in Mercedes 300SL roadsters as he was in old Renault 4L's, Pablo Escobar was an eccentric automobile collector with very expensive taste. With his Mercedes 300SL estimated at a hefty $500,000, it's a good thing that Escobar had the wealth to support his habit - an estimated $9 billion. At the height of his success as the leader of the Medellin cartel, he was ranked as the ninth richest man in the world, giving him the ability to live the life of an international playboy billionaire.

Authentic Gangster

The Colombian had a fondness for automobiles, beginning his criminal life early as a car thief, then simply buying up any car that he liked or stuck a cord in him when he became rich. One of Escobar's most prized vehicles was his early 1930s Cadillac, which he had peppered with gunshots to make it look more authentic gangster, like Al Capone.

A "Monument" Of Colombia's Past

Glorifying Escobar

Each year the Escobar tourism industry grows. However, many people in Colombia fear that showing off memorabilia of his extravagant life could glorify him and lead people, especially young people who look up to the wildly wealthy drug lord.

His Unconventional Collection

Escobar owned a wide variety of vehicles. From a classic Porsche 356 to a Mercedes 600 limo, he did not discriminate against cars. More of his collection included numerous vintage American Phaetons from the 1920s and '30s. Of course, every Colombian drug lord needs the signature Toyota Landcruiser, of which Escobar owned dozens. More unconventionally, however, his collection was also comprised of hover crafts, private jets and even submarines, which are yet another thing that set this billionaire drug king apart from his rivals. While he had the money to buy any model he desired, Escobar was more interested in low-key vehicles, rejecting the typically loved Ferrari's and Maserati's of other wealthy men.

Gaining Notoriety

Escobar was so successful as a drug king that his cartel controlled approximately 80 percent of the world's cocaine market. As the front-runner of the drug-trade in Medellin, Escobar gained his notoriety for his savage tactics that included torturing and killing anyone who opposed him or threatened his power. Politicians, journalists, and magistrates were among the group of targets of Escobar's brutal attacks. In 1989, his cartel planted a bomb on an airline flight, killing 110 people. However, they failed to take out their initial target, a presidential candidate, who was not on board the flight.

Turning Himself In

Numerous attempts were made to arrest Escobar throughout the course of his reign in Colombia. Colombian forces felt increasing pressure from the US government to extradite him on drug charges, but all arrests were thwarted through bribery, intimidation, and murder. In 1991, he agreed to turn himself into the Colombian government. He was set to serve five years in a posh jail he had built himself, which included a waterfall, Jacuzzi tub and was controlled by his own 'guards.'

Finally Facing Death

The untimely death of Pablo Escobar came in 1993 when he was killed by Colombian police in an attempt to flee arrest in Medellin. There were, and continue to be mixed emotions surrounding the death of Pablo Escobar. There are lots of people across the world who know his story and see him as a type of hero for his Robin Hood public works gestures throughout his reign in Colombia. Most, however, viewed his death as a necessary step towards improving Colombia and moving forward from more hostile times.

But then again, what better way is there to show people Escobar's ultimate failure than to have his burned, bullet-riddled empire on display for all to see?