Caro Quintero Net Worth (Updated 2026).
Rafael Caro Quintero, born in the late 1950s in Badiraguato, Sinaloa, Mexico, began his career in the early 1980s, joining the Guadalajara Cartel, then led by Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. He started as a low-level operative, but his ambition and ruthlessness quickly propelled him up the ranks. His first taste of fame came in 1985 when he orchestrated the kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, a high-profile event that brought international attention to the fledgling cartel.
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Caro Quintero’s Current Net Worth (2025)
As of 2025, Caro Quintero’s estimated net worth is $3 billion, according to Forbes. This figure is based on the latest available information and accounts for his various business ventures and assets.
Career
Rafael Caro Quintero, often referred to as “El Caro,” is a Mexican drug lord and the former leader of the Guadalajara Cartel. He began his criminal career in the late 1970s, smuggling marijuana into the United States. By the early 1980s, he had risen to become one of the most powerful drug traffickers in Mexico.
Other Ventures
Beyond his involvement in the drug trade, Quintero has invested in various legitimate businesses to launder his illicit earnings. These include real estate, construction, and agriculture. He has also been known to invest in political campaigns to maintain influence and protect his operations.
Assets
Quintero’s assets are believed to include properties in Mexico, the United States, and other countries. These range from luxurious homes to extensive farmlands used for cultivating crops. He is also rumored to own several aircraft and high-end vehicles. However, the exact nature and value of these assets are difficult to determine due to the clandestine nature of his operations.
Annual Income
Estimating Quintero’s annual income is challenging due to the illegal nature of his primary business. However, it’s believed that he generates hundreds of millions of dollars each year from his drug trafficking activities. This income is then laundered through his legitimate businesses and investments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Caro Quintero
**Frequently Asked Questions: Caro Quintero Net Worth**
1. Who is Caro Quintero?
Caro Quintero is a Mexican drug lord and the co-founder of the Guadalajara Cartel. He is known for his involvement in the drug trade in the 1980s and was convicted for his role in the murder of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent in 1985.
2. What is Caro Quintero’s net worth?
Caro Quintero’s net worth is estimated to be around $600 million.
3. How did Caro Quintero make his money?
Quintero made his fortune through his involvement in the drug trade, specifically in the production, transportation, and distribution of cocaine and other illicit substances.
4. When was Caro Quintero arrested?
Quintero was first arrested in 1985 in Mexico, but he escaped from prison in 2013. He was recaptured in 2017.
5. What is Caro Quintero’s role in the Guadalajara Cartel?
Quintero co-founded the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s with Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. He served as one of the leaders of the organization until his arrest in 1985.
6. What is the Guadalajara Cartel?
The Guadalajara Cartel was a powerful Mexican drug trafficking organization that operated in the 1980s. It was one of the first major cartels in Mexico and was involved in the smuggling of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana into the United States.
7. What was Caro Quintero convicted for?
Quintero was convicted for his role in the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena. He was also convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering.
8. Where is Caro Quintero currently imprisoned?
Quintero is currently imprisoned in a maximum-security prison in Mexico City.
9. What is the status of Caro Quintero’s extradition to the United States?
Mexico has repeatedly denied U.S. requests to extradite Quintero, citing domestic legal proceedings against him.
10. What are the sources of Caro Quintero’s wealth today?
Despite his imprisonment, Quintero is believed to still have significant wealth, which is likely managed by associates. The sources of this wealth are believed to include investments in legitimate businesses and ongoing drug trafficking operations.
