Walter White does not have a thing on Joaqin “El Chapo” Guzman. Throughout time, the lives of drug lords are glorified by movies like “Blow” and, more recently, with shows like “Breaking Bad.” “El Chapo” puts all other drug lords from media and history to shame.

On Feb. 22, the Mexican marines captured, one of the most notorious cartel leaders.

Guzman was born in Badiraguato, Sinaloa. Growing up in a less than poor household, he wanted to make sure he could provide for his family. At the age of 15, Guzman was selling marijuana by himself to provide for his family. He built his mother a home in their rural hometown. By 1980, “El Chapo” was running the show with his own Sinaloa cartel.

Advertisement

His empire became powerful within Mexico and began trafficking within U.S. borders. Reports say that 25 percent of illegal drugs that entered the U.S. may have derived from Guzman. This includes up to 4,000 pounds of cocaine that was transported to Chicago every month. From there, the drugs were transported across the country.

It is rumored he had a net-worth of over $3 billion. With all the fortune he had, it is not surprising this man lived a lavish lifestyle. Guzman was known to enter restaurants and, for an hour or two, enjoy his meal with the cooperation of those also dining. Witnesses recall hearing the bodyguard of Guzman speaking upon entering.

“Gentlemen, please. Give me moment of your time. A man is going to come in, the boss… Do not worry; if you do everything that is asked of you, nothing will happen. Continue eating and don’t ask for your check. The boss will pay. Thank you.”

While on the run for his life in 1993, Guzman fled to Guatemala where he was arrested and taken back to Mexico. While being convicted for bribery and criminal association in 2001, he escaped from the Puente Grande Prison, a maximum-security facility, in a laundry cart before trial where he was awaiting charges for murder and drug trafficking. The escape cost him $2.5 million and is one for the history books. Until Saturday, the man known as “El Chapo” was only a name in the breeze.

Guzman was elusive, but never lost the power he had gained through drug trafficking, murder and bribery. Before his escape from the Puente Grande Prison, his people spent years sending him money and cocaine through suitcases. Much of this was used to make his escape possible. Up to 78 people may have been involved.

Locals have reported that Guzman was once arrested in Mexico City. It only took a briefcase of $50,000 on the desk of the chief of police for him to be released within minutes. Other reports made by local authorities, claims were made about a man, who looked like “El Chapo,” killed in a shootout in Guatemala. Later, the local authorities renounced their claims, even the claim in which there was a gunfight at all.

“El Chapo” owned many residences where he evaded the police. He was described as “omnipresent” by locals in the area. At the beachside residence, where Guzman was found, officials were stunned at what they discovered.

Advertisement*

Among the things recovered, $207 million in cash, a man-made cave with a hot tub, many exotic animals, an immaculate gun collection and stolen artifacts are included. Seeing these things make you wonder about how materialistic Guzman was. Was living this lifestyle worth it?

Living a life like “El Chapo” comes with costs. His life was lavish, but was also dangerous. Guzman was known for his “at any means necessary” approach to the cartel. He was feared and respected for it. The way he did business effected, not only him, but also affected close friends and family.

“El Pollo,” Guzman’s brother, was arrested in 2001 and later, in 2004, was shot to death by an inmate within a maximum-security prison. Rival cartels have murdered his long time girlfriend Zulema Hernandez, who was found in a trunk 2008, and his son Edgar Guzman Lopez, who was gunned down in a shopping mall parking lot the same year. Guzman’s daughter and father-in-law where arrested within the past two years.

With his recent arrest, Guzman leaves behind his beautiful wife, Emma Coronel, and his 2-year-old twin daughters.

13 years have been spent on the run. What kind of toll does that take on a man?

“What does a man do, Walter? A man provides for his family. And he does it even when he’s not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears up and does it. Because he’s a man.”

This is a quote from fictional character Gustavo Fring from popular TV show, “Breaking Bad.” Even though this character is fictional, his words may be the closest thing we have to understand the mind of a man who yields drugs, power and money. It’s expected that officials will ensure the imprisonment of “El Chapo,” but have we seen the last of him and his cartel?