alternatehistory.com

On July 1991 Pablo Escobar managed to make the Colombian government surrender. In exchange of ending the war, handing the bulk of his weapons and stop doing criminal activity, he was guaranteed to not be extradited to the US (guaranteed to the point the constitution was changed to forbid it), would keep his money and would serve a relatively short sentence in his self-made jail which was pretty much a luxury mansion.

The rival cartel also offered a truce with him, but negotiations failed. He was at his best and the only serious enemy he had was the US (which could not get to him by legal means anymore)

After some years, he would come out of jail a free and legal man.

But this was not to be, perhaps drunk on his success Escobar engaged on an unprecedented purge in his cartel which was targeting even his lieutenants. This was his undoing, as it gave the government proof he was breaking the agreement and also caused a break away within his cartel.

In the end he had to face the US, the government, his former allies and rival cartel which brought him down with less weapons than before. Even then he managed to give somewhat of a fight.

The POD here is that Escobar realize he really must quit now and makes peace with the rival cartel and does not purge his men.

He was extremely wealthy, possibly among the top 5 wealthiest in the world or so.

Can he lead a successful life as a legal businessman or politician in present day?

If so how far could he get? Could he eventually realize his dream of becoming president?
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