Juan Pablo Escobar Henao selected the pseudonym Sebastián Marroquín from a telephone book to secure a new identity after fleeing Colombia in 1993. Born in 1977, he eventually established a career as an architect, writer, and industrial designer while living in exile. His professional life remains shaped by the international scrutiny surrounding his family origins.
Relocation and New Identity
Following the 1993 death of his father, drug lord Pablo Escobar, Juan Pablo Escobar Henao sought refuge outside of Colombia. He initially moved to Mozambique before securing tourist visas for entry into Argentina. To facilitate travel and daily life, he adopted the name Sebastián Marroquín, as the Escobar surname prevented him from purchasing airline tickets. He eventually attained citizenship in Argentina, where he settled in the Palermo Soho district of Buenos Aires.
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Marroquín completed a university degree in architecture to pursue a professional career distinct from his father's history. He currently resides in Argentina, practicing as an architect. Beyond his design work, he engages in writing and industrial design. While he maintains limited contact with his home country, he has returned to Colombia on two occasions to visit his father's grave. He was denied entry to the former Escobar estate, Hacienda Nápoles, a 20-square-kilometre property near Medellín now managed as a public park and museum.
Literary and Documentary Work
In 2009, he appeared in the Argentine documentary film Sins of My Father, which tracked his efforts to offer apologies to the families of individuals assassinated during his father's operations. The project advocated for reconciliation. In 2014, he published the book Pablo Escobar: My Father using his birth name. He has frequently commented on contemporary drug-trafficking and corruption, noting a continuation of systemic issues despite shifting names in the industry. He also maintains an online presence through television appearances, such as a 2024 interview on the Serbian program Veče sa Ivanom Ivanovićem.
Fast facts
- Born: 1977, Colombia
- Adopted name: Sebastián Marroquín
- Occupations: Architect, author, painter, industrial designer
- Current residence: Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires
- Documentary appearance: Sins of My Father (2009)
- Book published: Pablo Escobar: My Father (2014)
Questions readers ask
Why did he change his name?
He changed his name to Sebastián Marroquín because airlines refused to sell him tickets under the Escobar name and he required a new identity to live in exile.
What is his professional field?
He works as an architect and has experience in writing, painting, and industrial design.
