'El Chapo' Guzman has become a figure of legendary proportions. Yet his status as a mythic Mexican has been constructed by a number of media outlets. Today, Forbes magazine has admitted that it contributed to the creation of the "black legend" of the drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán by including it in its anuual list of the richest men in the world. Forbes Americas vicepresident Edward de Valle II told Notimex that he carefully evaluated the decision to include him on the list, but he was ultimately convinced by 'El Chapo's tremendous wealth and influence.
'El Chapo' Guzman has been featured on Forbes' list on numerous occasions. Being a part of a list that includes some of the most important businessmen, politicians, prominent executives and empresarious "increased" the fame of the drug dealer, says de Valle, however, he emphasizes that that "was not the magazine's inention." Last year, the drug cartel leader made it to number 67 on the list of the World's Most Powerful People, a list topped by U.S. President Barack Obama. The infamous criminal also figures at number 1153 the list of the world's billionaires, defining him as a figure of not only great wealth but also powerful influence.
'El Chapo' Guzman was the most wanted man in the world following his 2001 escape from the maximum security Puente Grande Prsion in Jalisco. He was recaptured on the 21st of February of this year in Mazatlan. With a fortune estimated at over $1 billion dollars, 'El Chapo' featured on the list from 2009 - 2012. De Valle II explains that in the end, this kind of public attention became a "double-edged sword," as Guzman's prominence also drew attention to the cartel boss and made financial transactions more difficult.
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