Who is the most famous criminal of all-time?

Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria is the most famous criminal of all-time. Thanks to Netflix's show Narcos, he has become a household name for millennials and beyond. The show follows his life from the beginning as a young man to his death in 1993. He was born in Rionegro, Colombia on December 1st 1949. At the age of 15, he got into the business world by selling contraband cigarettes and other items at school. He eventually moved on to selling weapons and coca paste. By the 1980s, he was making more than $100 million per week as leader of the Medellín Cartel—the largest drug trafficking organization in history. In 1989, Forbes listed him as one of "The World's Top Ten Most Wanted Men."

Catherine Monvoisin, also known as La Voisin, is one of the most notorious criminals in history. She was a French fortune teller, poisoner, and witch who provided her services to some of the most prominent figures in France during the late 1600s, including involvement in a plot to kill King Louis XIV. Many aristocrats and members of the French court sought her advice on matters ranging from love to death. La Voisin was accused of administering poison to hundreds of wealthy French individuals and performing black magic rituals and abortions. She was eventually arrested, tried, and found guilty of murder and witchcraft. Over time, La Voisin's notoriety as a criminal has only increased, solidifying her status as one of the most infamous criminals in history.

O.J. Simpson is probably the most famous criminal of the past 30 years. Even discarding his acquittal for the 1994 double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, O.J. Simpson has a lengthy criminal record – his arrests for spousal abuse and his conviction for a 2007 armed robbery in Nevada. I watched a segment on the NFL Network years ago when someone said that if O.J. Simpson is ever discussed in the context of football, people get confused and then angry. This is true in spite of the fact that he was one of the most-famous and accomplished running backs in NCAA and NFL history. People know him the most for his crimes, most notably the murders for which he avoided a conviction. There is probably no one more famous for criminality than O.J. Simpson. He’s a unique figure in American history.

There are many notorious figures throughout history but I have to go with Al Capone as being the most famous criminal of all time. I am from Wisconsin and Al Capone was a gangster in Chicago and would flee to Wisconsin on a regular basis. Al Capone wasn’t your normal criminal he was flashy with huge mansions and expensive suits. Al Capone was the first gangster to rise to this level. There have been numerous movies, books, and TV shows immortalizing his criminal lifestyle. Capone's impact on popular culture has cemented his place as one of the most famous criminals of all time.

The most famous criminal of all-time is a highly contested title, but perhaps one of the least expected names that comes to mind is Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed. This Hungarian noblewoman was born in 1560 and claimed the notoriety of being history’s bloodiest female serial killer. She tortured and killed up to 650 young women, usually daughters of peasants, either believing their blood would help her maintain youth or simply for her own sadistic pleasure. This failed attempt at defying death's bitter grip on humanity has made Báthory an iconic figure in cinematic portrayals for centuries.

I believe that Al Capone is the most famous criminal of all-time. He was a mobster who made a fortune selling illicit liquor during Prohibition. He was also a murderer and a racketeer who was eventually arrested and sent to prison. Al Capone is considered to be one of the most notorious criminals in American history, and his story has been told in countless books and movies.

Behold Pablo Escobar, a figure whose name echoes through the annals of history. As the helm of the Medellín Cartel, one of the most powerful drug syndicates ever existing, he assumed a position that few have dared to match. This famous criminal was responsible for the production and distribution of massive quantities of cocaine, leaving an indelible mark on the illicit drug trade both in Colombia and the US. Escobar built a sizable criminal empire and gained the power to bribe politicians, judges, and law enforcement officials. He was responsible for several kidnappings and killings, including the bombing of an airplane in 1989 that resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. Despite his crimes, Escobar is often portrayed as a modern-day Robin Hood in popular culture. Some individuals view him as a hero who stood up against a corrupt government and provided employment to the poorest. This romanticized portrayal only cemented his place in history as a revered and reviled figure.

Pablo Escobar was certainly the most-famous criminal in the Western Hemisphere. He still has a cult-like status in Colombia because he embraced almost a Robin Hood-like persona. There was a time that Escobar was more powerful in his home country than anyone in government. He founded and led the Medellin Cartel, which basically controlled the cocaine trade through Mexico and the United States. He wielded wealth and power – and was one of the most feared men in the world because he led one of the most dangerous cartels in the world. A soccer player who lost a World Cup game in 1994 was killed by Escobar’s cartel. He died in 1993 during a gun battle, during which he tried a daring escape from the roof of the home he was found in. He died in a blaze of glory, which made him into a martyr and bolstered his legacy as one of the most notorious drug lords in history.

The most famous criminal of all-time is probably Al Capone, the infamous gangster from the 1920s and 1930s. His reign of terror across the United States as a mob boss was well documented, making him one of the most recognizable criminals in history. Another uncommon example is Whitey Bulger, who was wanted for his involvement in organized crime activities such as racketeering, money laundering and drug trafficking. He evaded capture for 16 years until he was finally caught in 2011. He became something of a modern day folk hero due to his freedom from prosecution over a long period of time.

Al Capone is an American gangster who ruled a criminal empire in Chicago. He was notorious for crimes, such as gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, robbery, and murder. Capone was also known to be one of the inmates in the infamous prison, Alcatraz. His colorful life of crime continues to live on, as it continues to be portrayed in movies and television series.