Who Is Fulgencio Batista? Age, Biography and Wiki
Fulgencio Batista was born on January 16, 1901, and passed away in 1973. As of 2025, he would have been 124 years old had he lived. Batista began his career in the military before transitioning into politics, serving as the President of Cuba on two separate occasions. His early years were marked by significant political turmoil, culminating in his authoritarian rule which sparked the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro.
Despite his controversial legacy, Batista served as an influential political figure whose decisions shaped Cuba's mid-20th-century landscape. His biography is a rich tapestry of ambition, governance, and conflict.
| Occupation | Political Leaders |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 16, 1901 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Birth Place | Banes, Cuba |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Spain |
| Date of death | 6 August, 1973 |
| Died Place | Marbella, Málaga, Spain |
Popularity
Fulgencio Batista's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Fulgencio Batista stood approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall during his life. While there are no verified reports on his weight, he was known to maintain a strong presence, typical of a military official of his time. Measurements for his body stats aren't available; however, he was often depicted as an imposing figure in both military and political roles.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Batista was married to his wife, Marta R. Fernandez, and had several children. There are no confirmed accounts of any notable relationships outside of his marriage. His personal life often took a backseat to his political ambitions, with little public information available about his family's influence or involvement in his political career.
He was of Spanish, African, Chinese, and possibly some Taíno descent. Both Batista's parents are believed to have been of mixed race and one may have had Indigenous Caribbean blood. His mother named him Rubén and gave him her last name, Zaldívar. His father did not want to register him as a Batista.
In the registration records of the Banes courthouse, he was legally Rubén Zaldívar until 1939, when he tried to register as a presidential candidate under the name Fulgencio Batista.
When it was discovered that no birth certificate existed for a "Fulgencio Batista", he had to postpone his candidacy registration and pay 15,000 pesos to the local judge.
Net Worth and Salary
Fulgencio Batista's wealth was a topic of much speculation. It is estimated that, at the height of his career, Batista's net worth was substantial, accumulated through his political relationships, business interests, and alleged corruption. His financial status allowed him the means to support a lavish lifestyle while he ruled Cuba. However, exact figures related to his net worth and salary during his years in power remain elusive due to the lack of comprehensive financial records from that era.
Upon his seizure of power, Batista inherited a country that was relatively prosperous for Latin America. According to Batista's government, although a third of Cubans still lived in poverty, Cuba was one of the five most developed countries in the region.
In the 1950s, Cuba's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was roughly equal to that of Italy at the time, although still only a sixth of that of the United States. Moreover, although corruption and inequality were rife under Batista, Cuban industrial workers' wages rose significantly.
In 1953, the average Cuban family only had an income of $6.00 a week, 15% to 20% of the labor force was chronically unemployed, and only a third of the homes had running water.
Despite this, according to the International Labour Organization, the average industrial salary in Cuba became the world's eighth-highest in 1958, and the average agricultural wage was higher than some European nations (although, according to one sample from 1956 to 1957, agricultural workers could only find employment for an average of 123 days pe
r year while farm owners, rural tenants and sharecroppers worked an average of only 135 days per year).
Not like in his first term, where he advocated for Corporatism, he began to advocate for Economic liberalism.
Career, Business and Investments
Batista's career began in the military; he quickly rose through the ranks and eventually seized power through a coup in 1952. He established a government known for its repression and close ties with American businesses, which included gambling and tourism investments. After his ousting from power in 1959, Batista fled to various countries and ultimately died in exile in Spain. His legacy remains intertwined with the complexities of Cuban politics and U.S.-Cuban relations.
Back in power and receiving financial, military and logistical support from the United States government, Batista suspended the 1940 Constitution and revoked most political liberties, including the right to strike.
He then aligned with the wealthiest landowners who owned the largest sugar plantations, and presided over a stagnating economy that widened the gap between rich and poor Cubans. Eventually, it reached the point where most of the sugar industry was in U.S. hands, and foreigners owned 70% of the arable land.
As such, Batista's repressive government then began to systematically profit from the exploitation of Cuba's commercial interests, by negotiating lucrative relationships both with the American Mafia, who controlled the drug, gambling, and prostitution businesses in Havana, and with large U.S.-based multinational companies who were awarded lucrative
contracts.
To quell the growing discontent amongst the populace—which was subsequently displayed through frequent student riots and demonstrations—Batista established tighter censorship of the media, while also utilizing his Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities secret police to carry out wide-scale violence, torture and public executions.
These murders mounted in 1957, as socialist ideas became more influential. While exact numbers are unclear, estimates of the death toll attributed to Batista range from hundreds to up to 20,000 victims.
Social Network
During his life, Batista was known for his connections with various business leaders and politicians, particularly from the U.S. His government benefited from American investment, which helped develop Cuba’s economy, particularly in tourism. However, relationships fractured significantly due to his authoritarian rule, culminating in his eventual overthrow. His legacy today is still a contentious subject, with many differing opinions on his tenure.
In April 1956, Batista called popular military leader Col. Ramón Barquín back to Cuba from his post as military attaché to the United States. Believing Barquín would support his rule, Batista promoted him to General. However, Barquín's Conspiración de los Puros (Conspiracy of the Pure) was already underway and had already progressed too far.
On April 6, 1956, Barquín led hundreds of career officers in a coup attempt, but was frustrated by Lieutenant Ríos Morejón, who betrayed the plan. Barquín was sentenced to solitary confinement for eight years on the Isle of Pines, while some officers were sentenced to death for treason.
Many others were allowed to remain in the military without reprimand.
Education
Fulgencio Batista’s formal education is not extensively documented, but he received training in military academies, which shaped his leadership abilities. His lack of a comprehensive political education is sometimes cited as a factor in his later decisions, which were characterized by an authoritarian and repressive approach to governance.
A short-lived five-member presidency, known as the Pentarchy of 1933, was established. The Pentarchy included a representative from each anti-Machado faction. Batista was not a member, but controlled Cuba's armed forces.
Within days, the representative for the students and professors of the University of Havana, Ramón Grau San Martín, was made president—and Batista became the Army Chief of Staff, with the rank of colonel, effectively putting him in control of the presidency.
The majority of the commissioned officer corps were forced to retire or, some speculate, were killed.
