Who Is Gabriel García Márquez? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Gabriel García Márquez was born on March 6, 1927, in Aracataca, Colombia. He lived a remarkable life filled with creativity and influence until he passed away on April 17, 2014. As of 2025, he would have turned 98 years old. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982 and was celebrated for his groundbreaking work in magical realism, with acclaimed novels such as One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 6, 1927 |
| Age | 87 Years |
| Birth Place | Aracataca, Colombia |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | Colombia |
| Date of death | 17 April, 2014 |
| Died Place | Mexico City, Mexico |
Popularity
Gabriel García Márquez's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements of Gabriel García Márquez's height and weight are not widely documented, he was often described as having a robust and charismatic presence. His distinctive style and poise contributed to his iconic status as a literary figure.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Gabriel García Márquez was married to Mercedes Barcha, whom he wed in 1958. The couple remained together until his passing in 2014 and had two children together, Rodrigo and Gonzalo. His relationship with Mercedes was vital to his life and work, often serving as an inspiring force behind his literary pursuits. In terms of other relationships, García Márquez maintained a private life, with little public information shared about his romantic interests beyond his marriage.
He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Doña Tranquilina Iguarán and Colonel Nicolás Ricardo Márquez Mejía. In December 1936, his father took him and his brother to Sincé. However, when his grandfather died in March 1937, the family moved first (back) to Barranquilla and then on to Sucre, where his father started a pharmacy.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, Gabriel García Márquez’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. This substantial fortune was accrued through his successful literary career, various adaptations of his works into film and theater, and numerous speaking engagements worldwide. His enduring popularity has kept his works relevant, contributing to ongoing revenue through book sales even years after his passing.
García Márquez began his career as a journalist while studying law at the National University of Colombia. In 1948 and 1949, he wrote for El Universal in Cartagena. From 1950 until 1952, he wrote a "whimsical" column under the name of "Septimus" for the local paper El Heraldo in Barranquilla.
García Márquez noted of his time at El Heraldo, "I'd write a piece and they'd pay me three pesos for it, and maybe an editorial for another three." During this time he became an active member of the informal group of writers and journalists known as the Barranquilla Group, an association that provided great motivation and inspiration for his lite
rary career.
He worked with inspirational figures such as Ramon Vinyes, whom García Márquez depicted as an Old Catalan who owns a bookstore in One Hundred Years of Solitude. At this time, García Márquez was also introduced to the works of writers such as Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner.
Faulkner's narrative techniques, historical themes and use of rural locations influenced many Latin American authors. From 1954 to 1955, García Márquez spent time in Bogotá and regularly wrote for Bogotá's El Espectador.
From 1956, he spent two years in Europe, returning to marry Mercedes Barcha in Barranquilla in 1958, and to work on magazines in Caracas, Venezuela.
Career, Business and Investments
García Márquez’s illustrious career started as a journalist before he became an internationally renowned novelist. His unique storytelling style, blending fantastical elements with reality, redefined Latin American literature and garnered attention globally. Some of his other notable works include Chronicle of a Death Foretold and The General in His Labyrinth. Beyond writing, he had interests in film and theater, and his works were often adapted into various media, further expanding his influence.
Gabriel José García Márquez (6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian writer and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo or Gabito throughout Latin America.
Considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, particularly in the Spanish language, he was awarded the 1972 Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. He pursued a self-directed education that resulted in leaving law school for a career in journalism.
From early on he showed no inhibitions in his criticism of Colombian and foreign politics. In 1958, he married Mercedes Barcha Pardo; they had two sons, Rodrigo and Gonzalo.
Social Network
Gabriel García Márquez was not known for his active presence on social media during his lifetime. However, following his passing, there are numerous fan pages and groups dedicated to discussing and celebrating his literature and legacy on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Fans and literary scholars continue to share quotes, insights, and analyses of his works, keeping his spirit alive in the digital age.
Ending in controversy, his last domestically written editorial for El Espectador was a series of 14 news articles in which he revealed the hidden story of how a Colombian Navy vessel's shipwreck "occurred because the boat contained a badly stowed cargo of contraband goods that broke loose on the deck." García Márquez compiled this story through i
nterviews with a young sailor who survived the wreck.
In response to this controversy, El Espectador sent García Márquez away to Europe to be a foreign correspondent. He wrote about his experiences for El Independiente, a newspaper that briefly replaced El Espectador during the military government of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla and was later shut down by Colombian authorities.
García Márquez's background in journalism provided a foundational base for his writing career. Literary critic Bell-Villada noted, "Owing to his hands-on experiences in journalism, García Márquez is, of all the great living authors, the one who is closest to everyday reality."
Education
García Márquez pursued a degree in journalism and literature at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, which laid the foundation for his future career as a novelist and journalist. His experiences in education and his time spent in various roles throughout his life enriched his understanding of narrative and storytelling, influencing his legendary writing style.
García Márquez met Mercedes Barcha while she was at school; he was 12 and she was 9. When he was sent to Europe as a foreign correspondent, Mercedes waited for him to return to Barranquilla. Finally, they married in 1958. In 1961, the family traveled by Greyhound bus throughout the southern United States and eventually settled in Mexico City.
García Márquez had always wanted to see the Southern United States because it inspired the writings of William Faulkner. As of 2001, Gonzalo is a graphic designer in Mexico City.
