Gustavo Petro Bio: Net Worth, Age, Religion, Parents, Wife, Children, Wikipedia, Website, Twitter

Biography

Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (born April 19, 1960) is a Colombian politician, economist, and former guerrilla who has served as the 35th President of Colombia since 2022, becoming the country’s first left-wing leader in modern history.

A former member of the urban guerrilla group M-19 in his youth, Petro transitioned to politics after the group’s demobilization, serving as a congressman, senator, and mayor of Bogotá (2012–2015).

He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2010 and 2018 before winning in 2022. His administration has focused on social justice, environmental protection, peace negotiations, and reducing inequality, though it has faced challenges, including low approval ratings and international tensions.

President of Colombia
Gustavo Petro
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego
Stage Name:	Gustavo Petro
Born:	19 April 1960 (age 65 years old)
Place of Birth:	Ciénaga de Oro, Colombia
Nationality:	Colombian
Education:	Universidad Externado de Colombia, Escuela Superior de Administración Pública, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Université catholique de Louvain, University of Salamanca
Height:	1.70 m
Parents:	Gustavo Petro Sierra, Clara Nubia Urrego
Siblings:	Adriana Petro, Juan Petro, Juan Fernando Petro
Spouse:	Verónica Alcocer García (m. 2000), Katia Burgos (m. 1986–1992), Mary Luz Herrán (m. 1992–2000)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Nicolás Petro, Sofía Petro, Antonella Petro, Andrea Petro, Nicolás Alcocer Petro, Andrés Petro
Occupation:	Poltician • Economist
Net Worth:	$12 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego was born on April 19, 1960, in Ciénaga de Oro, a small municipality in the Córdoba Department of northern Colombia.

He is the eldest child of Gustavo Petro Sierra (a teacher from the Caribbean region) and Clara Nubia Urrego. In the 1970s, seeking better opportunities, the family moved to Zipaquirá, north of Bogotá.

Petro comes from a predominantly mestizo Colombian background with significant Italian ancestry—his paternal great-grandfather, Francesco Petro, immigrated from southern Italy in 1870, and his maternal grandmother, Lucia Pellegrini, hailed from Conza della Campania, granting him dual Colombian-Italian citizenship.

He was raised Catholic and influenced by liberation theology, though he has expressed agnostic views and questioned God’s existence. He has at least two siblings: Adriana Petro and Juan Petro (including Juan Fernando Petro, who has been involved in politics).

For education, Petro earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Universidad Externado de Colombia in 1982.

He later pursued (but did not always complete) graduate studies at institutions including the Escuela Superior de Administración Pública (ESAP) in Colombia, the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (master’s in economics), the Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium (economy and human rights), and the University of Salamanca in Spain (doctoral studies in public administration).

At age 17, during his late teens in Zipaquirá, Petro joined the urban guerrilla group M-19, adopting the alias “Aureliano” from Gabriel García Márquez‘s One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Career

Gustavo Petro began his political journey as a teenager, joining the M-19 urban guerrilla group at 17 in the late 1970s.

He took part in both community organizing and armed actions until the group disbanded in 1990 after peace talks. In 1985, he was arrested for illegal arms possession, tortured, and spent 18 months in prison.

After the M-19 disbanded, Petro entered electoral politics with the M-19 Democratic Alliance. He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives for Cundinamarca from 1991 to 1994. He later represented Bogotá from 1998 to 2006.

During this time, he helped launch progressive movements and coalitions, including the Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA). In 2006, he became a senator with one of the highest vote totals. He became well-known for exposing the ‘parapolitics’ scandal, which linked politicians to paramilitaries.

While opposing President Álvaro Uribe’s administration, he received death threats and was put under surveillance. In 2010, Petro ran for president as the PDA candidate. He finished fourth with 9.1% of the vote.

He left the PDA over ideological differences and started Humane Colombia in 2011. That same year, he was elected Mayor of Bogotá and took office in 2012. As mayor, he launched the ‘Bogotá Humana’ plan.

It included lowering homicide rates to record lows, expanding access to water and subsidies to help many people out of poverty, protecting wetlands, opening drug treatment centers, and improving public transport.

His term was marred by controversy, especially a 2013 waste management crisis. It led to his temporary removal from office and a 15-year political ban by the Inspector General. This ban was later overturned with international help, and he finished his term in 2015.

Petro ran for president again in 2018. He made it to the runoff with over 25% of the vote in the first round but lost to Iván Duque, who won 58% to Petro’s 42%. Afterward, Petro returned to the Senate from 2018 to 2022.

In 2022, he ran for president with the Historic Pact coalition and Francia Márquez as his running mate. Petro won the runoff against Rodolfo Hernández with 50.44% of the vote. He became Colombia’s first leftist president in modern times, taking office on August 7, 2022.

His government has focused on peace talks with armed groups and land reform. It has also prioritized protecting the environment, including major cuts in Amazon deforestation. The administration introduced reforms in health, pensions, and labor, and worked to restore relations with Venezuela.

Petro is still president but faces several challenges. These include stalled reforms, low approval ratings of about 27%, family scandals, and economic emergency decrees. There is a record 23.7% minimum wage increase for 2026.

He also faces tense relations with the United States, including sanctions, visa cancellations, and trade disputes over drug policy and foreign affairs. These foreign policy issues involve his positions on Palestine and Venezuela.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Gustavo Petro
• Instagram: Gustavo Petro (@gustavopetrourrego)
• Twitter: Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) / Posts / X
• YouTube: Gustavo Petro
• Facebook: Gustavo Petro (@gustavopetrourrego)

Personal Life

Gustavo Petro is 65 years old, born on April 19, 1960.

He stands approximately 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) tall, according to biographical sources. Petro has been married three times and has six children in total.

His first marriage was to Katia Burgos (around 1986–1992), with whom he has one son, Nicolás Petro Burgos. His second marriage was to Mary Luz Herrán (1992–2000), with whom he has two children: Andrés Gustavo Petro Herrán and Andrea Petro Herrán. Since 2000, he has been married to Verónica Alcocer García, Colombia’s current First Lady.

With Verónica, Petro has two biological daughters: Sofía Petro Alcocer and Antonella Petro Alcocer. In 2022, he also adopted Verónica‘s son from a previous relationship, Nicolás Alcocer Petro, making a total of six children from all his marriages.

Net Worth

Gustavo Petro‘s net worth is estimated at approximately $12 million.

This figure primarily stems from his long career in public service, including roles as a congressman, senator, mayor of Bogotá, and president, along with associated salaries, benefits, and investments.

Celebrity and financial tracking sites often provide varying estimates of public figures’ earnings, reflecting accumulated earnings over decades in politics. His annual presidential salary is around $124,000, supplemented by prior income from legislative positions.

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