Hugo Chávez Biography: Children, Net Worth, Wife, Age, Height, Parents, Wikipedia, Cancer Death

Biography

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, born in 1954 and passing away in 2013, was a Venezuelan military officer and politician who served as the country’s president from 1999 until his death.

A deeply polarizing figure, Chávez led the socialist “Bolivarian Revolution,” enacting broad social reforms, nationalizing major industries, and redistributing wealth in an effort to reduce poverty and inequality.

Renowned for his charismatic leadership and fierce anti-imperialist stance—particularly against the United States—Chávez became a symbol of leftist resistance to Western influence.

Supporters praised his efforts to empower the poor and expand access to education and healthcare, while critics accused him of authoritarianism and weakening democratic institutions. His presidency, largely financed by Venezuela’s oil wealth, left a lasting impact on the nation, contributing to both social progress and economic volatility.

Military officer and former President of Venezuela
Hugo Chávez
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías
Stage Name:	Hugo Chávez
Born:	28 July 1954 (age 58 years old)
Place of Birth:	Sabaneta, Venezuela
Died:	5 March 2013 (age 58 years), Caracas, Venezuela
Nationality:	Venezuelan
Education:	Julián Pino Elementary School, Venezuelan Military Academy, Simón Bolívar University
Height:	1.73 m
Parents:	Elena Frías de Chávez, Hugo de los Reyes Chávez
Siblings:	Adán Chávez, Argenis Chávez, Aníbal José Chávez Frías
Spouse:	Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez (m. 1997–2004), Nancy Colmenares (m. 1977–1995)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Maria Gabriela Chavez, Rosines Chavez, Sara Manuela Chávez Fajardo, Rosa Virginia Chávez, Génesis María Chávez Segura, Hugo Rafael Chávez
Occupation:	Politician • Military Officer
Net Worth:	$1 billion (USD)

Early Life & Education

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was born on July 28, 1954, in Sabaneta, Barinas State, Venezuela, a small town in the Venezuelan plains.

His ethnicity was primarily mestizo, a mix of Indigenous, African, and European ancestry, common in Venezuela. Chávez was raised in a Roman Catholic family, though his later political ideology incorporated socialist and Bolivarian principles over strict religious adherence.

His parents were Hugo de los Reyes Chávez and Elena Frías de Chávez, both schoolteachers of modest means. He was the second of seven children, with siblings including Aníbal José Chávez Frías, Adán Chávez, Argenis Chávez, and others, who remained close throughout his life. Growing up in a working-class household, Chávez often spoke of his humble roots, which shaped his later populist appeal.

Chávez’s education began in Sabaneta, where he attended the Julián Pino Elementary School. Showing early leadership, he excelled in school and developed an interest in baseball and history. At 17, he enrolled in the Venezuelan Military Academy in Caracas, graduating in 1975 as a second lieutenant with a military arts and sciences degree.

His military training and exposure to Venezuelan nationalist ideas, particularly those of Simón Bolívar, significantly influenced his later political ideology. He also pursued some postgraduate studies in political science at Simón Bolívar University but did not complete them, as his military and political career took precedence.

Career

Hugo Chávez rose from military ranks to become one of the most influential—and controversial—leaders in Latin American history, shaping Venezuela’s political and social landscape through his socialist “Bolivarian Revolution.”

After graduating from the Venezuelan Military Academy in 1975 with a military arts and sciences degree, Chávez entered the army as a second lieutenant. He served as a paratrooper and instructor, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.

His military service, which took him across Venezuela, exposed him to the country’s deep political and economic inequalities, fostering a growing disillusionment with the entrenched Puntofijo Pact system, which he saw as corrupt and dominated by elites.

Influenced by the ideals of Simón Bolívar and leftist thinkers, Chávez founded the clandestine Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement-200 (MBR-200) in 1982. He aimed to promote social justice and national sovereignty through systemic change. In 1992, he led an attempted coup against President Carlos Andrés Pérez, blaming his neoliberal economic policies for worsening poverty.

Though the coup failed, Chávez’s televised speech taking responsibility—and his call for fellow soldiers to surrender—won him public sympathy and catapulted him into the national spotlight. He was imprisoned for two years and pardoned in 1994 by President Rafael Caldera, paving the way for his entry into politics.

Following his release, Chávez founded the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) and ran for president in 1998 on a platform of anti-corruption, anti-imperialism, and social reform. With 56% of the vote, he was elected and inaugurated on February 2, 1999. Chávez immediately initiated a constitutional overhaul, resulting in the 1999 Constitution, which extended the presidential term, expanded executive powers, and renamed the country the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

During his presidency, Chávez introduced sweeping reforms to reduce poverty and promote social welfare. Funded by soaring oil revenues, his government launched a series of social programs—known as “missions”—including Misión Barrio Adentro (providing free healthcare), Misión Robinson (eradicating illiteracy), and Misión Vivienda (building housing for the poor). These initiatives significantly improved living standards for millions, although critics pointed to inefficiencies, corruption, and political favoritism.

Chávez also embarked on a wave of nationalizations across vital sectors, including oil, telecommunications, and electricity, arguing that state control was necessary to redirect profits to the people. While these moves deepened his support among the working class, they also led to economic mismanagement, high inflation, and shortages of basic goods, issues that grew more severe over time.

Internationally, Chávez positioned Venezuela as a vocal opponent of U.S. influence in Latin America. He cultivated alliances with nations like Cuba, Iran, and Russia and promoted regional cooperation through initiatives such as the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). His use of oil diplomacy helped expand Venezuela’s influence, particularly among left-leaning governments in the region.

Domestically, Chávez’s leadership polarized the nation. Admirers praised him as a champion of the poor and a defender of national dignity, while critics accused him of authoritarianism, citing his consolidation of power, media restrictions, and undermining of democratic checks and balances. In 2002, a coup temporarily removed him from office, but mass protests and military loyalists restored him within 48 hours—a dramatic episode that further solidified his base.

Chávez won re-election in 2000, 2006, and 2012, remaining a dominant political force despite growing concerns about Venezuela’s economic direction and democratic integrity. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2011, he underwent treatment in Cuba but continued to govern until his death on March 5, 2013, at the age of 58. He was succeeded by his vice president, Nicolás Maduro.

Hugo Chávez’s legacy remains deeply divisive. Many revere him for lifting millions out of poverty and challenging global power structures, yet he is equally criticized for fostering authoritarianism and laying the groundwork for Venezuela’s economic and political crises.

Personal Life

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was born on July 28, 1954, and died on March 5, 2013, at the age of 58.

Chávez was married twice. His first marriage was to Nancy Colmenares in 1977, lasting until their divorce in 1993. They had three children. His second marriage was to Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez in 1997, with whom he had one child; they divorced in 2004.

Marisabel was a journalist and later became involved in Venezuelan politics, serving as a member of the National Assembly. Chávez had four children: from his first marriage with Nancy Colmenares, he had three daughters, Rosa Virginia Chávez, Maria Gabriela Chavez, and Hugo Rafael Chávez, and from his second marriage with Marisabel Rodríguez, he had one daughter, Rosines Chavez.

His children, particularly María Gabriela, remained visible in public life, and some supported his political legacy after his death. Chávez stood approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall, a detail occasionally noted in his military and public persona descriptions. His physical presence complemented his charismatic leadership style.

After his second divorce in 2004, no confirmed romantic relationships were widely reported, as his focus remained on his political career and deteriorating health. Chávez was known to be private about his personal life outside his marriages, and any speculation about other relationships lacks credible evidence.

Cause of Death

Chávez died on March 5, 2013, due to complications from cancer. He was diagnosed with an unspecified type of pelvic cancer in June 2011 and underwent multiple surgeries and treatments, primarily in Cuba, including chemotherapy and radiation. Despite brief periods of remission, the cancer recurred, and his condition worsened in late 2012.

His death was announced by then-Vice President Nicolás Maduro, sparking widespread mourning among supporters and debates about his legacy. The exact type of cancer was never officially disclosed, leading to speculation and conspiracy theories, though medical reports consistently pointed to aggressive cancer as the cause.

Net Worth

Hugo Chávez, the former president of Venezuela (1999–2013), had an estimated net worth of $1 billion at the time of his death on March 5, 2013, according to sources like Celebrity Net Worth and TheRichest.

A 2010 report by Criminal Justice International Associates estimated the Chávez family’s assets at $1–2 billion, largely tied to Venezuela’s oil revenues through the state-controlled PDVSA. Allegations suggest the wealth was amassed through both legal and illicit means, though these claims are controversial and disputed.

Chávez’s public stance against wealth accumulation contrasted with reports of his family’s fortune, including claims that his daughter, María Gabriela Chávez, held up to $4.2 billion in assets, making her one of Venezuela’s richest individuals.