Olof Gustafsson is a Swedish entrepreneur best known as the former CEO of Escobar Inc., the company that licensed the name and image of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
He built several businesses in Sweden before partnering with Roberto Escobar Gaviria in 2014, then led a series of product campaigns that ended in federal fraud and money laundering convictions in the United States.
Olof Gustafsson Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Olof Kyros Gustafsson |
| Born | May 14, 1993 |
| Age | 33 years |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Nickname | El Silencio |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known For | CEO of Escobar Inc. |
| Legal Status | Sentenced to 48 months in U.S. federal prison (2025) |
Who is Olof Gustafsson?
Olof Kyros Gustafsson is a Swedish businessman who served as CEO of Escobar Inc., a Puerto Rico-registered company that held successor-in-interest rights to the persona and legacy of Pablo Escobar.
He went by the alias “El Silencio” during his business activities. Gustafsson co-founded Escobar Inc. with Roberto Escobar Gaviria, the brother of the late Colombian drug lord.
Under his leadership, the company marketed branded products including foldable smartphones, a flamethrower, a gold-plated phone, and a physical cryptocurrency called Escobar Cash.
In July 2025, he pleaded guilty to six federal charges in the United States. That December, a federal court sentenced him to 48 months in prison and ordered him to pay $1.3 million in restitution to defrauded customers.
Early Life of Olof Gustafsson
Gustafsson was born on May 14, 1993, in Sweden. He showed an interest in business from a young age, reportedly starting his first company at age 13 by selling comics online.
By age 17, he ran four businesses in Sweden while completing his upper secondary education.
After finishing school, he moved to Los Angeles, where he entered the private lending industry.
That move brought him into contact with Roberto Escobar Gaviria, with whom he would later build Escobar Inc.
Olof Gustafsson Age / Birthday
Gustafsson is 33 years old as of 2026, born on May 14, 1993. His zodiac sign is Taurus, a sign often associated with persistence and ambition in business.
He is currently serving a federal prison sentence in the United States.
Olof Gustafsson Ethnicity and Nationality
Gustafsson is Swedish by nationality, born and raised in Sweden. His ethnic background is Swedish.
He spent parts of his adult life in the United States and Spain before his arrest in Marbella in December 2023.
Olof Gustafsson Education
Gustafsson completed his upper secondary education in Sweden, finishing the program in two years.
After that, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue business. No university attendance is publicly confirmed.
Olof Gustafsson Career
Early Business Ventures (2006-2013)
Gustafsson launched his first business at 13 years old, selling comics online in Sweden.
By age 17, he ran four companies simultaneously while still in school. He published a comic compilation during that period.
After completing upper secondary school, he moved to Los Angeles and worked in private lending.
That career shift introduced him to the world of international business and eventually to Roberto Escobar Gaviria.
Escobar Inc. (2014-2019)
Gustafsson and Roberto Escobar Gaviria reincorporated Escobar Inc. together in 2014.
The company held the rights to use Pablo Escobar’s name and image for commercial purposes.
In April 2016, a Washington Post report cited Gustafsson’s role in helping Donald Trump gain social media followers ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
On January 8, 2019, Gustafsson and Roberto Escobar launched a $50 million GoFundMe campaign to fund impeachment efforts against President Trump.
The page drew $10 million in ten hours before GoFundMe removed it. Later that year, Escobar Inc. began selling its first physical product: a flamethrower.
Customers who paid received only a printed certificate of ownership. PayPal later closed its accounts with the company after those refund disputes.
Escobar Phones and Fraud Scheme (2019-2023)
In December 2019, Escobar Inc. launched the Escobar Fold 1, a foldable phone priced at $349.
The device was a rebranded Royole FlexPai made of failed or overstock units. Customers who ordered did not receive phones; instead, they received a certificate of ownership, a book, or other promotional materials.
To generate public interest, Gustafsson sent gold-foil-wrapped Samsung Galaxy Fold phones to tech reviewers and influencers. Those sample devices were not the products customers would receive.
Escobar Inc. continued marketing new products including the Escobar Gold 11 Pro Phone, the Escobar Fold 2, and Escobar Cash, a so-called physical cryptocurrency.
Between July 2019 and November 2023, Gustafsson collected customer payments via PayPal, Stripe, and Coinbase without delivering the promised goods.
In that period, he wired more than $307,000 to accounts outside the United States as part of the laundering operation.
Arrest and Conviction (2023-2025)
Spanish authorities arrested Gustafsson on December 4, 2023, at his home in Marbella on charges including money laundering, fraud, and art smuggling.
After fighting extradition for months, U.S. authorities transferred him to Los Angeles in March 2025.
His arraignment took place in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. He pleaded not guilty at first, then changed his plea in July 2025.
On July 23, 2025, Gustafsson pleaded guilty to six federal charges: conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count each of wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, concealment money laundering, and international concealment money laundering.
Sentencing took place on December 5, 2025. The court sentenced him to 48 months in U.S. federal prison.
He also received a $25,000 fine and an order to pay $1,300,193 in restitution to victims.
Olof Gustafsson Wife
Some sources says that wife named Svetlana Gustafsson and noted a 2020 marriage.
This has not been confirmed by any verifiable online source as of October 2026, so that detail is not included here. No current relationship information is publicly confirmed.
Olof Gustafsson Net Worth
Olof Gustafsson’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. His income came mainly from Escobar Inc. and its branded product campaigns, but those revenues were part of a fraud scheme.
A U.S. federal court ordered him to pay $1,300,193 in restitution to victims and fined him an additional $25,000.
Between December 2019 and June 2020, court records show he wired more than $307,000 offshore as part of the money laundering operation.
Escobar Inc. accepted customer payments through PayPal, Stripe, and Coinbase. The company no longer exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Olof Gustafsson?
Gustafsson was born on May 14, 1993, making him 33 years old as of 2026.
What is Olof Gustafsson known for?
He served as CEO of Escobar Inc., a company that used the name and image of Pablo Escobar to sell products including foldable phones, a flamethrower, and a physical cryptocurrency, most of which customers never received.
Was Olof Gustafsson convicted?
Yes. In July 2025, he pleaded guilty to six federal charges of fraud and money laundering in a U.S. court. He was sentenced in December 2025 to 48 months in federal prison.
What is Olof Gustafsson’s nickname?
He went by “El Silencio” during his time running Escobar Inc.
Where was Olof Gustafsson arrested?
Spanish authorities arrested him in Marbella, Spain, in December 2023. The United States extradited him to Los Angeles in March 2025.
How much restitution did Olof Gustafsson owe?
A federal court ordered him to pay $1,300,193 to victims defrauded by Escobar Inc., plus a $25,000 fine.
Conclusion
Olof Gustafsson built a public profile through Escobar Inc., turning the legacy of Pablo Escobar into a product line that drew global media coverage before unraveling in federal court.
His December 2025 sentencing to 48 months in U.S. federal prison and a $1.3 million restitution order marked the end of both the company and his career as a free executive.