When Escobar was alive and his drug trade was flourishing he employed around ten accountants to help him manage the huge money he got from illicit trade. He allegedly spent 2500 dollars every month on rubber bands to wrap his money. Since most of his money was being stored in walls and basement, Pablo lost almost $500 million every year because of spoilage caused by water and fire. At one time, Pablo offered to settle the Colombian national debt of about 10 billion dollars, but only if the Colombian government will protect drug barons against extradition. Pablo became one of the wealthiest people on earth surpassing the likes of Richard Branson and Matthew McConaughey.