Before being termed "El Chapo Guzman" (Shorty Guzman); prior to being a Mexican drug lord who headed the notorious and deadly Sinaloa Cartel; preceding being hailed "the most powerful drug trafficker in the world" by the United States Department of Treasury; before being repeatedly ranked a Forbes-featured powerful Billionaire; and prior to the 13-year-long manhunt that ended at a beach resort in the Pacific beach town of Mazatlan... Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera was a boy born to a poor family in the rural community of La Tuna in Badiraguato, Sinaloa, Mexico, and he sold oranges to feed himself.

Guzman, 56, dropped out of school in the third grade to work alongside his father, who farmed an opium field. Young Guzman's father was an abusive man, and Guzman often fled to his maternal grandmother's home to temporarily escape the abuse, but would always return so that he could protect his siblings from his father's threatening hand. Guzman grew to single-handedly support his family, as his father often spent most of his funds on women and liquor.

With the assistance of his cousins, Guzman owned his own marijuana plantation by the age of 15. That enterprising eventually led to him leaving his hometown to join organized crime, and he utilized resources offered by his uncle Pedro Avilés Pérez, one of the pioneers of Mexican drug trafficking. El Chapo founded his own cartel in 1980, the Sinaloa cartel, which would become powerful deadly.

Fast forward several years, past the decades of cocaine, crystal meth, and marijuana shipment; cartel conflicts; and hasty murders. The kingpin is back in handcuffs after being arrested in 1993 and escaping from prison in 2001 in a laundry basket, 12 years shy of his 20-year sentence. His elaborate, carefully planned escape from prison cost a combined $2.5 million in bribery and costs.

Guzman's charges included murder and drug trafficking, as he controlled an estimated 25 percent of the illegal drug trade from Mexico to the U.S. Since he'd escape, he was pursued by Mexico, the United States and by INTERPOL, and collectively they offered a reward of 30 million pesos (approximately US$2 million) for information on Guzman.

Guzman was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, without gunfire being exchanged -- despite having a military-style assault rifle on his person. Guzman did not speak, and looked subdued as he made his first public appearance in years, then quickly vanished into the cargo bay of a helicopter waiting to take him to prison.

'We never anticipated, ever, that he would be taken alive," an official said.

The drug lord was quietly sharing breakfast with his 24-year-old beauty queen wife, Emma Coronel, prior to the arrest. Authorities smashed down the door of the fourth-floor condo, and Guzman tried to escape the room through a network of tunnels accessible through a hatch under his bathtub. Mexican Marines, in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, orchestrated the successful operation.   

Guzman's influence was international, and the DEA deemed him the "biggest drug lord of all time," his influence surpassing Pablo Escobar. The Chicago Crime Commission named him "Public Enemy Number One," due to the Guzman's affluent criminal network that continues to pulsate throughout the windy city. He's said to be the first person to reach such notoriety since Al Capone in 1930.

El Chapo also managed to cultivate a Robin Hood image, achieved by wielding his wealth to bribe, command, and employ anyone. The money and power has conceived myths and folklore about his character, its inspired song lyrics in the Mexico and abroad, and it has motivated stories. There are countless tales of Guzman assisting the poor, and splurging palms-full on patrons sharing meals at the restaurants where he's dining. With that same money, the notorious billionaire could have hidden anywhere in the world, but was retrieved by authorities just 140 miles from the home base for his cartel. The mystique can be credited for helping Guzman to evade arrest for so many years.

"I think probably a lot of them have some truth," Scott Stewart, vice president of analysis at Stratfor, told CNN last year. "He wants to try to foster that whole mystique."

When Guzman made his 2001 escape, he was on his way to the United States to face grand juries in at least seven U.S. federal district courts. Chicago, San Diego, New York and Texas already issued indictments Guzman on charges that include smuggling cocaine and heroin, racketeering, and ongoing enterprising that involves murder. Federal officials in Chicago, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Tiscione in Brooklyn want to try Guzman. Mexico and the U.S. have been diplomatic about handling the delicate situation.

"I know there's a sense of pride in Mexico ... but given the risk of flight and corruption, it all weighs toward an extradition," House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul said. "This is great victory for both Mexico and the United States, in terms of our level of cooperation. It signifies a new era in our cooperation. But I would argue the extradition would continue that cooperation."

The arrest of several Sinaloa cartel henchmen at the beginning of last week, led to Guzman's demise. On Feb. 13, one of Guzman's top henchmen, a man known as '19,' whom officials called the new chief of assassins for Ismael Zambada, was arrested with two other men in Mazatlan. Then, a 43-year-old known by the nickname '20,' and described as Zambada's chief of security, was arrested for transporting cocaine- packed produce.

Many throughout social media believe that influence will not be reduced, and that it will once again help him to escape. Also, many believe that the Sinaloa Cartel will persist and Guzman's subordinates will likely take lead in the organization.