Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, in Birán, Holguín Province, Cuba, to a family of Spanish origin. His father, Ángel Castro y Argiz, was a successful sugarcane farmer who had immigrated from northern Spain, while his mother, Lina Ruz González, had previously worked as a household servant before becoming Ángel’s second wife. Fidel was one of seven children from this union.
Castro was sent away from home at an early age to study, initially living with his teacher in Santiago de Cuba. Due to behavioral issues, he was later transferred to a boarding school. In 1945, he graduated from El Colegio de Belén in Havana, a prestigious Jesuit high school. Though not considered an exceptionally strong student academically, Castro showed an early interest in history and politics and excelled in athletics.
After completing high school, Castro enrolled at the University of Havana in 1945 to study law. It was during this time that he became deeply involved in student activism. His political consciousness grew rapidly, and he organized a student-led group opposing U.S. influence in Cuba. His charisma, assertiveness, and outspoken nature earned him the presidency of the Federation of University Students.
Castro became increasingly critical of the corruption and inefficiency within President Ramón Grau's government. In 1947, he joined the Party of the Cuban People (Partido Ortodoxo), a populist party that stood against government corruption and U.S. interference. This affiliation marked a significant turning point in his revolutionary journey.
Castro’s revolutionary activities escalated in the 1950s, culminating in his leadership of the 26th of July Movement against Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. Alongside key allies, including Che Guevara, he led a guerrilla campaign that began in the Sierra Maestra mountains. Over more than a decade, Castro and his followers honed their skills in guerrilla warfare, including ambush tactics, sabotage, and survival strategies using local resources.
In 1959, their efforts succeeded in overthrowing Batista’s regime, which marked the start of a new government under Castro's leadership. He initially assumed the role of Prime Minister (1959–1976), later becoming President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers in 1976. During this period, Cuba was declared a one-party socialist state, and the country adopted Marxist-Leninist principles under the tutelage of the Communist Party of Cuba, of which Castro became First Secretary in 1961.
| Birth Date: | 13 Aug, 1926 |
| Age: | 93 yrs |
| Citizenship: | Cuba |
| Birth Place: | Birán |
| residence: | Santiago de Cuba Province |
| Education: | University of Havana Belen Jesuit Preparatory School |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Former First Secretary of the Communist Party and President of Cuba |
| Spouse: | Mirta Díaz-Balart[1948-1955] Dalia Soto del Valle[1980-2016] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 900 million |
