January 3, 2026
From bus driver to dictator: Nicolás Maduro’s rise and fall in Venezuela
The U.S. had announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest before news emerged Saturday of his capture in Venezuela.
TL;DR
- Nicolás Maduro worked as a bus driver and union organizer before entering politics.
- He was appointed foreign minister and later vice president by Hugo Chávez.
- Maduro became president in 2013 and faced economic collapse, protests, and disputed elections.
- The U.S. government has charged Maduro with narco-terrorism and conspiracy, offering a $50 million reward for his arrest.
- Dozens of countries, including the U.S., have refused to recognize Maduro's presidency since 2019.
- He was re-elected in 2024 in an election that the U.S. deemed illegitimate.
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