Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo, professionally known as Carlos Vives, is a two-time Grammy award-winning Colombian singer, songwriter, and actor. Widely recognized for his instinctive and unique works, Carlos is best known for his interpretation of traditional Colombian music styles, such as vallenato, cumbia, champeta, bamboo, and porro, as well as genres such as Latin pop, reggaeton, dance-pop, and tropical music.
Carlos started his career as an actor in Columbian telenovelas before transitioning to music in the early 1990s. As a musician, Carlos had his breakthrough with his “Clásicos de la Provincia,” released in 1993. He has achieved several hits throughout his music career, making him one of the most popular Columbian musicians of all time. In this article, we will shed light on everything about Carlos Vives, from his age to his net worth to his career, education, social life, and more.

Quick Facts About Carlos Vives
- Carlos Vives real name is Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo.
- He was born on August 7, 1961, in Santa Marta, Colombia.
- Carlos was born to Aracely Florez Restrepo and Luis Aurelio Vives.
- Carlos is married to Claudia Elena Vásquez.
- He has won 2 Grammy Awards and 14 Latin Grammy Awards.
- In 2019, he was ranked 45th in Billboard’s list of the Greatest of All Time Latin Artists and Top Latin Artists 2010.
- Carlos has sold over 20 million records globally.
Early Life and Education
Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo, the famous son of Aracely Florez Restrepo and Luis Aurelio Vives, was welcomed into the world on August 7, 1961, in Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia. According to his birthday, he was born under the Aries astrological sign. Carlos spent the first 12 years of his life growing up in Santa Marta before relocating to Bogotá in search of a better life with his family.
Carlos attended and graduated from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, obtaining a degree in Advertising. He also developed a taste for rock in Bogotá, where he took part in the local music scene and started performing in the city’s pubs and cafés.
Quick Biography
Carlos Vives Qucik Biography | Answers |
Birthday | August 7, 1961 |
Full Name | Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo |
Hometown | Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia |
Lives In | Florida, United States |
Net Worth | $9 million |
Horoscope/Birth Sign | Leo |
Age | 66 years old |
Stage Name | Carlos Vives |
Profession | Singer, Songwriter, and Actor |
Father’s Name | N/A |
Mother’s Name | N/A |
Number of Children | 4 |
Children’s Name | Lucy Vives, Elena Vives, Carlos Enrique Vives, Pedro Vives |
Husband/Boyfriend | N/A |
Wife/Girlfriend | Claudia Elena Vásquez |
Birth Year | 1961 |
Trivia | He has won two Grammy Awards and 14 Latin Grammy Awards. Carlos commenced his career as an actor. He has been three time married. |
Facebook Handle | Carlos Vives |
YouTube Handle | Carlos Vives |
Twitter/X Handle | @carlosvives |
Instagram Handle | @carlosvives |
Snapchat Handle | N/A |
Height | 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
Body Measurements | N/A |
Feet/Shoe Size | N/A |
Color of Eye | Brown |
Movies Starred | Pequeños Gigantes” and “Tuyo es Mi Corazón |
References | Wikipedia |
Career
Acting
Carlos Vives began his career as an actor in 1982, appearing in several shows and telenovelas such as “Pequeños Gigantes” and “Tuyo es Mi Corazón.” For years, Carlos worked harder but didn’t find fame until 1986, when he landed a role in “Gallito Ramirez” as the title character, a Colombian Caribbean boxer who falls in love with a girl played by Margarita Rosa de Francisco, whom he later married.
Music
In 1986, Carlos released his first album, Por Fuera y Por Dentro, which landed primarily ballads and did not achieve commercial success. The next year, he released his second album, “No Podras Escapar de Mi,” which debuted 30 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks. A few songs from his third album, Al Centro de la Ciudad, were featured in telenovelas but also did not achieve much success. In 1993, Carlos issued the album “Clasicos de la Provincia,” in which he fused vallenato music with rock, pop, and other Caribbean Colombian ethnic rhythms.
The album secured the Billboard Latin Music Awards Best Album award. La Tierra del Olvido, his follow-up album, was subsequently released. The album was a hit and represented a new direction in Vives’s direction towards fusion music. As a musician, Carlos has partnered with numerous artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Pedro Capó, Manuel Turizo, Ryan Castro, Sebastián Yatra, uanes, Ricky Martin, Camilo, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, Mau y Ricky, J Maluma, Wisin, Carlos Rivera, Lalo Ebratt, Play-N-Skillz, Mike Bahía, Gente de Zona, Thalía, Los Ángeles Azules, Fito Páez, NachoMichel Teló, and Diego Torres.
For selling over 20 million records globally, Carlos is undoubtedly one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time. He is considered one of the most influential artists in the world. By fusing pop/rock music with traditional vallenato music, he has also helped the genre become more well-known throughout the world, creating a subgenre known as “vallenato-pop.” 2019 saw Carlos placed 45th on both the Greatest of All Time Latin Artists and Top Latin Artists 2010s by Billboard. Among his notable hits songs and albums include “Alicia Adorada,” “Pa’ Mayte”, “La Tierra del Olvido”, “Como Tú”, “Décimas Del Parecido”, “Robarte un Beso”, , “La Bicicleta” and “Canción Bonita”.

Net Worth and Career Earnings
How rich is Carlos Vives? As mentioned above, Carlos’ career has paid him off, placing him among Columbia’s wealthiest artists. As of this writing, Carlos Vives has a net worth of $9 million, with music as his primary income source. He started his career as an actor and later transitioned to music, where he became a household name, although he was also known for his role in telenovelas.
His music career has earned him several nominations and accolades, including two Grammy Awards and 14 Latin Grammy Awards. In 2020, Carlos was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame. Per data collected, Carlos Vives’ net worth is expected to grow in the coming future as he continues to give the world the best.
Personal Life
Is Carlos Viives married? How many children does Carlos have? Carlos is a happily married man living with his soulmate, former Miss Colombia Claudia Elena Vásquez. Their union is a testament to their enduring love and commitment. However, before this, Carlos had been married twice. His first marriage was to Colombian actress Margarita Rosa de Francisco, a relationship closely followed by the national media. Unfortunately, their marriage hit a rock.
He then married Puerto Rican Herlinda Gómez, with whom he had two children, Carlos Enrique Vives and Lucía Vives. Carlos is a loving and devoted father whose children hold a special place in his heart. As a man of responsibility, Carlos and his family share their time between Miami and Colombia, mainly Santa Marta and Bogotá.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Carlos Vives?
Ans: Carlos Vives is 63 years old as of 2024.
- What is Carlos Vives’ net worth?
Ans: Carlos Vives has a net worth of $9 million as of this writing.
- Where was Carlos Vives born?
Ans: Carlos was born in Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia.
- Does Carlos Vives have kids?
Ans: Yes, he has four children, Carlos Enrique Vives and Lucía Vives.
- Who are the parents of Carlos Vives?
Ans: He was born to Aracely Florez Restrepo and Luis Aurelio Vives.
- Where was Carlos Vive educated?
Ans: Carlos received his education from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University.