Ronald Biggs

Date of Birth: August 8, 1929

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: December 18, 2013

Biography

Ronald Arthur Biggs, famously known as Ronnie Biggs, was an English criminal notorious for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963. Born in Lambeth, London, Biggs had a challenging early life and found himself in trouble with the law at a young age. He first gained public attention when he and a gang of fifteen men successfully executed one of the most infamous heists in British history, stealing £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train. After being captured and sentenced to 30 years in prison, Biggs managed to escape from Wandsworth Prison in 1965, leading to a worldwide manhunt. He spent the subsequent years living as a fugitive in various countries, including Australia and Brazil. His flamboyant lifestyle and audacious evasion of the law turned him into a media sensation. In 2001, suffering from severe health issues, Biggs voluntarily returned to the UK and was immediately re-arrested. He was released from prison on compassionate grounds in 2009. Biggs spent his final years in a nursing home and passed away in 2013.

5 Interesting Facts about Ronald Biggs

1. Ronnie Biggs underwent plastic surgery to alter his appearance while on the run in Australia.

2. He fathered a son, Michael Biggs, while living in Brazil, which helped him avoid extradition due to Brazilian law protecting parents of Brazilian children.

3. Biggs recorded a song with the punk rock band Sex Pistols in 1978 titled “No One is Innocent.”

4. The Great Train Robbery haul, equivalent to around £50 million today, remains one of the largest cash thefts in British history.

5. Despite his criminal background, Biggs became somewhat of a folk hero and cultural icon in the UK, often appearing in the media and publishing an autobiography.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ronald Biggs

1. “I was no mastermind, I was just a minor player.”

2. “I don’t regret anything I’ve done. I never wanted to be a criminal anyway.”

3. “I chose to come back, and I have no complaints.”

4. “I feel that the train robbery was an adventure.”

5. “I had no regrets about escaping. It was the best move I ever made.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of his notoriety, Ronnie Biggs’ net worth was estimated to be around £1 million, primarily driven by media deals and the sale of his autobiography.

Children

Ronnie Biggs had several children, but his most well-known child is Michael Biggs, who was born in Brazil. Michael played a significant role in Ronnie’s life during his years as a fugitive and was instrumental in his father’s ability to avoid extradition due to Brazilian laws.