Cardi B’s father is a retired taxi driver who was born in the Dominican Republic. Unlike his famous daughter, he has stayed completely out of the public eye. He moved to New York, worked hard for many years, and raised a family far from the spotlight. This article shares everything publicly known about him, from his early life to his family and his choice to live privately.
Quick Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Almánzar (also spelled Almanzar) |
| Date of birth | March 19, 1958 |
| Age (2026) | 68 years old |
| Place of birth | Dominican Republic |
| Current residence | The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Nationality | Dominican-American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed / Afro-Caribbean |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Former spouse | Clara Mercedes Almánzar |
| Children | 8 (including Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina) |
| Profession | Retired taxi driver |
| Mother | Esperanza Almanzar |
Who Is Cardi B’s Father?
The retired taxi driver became known to the public because his daughter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, is the famous rapper Cardi B. His full name appears in different records as Carlos Almánzar, Carlos Almanzar, and sometimes Carlos Alberto Almánzar Marsan.
Despite his daughter’s global fame, he has chosen to stay away from the spotlight. He does not give interviews, does not attend red carpet events, and has no public social media accounts. His decision to remain private has made him one of the least visible parents of a major celebrity.
Early Life and Dominican Roots
He was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic. He grew up in a working-class household during the 1950s and 1960s. His mother, Esperanza Almanzar, raised him with strong family values.
Dominican culture played a big role in his childhood. Music like merengue and bachata were common in his home. Traditional Dominican foods such as sancocho, tostones, and mangú were part of daily life. These cultural traditions later became an important part of how he raised his own children.
He spent his formative years in the Dominican Republic, where he was immersed in the local culture. This upbringing shaped his values and the way he approached family life.
Immigration Journey to the United States
The Dominican-born father moved to the United States in 1990. Like many Dominican immigrants of that time, he came to New York City, where a large Dominican community had already settled in neighborhoods like Washington Heights and the Bronx.
He eventually settled in the Bronx, specifically in the Highbridge area of the South Bronx. This neighborhood had many Dominican and Caribbean immigrant families throughout the 1990s. Spanish was spoken as often as English on the streets.
Life was not easy at first. Many new immigrants worked multiple jobs just to pay rent, and he was no exception. He did not speak English fluently, and adjusting to a new country while supporting a family took time and patience.
Career and Professional Life
The retired cab driver worked in New York City for many years. According to his daughter Cardi B, he drove a cab for about nine years before retiring. His retirement came around the time Cardi B’s music career began to take off.
Taxi driving in New York during that time was a tough job. Drivers worked long hours, often twelve-hour shifts or more. They had to pay for vehicle costs and, in many cases, expensive medallion fees. Income was not steady either. A slow shift could bring in as little as $40, while a good one could bring in a few hundred dollars.
Cardi B has spoken publicly about the hard work her father did. In 2019, she reacted to a news report about the unfair conditions cab drivers face. She wrote on social media that her father still campaigns for cab drivers because of the difficulties they deal with.
Wife, Children, and Family
The retired taxi driver married Clara Mercedes Almánzar in 1991. Clara is of Trinidadian background, which brought a second Caribbean culture into their Bronx household.
The couple had two daughters together. Their first daughter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, was born on October 11, 1992. She is known to the world as Cardi B. Their second daughter, Hennessy Carolina, was born on December 22, 1995.
The marriage lasted until around 2005. Cardi B has confirmed that her parents divorced when she was 13 years old. Despite the divorce, both parents stayed involved in raising their children.
Before marrying Clara, the Dominican-born father reportedly had six other children from a previous relationship. Some of the names mentioned include Maciel Almanzar, Nicauly Villalona, and Fernando Almanzar. The other siblings have chosen to stay out of the public eye.
Relationship With Cardi B
Cardi B has described her father as strict but loving. She has credited his work ethic with shaping her own drive and discipline.
In 2019, Cardi B publicly asked a reporter not to film or interview her father. She said he did not have the same security she did and that she wanted to protect him from unwanted attention.
On Father’s Day, Cardi B has referred to her dad and herself as “personality twins.” She has also called her parents her “biggest blessings”.
Relationship With Hennessy Carolina
Hennessy Carolina is the younger daughter of the retired cab driver. She has built her own following as a social media personality and television star. She first gained attention through a reality TV show.
Hennessy has spoken about the loyalty and discipline her father instilled in both sisters growing up. She shares a close bond with Cardi B and with her father.
Grandchildren and Extended Family
The Dominican-born father is a grandfather to Cardi B’s two children, Kulture Kiari Cephus and Wave Set Cephus. He has been photographed at family gatherings with his grandchildren, though he continues to avoid the spotlight.
Cardi B has spoken about how great her parents are as grandparents. She has shared that they are very involved in her children’s lives.
Influence on Cardi B’s Life and Cultural Identity
The retired taxi driver’s Dominican background has played a big role in shaping Cardi B’s identity. She frequently references her Afro-Latina heritage and speaks Spanish in interviews.
Cardi B has credited her father with introducing her to traditional Dominican dishes and music. Her music is influenced by styles like merengue and bachata, which are well-known in the Dominican Republic.
Her upbringing in the South Bronx, a neighborhood shaped by generations of Caribbean and Latino immigrant families, connects directly to the community her father joined in 1990. This cultural mix, Dominican from her father and Trinidadian from her mother, plays into how Cardi B presents herself publicly.
Nationality and Cultural Heritage
The subject of this biography holds Dominican-American nationality. He was born in the Dominican Republic and later became a resident of the United States.
His ethnicity is generally described as mixed or Afro-Caribbean. Dominican culture blends African, Taíno, and Spanish influences, and that mix shaped his childhood and later his family life.
Cardi B has spoken about her heritage as well. During a court testimony in 2025, she identified herself as “Afro Caribbean”. She has also spoken about how people sometimes do not understand Caribbean culture and identity.
Net Worth and Financial Profile
The retired cab driver’s exact net worth has never been officially disclosed. Various unofficial estimates online range from $200,000 to $500,000, but none of these figures come from a verified source.
What is known is that his income came primarily from his years driving a taxi in New York City. He has no known business ventures, investments, or endorsement deals. Unlike his daughters, he has not used his family’s fame for any commercial purpose.
| Financial Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Estimated net worth | $200,000 – $500,000 (unofficial) |
| Primary income source | Taxi driving |
| Business ventures | None known |
| Endorsement deals | None |
Life Away From the Public Spotlight
The father of Cardi B has chosen a life of privacy. He avoids interviews, skips red carpets, and stays off social media. There are no verified public social media accounts connected to him.
People close to him describe him as disciplined, loyal, and resistant to attention. His decision to stay out of the public eye has remained consistent for years, even as his daughters became internationally famous.
His approach to parenting has been described by his daughters as strict but caring, with an emphasis on hard work and family loyalty. That consistency, avoiding media requests and staying out of public appearances, is one of the more well-documented parts of his public image.
Where Is He Now?
The Dominican-born father is reportedly still living in the New York City area as of 2026. He spends his time away from cameras, enjoying a quiet routine. He has turned down interview requests in the past, preferring privacy over public attention even as his daughters’ careers have grown.
Name Confusion: Alman, Almánzar, and Almanzar
The public name “Alman” is actually a shortened version of his full surname. Formal records list him as Carlos Almánzar. Sometimes it is spelled Almanzar without the accent. One source lists an even longer version, Carlos Alberto Almánzar Marsan.
“Alman” appears to be the simplified name used most often in media coverage. This naming confusion has led to some inconsistency in how he is referred to online.
Verified Facts and Unconfirmed Claims
A few details about Cardi B’s father get repeated online without solid backing. Some articles list his birthplace as Dominica rather than the Dominican Republic, but the overwhelming majority of sources confirm the Dominican Republic.
Any specific net worth figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed fact. Claims about jail records or legal trouble tied to him have no supporting evidence. In January 2026, a viral rumor claimed that he had a criminal record. Cardi B publicly denied these claims, and no matching court documents were found. The allegation appears to have originated from a parody account and has been widely debunked.
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Conclusion
The story of Cardi B’s father is built on a handful of solid facts. He was born in the Dominican Republic in 1958. He moved to New York in 1990. He worked as a taxi driver for about nine years. He is the father of eight children, including Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina. He chose privacy over the spotlight, even after his daughter became one of the most recognizable names in music. That choice, more than anything else, defines the small but consistent public picture of who he is.
FAQs
Who is Cardi B’s father?
He is a retired taxi driver from the Dominican Republic who became known as the father of Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B.
How old is Cardi B’s father?
He was born on March 19, 1958, which makes him 68 years old as of 2026.
What did Cardi B’s father do for a living?
He worked as a taxi driver in New York City for about nine years before retiring.
Is Cardi B’s father married?
He is divorced. He was married to Clara Mercedes Almánzar from 1991 until their separation around 2005.
How many children does Cardi B’s father have?
He has eight children in total, including Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina.
What is Cardi B’s father’s net worth?
His exact net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Unofficial estimates place it between $200,000 and $500,000.
