Carlos Alman Biography: From Taxi Driver to Cardi B’s Proud Father

Carlos Alman is a Dominican-American former taxi driver and the father of famous rapper Cardi B. Born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic, he later moved to the United States and built his life in New York. Unlike his celebrity daughter, Carlos has always preferred a simple and private lifestyle.

He became widely known because of his connection to Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar. Carlos played an important role in her family life and worked hard to support his children. Cardi B has spoken warmly about her father and has described the similarities they share in personality.

Beyond his connection to Cardi B, Carlos has an interesting story shaped by immigration, family, work, and fatherhood. This biography explores his Dominican roots, move to America, taxi-driving career, marriage and divorce, eight children, relationship with Cardi B, private lifestyle, retirement, and life today.

Quick Bio

His Early Life in the Dominican Republic

Carlos Alman was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic. His mother is Esperanza Almanzar. He spent his early years in his home country before eventually making a major change in his life.

Carlos grew up in a modest environment where family and hard work played important roles. These early experiences helped shape the practical lifestyle he later followed. He carried those values with him when he moved abroad.

In 1990, Carlos left the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States. He settled in The Bronx, New York, an area with a large and diverse immigrant population. America became the place where he built his career and raised much of his family.

Starting a New Life in New York

Moving from the Dominican Republic to New York brought Carlos into a completely different environment. The Bronx offered new opportunities, but starting again in another country also required hard work. Carlos focused on earning a living and establishing stability.

Life in New York was fast and demanding. Carlos adapted to his surroundings and found work that allowed him to provide for his household. His experience reflected the everyday working life of many immigrant parents trying to create better opportunities for their children.

The Bronx eventually became much more than a new place to live. It became the setting for his family story and Cardi B’s childhood. Carlos continued living in the area even after his daughter achieved international fame.

Carlos Alman’s Career as a Taxi Driver

Carlos earned his living as a taxi driver in New York City. Driving professionally in such a busy city required long hours, patience, and daily interaction with many different people. He reportedly spent almost nine years working in the profession.

His job helped support his household during Cardi B’s younger years. The family did not grow up surrounded by celebrity wealth or luxury. Instead, Carlos and his family experienced an ordinary working-class lifestyle built around regular jobs and responsibilities.

The difficulties faced by taxi drivers remained meaningful to the family even after Cardi B became successful. Carlos understood the financial pressures and demanding conditions drivers could experience. His profession became an important part of the family background Cardi B later discussed.

Marriage to Clara Mercedes Almanzar

Carlos married Clara Mercedes Almanzar in 1991. Clara came from Trinidad and Tobago and worked as a cashier while also taking other jobs. Together, they worked to provide a stable home for their daughters.

Carlos and Clara raised Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina in the South Bronx. Money could sometimes be limited, so both parents contributed through regular employment. Their household emphasized working hard and caring for the family.

Their parenting styles were somewhat different. Clara was described as stricter, while Carlos had a quieter personality. Even with their differences, both parents remained important figures during their daughters’ early lives.

Carlos Alman’s Eight Children

Carlos Alman is the father of eight children. His two daughters with Clara are Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina. Cardi B was born on October 11, 1992, while Hennessy was born on December 22, 1995.

Carlos also has six children from a previous relationship. Among the names connected with his larger family are Maciel Almanzar, Nicauly Villalona, and Fernando Almanzar. His other children have generally remained outside public attention.

The family therefore extends well beyond Cardi B and Hennessy. Most of Carlos’s children live much quieter lives than their famous sibling. Cardi B’s global popularity naturally makes her the most publicly recognizable member of the family.

Being the Father of Cardi B

Carlos became widely recognized because his daughter Cardi B developed into an internationally successful entertainer. Her rise brought greater curiosity about her childhood, parents, and family background. Carlos, however, never attempted to turn that attention into his own celebrity career.

Cardi B grew up watching both of her parents work regular jobs. Her father’s years driving a taxi formed part of the working-class environment surrounding her childhood. Those experiences came long before fame, awards, expensive homes, and international recognition entered the family’s life.

Carlos’s role was centered on being a parent rather than being part of the entertainment business. Even as Cardi B’s public profile grew dramatically, he continued choosing privacy. His lifestyle remains very different from his daughter’s highly visible career.

Carlos Alman and Cardi B’s Close Bond

Cardi B has shown considerable affection toward her father. She has called Carlos her “personality twin,” suggesting that she sees many of her own characteristics in him. She has also publicly expressed her love for him on special family occasions.

Their relationship can also be seen through small childhood memories. One example involves Carlos teaching his daughter to enjoy tomatoes with salt. It is a simple detail, but it reflects the ordinary family experiences they shared before celebrity life changed their circumstances.

Cardi B also appears strongly protective of her father. She has made it clear that his privacy and safety matter to her. Their relationship shows that Carlos continues to hold an important place in her personal life despite her demanding public career.

Why Cardi B Protects Her Father’s Privacy

One notable example of Cardi B protecting Carlos occurred in 2019. When a television reporter attempted to record them together in public, Cardi objected to her father being shown. She wanted his identity and daily routine to remain protected.

Her concern was connected partly to security. Carlos does not normally travel surrounded by the kind of professional security associated with major celebrities. Increased public exposure could therefore create unwanted attention in his everyday life.

This helps explain why photographs and appearances involving Carlos are uncommon. Cardi B may live publicly, but her father’s lifestyle is different. She appears to respect his decision to remain outside the celebrity spotlight.

Why Carlos Alman Avoids Fame

Carlos has never shown much interest in becoming a public personality. He does not regularly attend major celebrity events, give interviews, or maintain an active public social-media presence. A quiet life appears to suit him better.

His approach is especially noticeable because of Cardi B’s enormous fame. Being closely related to a global celebrity could easily create opportunities for media appearances. Carlos instead continues to stay largely behind the scenes.

This privacy has become one of the most recognizable things about him. People may know Carlos as Cardi B’s father, but he does not appear interested in building a separate public brand. Family life remains more central to his story.

His Relationship With Hennessy Carolina

Cardi B is not Carlos and Clara’s only daughter. Their younger daughter, Hennessy Carolina, was born on December 22, 1995. She has also developed a public profile, particularly through fashion and social media.

Hennessy and Cardi grew up together in the South Bronx under their parents’ care. Their childhood came before the wealth and recognition later associated with the family. Carlos’s work contributed to supporting both daughters during those early years.

Hennessy eventually became known as a fashion influencer, while Cardi built a major music career. This means two of Carlos’s children have gained considerable public recognition. Carlos himself, however, continues to remain much less visible.

His Divorce From Clara Almanzar

Carlos and Clara eventually separated in 2005. Cardi B was around 13 years old at the time. Their marriage had lasted for more than a decade before the couple decided to go their separate ways.

The end of the marriage changed the household, but it did not remove either parent from their daughters’ lives. Carlos continued maintaining a relationship with his children. Clara also remained an important figure in their upbringing.

After the separation, their lives followed different paths. Clara later remarried and has been associated with life in the Dominican Republic. Carlos remained connected to New York and continued being part of his daughters’ lives.

Carlos Alman’s Age and Appearance

Carlos was born on March 19, 1958. As of 2026, he is 68 years old. His March birthday makes Pisces his zodiac sign.

He is listed at approximately 5 feet 11 inches, equal to around 180 centimeters. His reported weight is about 143 pounds, or approximately 65 kilograms. He has black hair and dark brown eyes.

These basic details provide a clearer picture of Cardi B’s father outside his family connection. Carlos has rarely placed himself before cameras, which makes his personal appearance less familiar to fans. His private nature has remained consistent over the years.

Retirement and Life After Driving Taxis

Carlos eventually retired from taxi driving after spending years working in New York. His retirement came around the period when Cardi B’s entertainment career began growing. His everyday routine became much quieter after leaving his profession.

Retirement did not mean stepping away from family responsibilities. Carlos has continued helping his daughter with ordinary tasks and errands. His support appears to remain practical and family-focused rather than connected to her professional career.

His experience as a driver also remained meaningful to him. The struggles faced by taxi workers were issues he understood personally. Years after leaving the profession, his working background continued to be remembered within the family.

Carlos Alman as a Grandfather

Carlos’s family role expanded as Cardi B became a mother. He became a grandfather to her children, including Kulture and Wave. His involvement allowed another generation of the family to develop a relationship with him.

Rather than becoming a public celebrity grandfather, Carlos has maintained the same private approach he followed throughout his life. Family time takes place largely away from cameras. This matches his long-standing preference for normality.

His transition from hardworking father to grandfather also reflects how much the family has changed. Carlos once drove a taxi to help provide for his children. Years later, he can enjoy retirement while watching his children build families and careers of their own.

Where Does Carlos Alman Live Now?

Carlos has remained closely associated with The Bronx in New York City. The area became his home after moving to the United States and played a major part in his family’s history. He has continued living a relatively ordinary life there.

He generally stays away from red carpets, celebrity parties, and media appearances. There is also no major public social-media account through which he regularly shares his daily activities. Privacy continues to define his lifestyle.

Even without frequent appearances, Carlos remains connected with his daughters and wider family. His absence from entertainment headlines should not be confused with absence from family life. He simply prefers maintaining those relationships privately.

Carlos Alman’s Life Away From Social Media

Social media plays a major role in modern celebrity culture, but Carlos has largely avoided it. He does not use public platforms to gain followers or share personal updates. This creates a clear contrast with his famous daughters.

His lack of an online presence also helps him maintain privacy. Without constant photographs, videos, and updates, much of his everyday routine remains separate from public discussion. That appears to be exactly how he prefers to live.

Carlos’s approach shows that being related to a celebrity does not automatically require becoming one. He has allowed Cardi B and Hennessy to follow their own public careers while keeping his personal world comparatively simple and private.

Carlos Alman’s Net Worth and Lifestyle

Carlos spent much of his working life as a taxi driver rather than pursuing a high-profile business or entertainment career. His financial life has therefore been described as modest. Today, he is retired and lives away from the luxury-focused celebrity spotlight.

His lifestyle is particularly interesting when compared with Cardi B’s success. His daughter became a Grammy-winning rapper with international fame, but Carlos did not use her popularity to create a highly visible lifestyle for himself.

For Carlos, family and privacy appear more important than displaying wealth. His story is rooted in ordinary employment, immigration, and raising children. That background remains an important part of understanding the family environment from which Cardi B emerged.

Final Thoughts

Carlos Alman is best known as Cardi B’s father, but his own journey tells a story of immigration, work, and family. Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States and established a new life in The Bronx. He spent years driving a taxi and supporting his household.

His life changed dramatically as Cardi B rose from a South Bronx childhood to international music fame. Carlos could have stepped into the spotlight alongside her, but he chose another path. He remained private and continued focusing on his family.

Today, Carlos is retired and stays largely outside public view. His close relationship with Cardi B remains one of the most interesting parts of his story. Behind her bold celebrity image is a father she loves, respects, protects, and has proudly called her “personality twin.”

(FAQs)

Who is Carlos Alman?

Carlos Alman, whose full name is Carlos Almanzar, is best known as Cardi B’s father. He was born in the Dominican Republic and later moved to New York, where he worked as a taxi driver before retiring.

How old is Carlos Alman?

Carlos Alman was born on March 19, 1958, making him 68 years old as of 2026. He spent his early years in the Dominican Republic before moving to the United States and settling in The Bronx.

What did Carlos Alman do for a living?

Carlos Alman worked as a taxi driver in New York City for almost nine years. His regular working-class job helped support his family while Cardi B and her younger sister, Hennessy Carolina, were growing up.

How many children does Carlos Alman have?

Carlos Alman has eight children in total. He shares Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina with his former wife, Clara Mercedes Almanzar. He also has six other children from a previous relationship who mainly live private lives.

Who is Carlos Alman’s ex-wife?

Carlos Alman was married to Clara Mercedes Almanzar, who is from Trinidad and Tobago. They married in 1991 and separated in 2005. The former couple shares two daughters, Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina.