Search Cardi B’s name long enough and her father’s comes up too. Carlos Alman rarely speaks publicly. In fact, he avoids interviews and stays off social media almost entirely. Still, millions of fans want to know who he is. Cardi B has fueled some of that curiosity herself. She’s called him her closest confidant, and she’s also posted warmly about him on Father’s Day more than once. A global superstar daughter and a low-profile father make an interesting pair. That’s likely why people keep searching for his story, and this article covers everything confirmed about Carlos Alman — his background, his years driving a cab in New York, his family, and why he stays far from the cameras his daughter attracts.
Who Is Carlos Alman?
Most people know Carlos Alman simply as Cardi B’s father. His full legal name, however, is Carlos Alberto Almánzar Marsan. Over time, “Carlos Alman” became the shorter version that stuck in headlines and everyday use. This naming pattern isn’t unusual for Dominican families, who typically combine paternal and maternal surnames into one full name.
Carlos was born March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic. As of 2026, he’s 68 years old. Unlike his daughter, though, he never sought fame. Instead, he built a quiet, working-class life in New York City. He’s kept that same low profile even after Cardi B became one of music’s biggest names. As for his net worth, no verified public figure exists. Overall, Carlos built his life on steady taxi-driving income, not the kind of wealth that tabloids typically chase.
Carlos Alman’s Background and Nationality
Dominican roots run deep through Carlos Alman’s family history. His mother, Esperanza Almanzar, remains the only parent of his that’s been publicly named. Beyond that, little else about his early life or extended family has surfaced over the years.
Life in the Dominican Republic and Move to New York
Carlos spent his early years in the Dominican Republic. Then, he made a major move. Specifically, he immigrated to the United States in 1990 and settled in the Bronx. That neighborhood became his home base for decades. It’s also where he raised his children.
Understandably, a new country in his early thirties wasn’t an easy adjustment. Steady work was the priority, so New York’s taxi industry offered exactly that. Meanwhile, thousands of Dominican immigrants took the same path during that era, building working-class lives in the city’s outer boroughs. Carlos followed a similar route, and it shaped nearly every part of his adult life in America.
Because of this, fans understanding Cardi B‘s own background often trace it back to her Dominican identity. In interviews, she often credits her Caribbean roots for shaping her personality and music — Dominican through her father, Trinidadian through her mother. Even so, Carlos rarely discusses this connection publicly. Still, it clearly runs through his daughter’s story.
Carlos Alman’s Career as a Taxi Driver
For nearly nine years, Carlos worked as a taxi driver in New York City. During that stretch, long shifts and unpredictable hours defined his daily life. Essentially, it’s the same grind thousands of immigrant drivers know well in a city that never really slows down.
Interestingly, retirement came around the same time his daughter’s music career started taking off. That timing wasn’t necessarily planned. But it meant Carlos got to step back from cab driving just as Cardi B’s fame began reshaping the family’s public profile.
Overall, his work behind the wheel left a lasting impression on how he sees labor and fairness. For example, in 2019, Cardi B publicly reacted to a New York Times piece on unfair conditions faced by NYC cab drivers, drawing directly from what she’d witnessed growing up around her father’s job. In other words, that reaction reflected more than sympathy — it showed a real, lived understanding of an industry her father spent years navigating.
Today, taxi driving remains the clearest professional chapter of Carlos Alman’s story. So far, no other career, business venture, or public role connects to his name — fitting for the low-key life he’s chosen to lead.
Carlos Alman’s Relationship With Cardi B
Cardi B speaks about her father with a warmth that stands out, especially given how private he stays. For instance, on Father’s Day, she’s posted heartfelt tributes calling him her “personality twin.” Additionally, she’s expressed deep love and gratitude for his role in her life.
However, that closeness hasn’t always meant public access. In 2019, a reporter from Univision attempted to interview and film Carlos unexpectedly. Cardi B pushed back hard in response. She made clear that her father hadn’t agreed to any interview. Furthermore, he wasn’t interested in that kind of exposure, and she drew a firm line between her own fame and his right to privacy.
Even so, public appearances together happen occasionally. For example, photos capture the two of them at events like Cardi B’s “Gold Album” release party, where Carlos showed up quietly supportive rather than seeking attention himself. Altogether, those glimpses give fans a small, genuine window into their bond.
Overall, interviews and social posts reveal a relationship rooted in loyalty rather than performance. Cardi B credits her father as one of the steady influences behind her drive and resilience, though he’s never sought credit or visibility for it himself.
Carlos Alman’s Family and Children
In total, Carlos has eight children, spread across two relationships. Six of them came from his first marriage, while Cardi B and her sister, Hennessy Carolina, came from his relationship with Clara Almanzar.
Marriage to Clara Almanzar and Their Children
Carlos married Clara Almanzar in 1991. She’s a retired grocery store cashier from Trinidad. Together, their union produced two daughters. Cardi B was born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar Cephus on October 11, 1992, and Hennessy Carolina was born December 22, 1995. Eventually, the marriage ended in divorce around 2005. Afterward, Clara raised the girls, with Carlos remaining involved as their father.
Since then, Cardi B has spoken about growing up between two households and how both parents shaped her differently. Specifically, her Dominican heritage through Carlos and Trinidadian roots through Clara gave her a blended cultural identity. She often references it in interviews and lyrics.
In contrast, little public information exists about Carlos’s six other children or their mother. He’s kept that part of his family life almost entirely private. So far, none of them have stepped into the public eye the way Cardi B and Hennessy have.
Why Carlos Alman Stays Out of the Spotlight
Overall, Carlos built his entire adult life around routine, hard work, and privacy — none of it naturally invites public attention. Consequently, this likely explains why fame never appealed to him, even after his daughter became one of the most recognized names in music.
For years, taxi driving kept him grounded in daily, practical work rather than anything resembling a public role. Meanwhile, years of quiet, consistent labor shaped a mindset that values stability over visibility. As a result, that mindset hasn’t changed just because his last name now carries weight.
According to Cardi B’s own comments, her father simply prefers life away from cameras. She’s described him as humble and private, someone who supports her success without wanting any part of the spotlight himself. Overall, that preference lines up with how rarely he appears in interviews, red carpets, or public statements.
Additionally, guarding his family’s privacy also seems to matter to him. He stays quiet about his other children, his personal relationships, and his day-to-day life. As a result, that silence keeps a clear boundary between his world and his daughter’s very public one. After all, he spent decades driving strangers through New York City. So, staying out of the spotlight now looks less like avoidance and more like a simple continuation of the life he already knew.
Carlos Alman’s Life Today
Today, Carlos lives a quiet retirement in New York City, far removed from the world his daughter occupies. He’s no longer driving a cab, and so far, no reports link him to any other job or business since stepping back from that career.
Even so, his name still surfaces regularly online, mostly tied to search interest around Cardi B rather than anything he’s done himself. Naturally, fans continue searching for details about his age, his background, and his relationship with his famous daughter. Still, he rarely gives them new material to work with.
For the most part, occasional appearances at family events remain the closest thing to public visibility he allows. Beyond that, nothing suggests he plans to change his private routine anytime soon.
At 68, Carlos represents a familiar story with an unusual spotlight attached to it — an immigrant who built a steady life through years of hard work, whose biggest claim to public recognition is a daughter who chose a very different career. For now, that quiet distance seems to suit him just fine.
Conclusion
Carlos Alman’s story comes down to something simple: a man who built a steady, working-class life and never chased the fame his daughter found. His Dominican roots, his years behind the wheel of a New York taxi, and his quiet marriage to Clara Almanzar all shaped the family that eventually gave the world Cardi B. Rather than stepping into the spotlight himself, he’s stayed on the sidelines, offering support without seeking recognition. That contrast between a private father and a famous daughter is exactly what keeps people curious. For now, though, Carlos seems content letting his daughter’s story take center stage while he keeps his own life quietly his own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Carlos Alman?
Carlos Alman is a retired taxi driver from New York City, best known as the father of rapper Cardi B.
How Old Is Carlos Alman?
He was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic, making him 68 years old as of 2026.
What Is Carlos Alman’s Full Name?
His full legal name is Carlos Alberto Almánzar Marsan, though “Carlos Alman” is the shortened version commonly used in media.
Is Carlos Alman Married?
He was previously married to Clara Almanzar, Cardi B’s mother, from 1991 until their divorce around 2005. He does not appear to be married currently.
How Many Children Does Carlos Alman Have?
He has eight children in total—six from his first marriage, plus Cardi B and her sister, Hennessy Carolina, from his relationship with Clara Almanzar.
What Did Carlos Alman Do for a Living?
He worked as a taxi driver in New York City for nearly nine years before retiring.
What Is Carlos Alman’s Nationality?
He is Dominican and was born in the Dominican Republic before immigrating to the United States in 1990.
Does Carlos Alman Have a Relationship With Cardi B?
Yes. Cardi B has described him as a close confidant and often shares warm tributes to him, particularly on Father’s Day.
Why Does Carlos Alman Avoid the Public Eye?
He has maintained a private, low-key lifestyle, and reports suggest he prefers staying out of the spotlight attracted by his daughter’s celebrity career.
What Is Carlos Alman’s Net Worth?
There is no verified public figure for his net worth. His income has been tied to his years working as a taxi driver rather than public or celebrity-level earnings.