Meet Carlos Alman: The Story of Cardi B’s Dominican Father and His Journey

Profile Summary

Early Life and Background

Carlos Alman was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic, a country that is well known for its rich culture, lively music, and strong family traditions, and from an early age he grew up surrounded by values of respect, resilience, and family unity, with his mother, Esperanza Almanzar, playing a major role in shaping his character, as she instilled in him the importance of working hard and always putting family first, lessons that would remain central to his life even after he left his home country in search of better opportunities.

Career and Work Life

To support his family, Carlos worked as a taxi driver in New York City for almost a decade, a job that demanded long hours, patience, and resilience as he navigated the crowded streets of one of the busiest cities in the world, and while this work was physically tiring and often underappreciated, it allowed him to provide a steady income for his household, making sure that his children never went without the basics they needed, and through his example, Carlos taught his children the value of hard work and humility, showing that dignity is found not in the type of job you do but in the dedication and love you put into it.

Family Life and Marriage

Carlos Alman’s personal life was closely tied to his family. In 1991, he married Clara Mercedes Almánzar, a woman of Trinidadian and Spanish descent who worked as a grocery store cashier. Their marriage brought together Dominican and Trinidadian cultures, creating a household rich with traditions, music, and food that celebrated both sides of their heritage. Together, they raised two daughters, Cardi B, born in 1992, and Hennessy Carolina, born in 1995.

Even though their marriage ended in divorce in 2005, both Carlos and Clara remained devoted to their children, ensuring they grew up with love and cultural pride. Beyond this marriage, Carlos also fathered six children from a previous relationship, creating a large extended family that reflects his lasting role as both a father and a cultural anchor.

Carlos Alman Children

Cardi B (Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar)

The most famous of Carlos Alman’s children is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, known to the world as Cardi B. She was born on October 11, 1992, in the Bronx, New York, to Carlos and Clara Almánzar. Growing up in a multicultural household with Dominican and Trinidadian roots, Cardi B developed a strong sense of cultural identity. Her father’s Dominican influence, especially through food and traditions, helped her embrace her Afro-Latina heritage proudly.

Over the years, she became one of the world’s most successful female rappers, winning a Grammy and achieving global recognition. Despite her fame, she has always credited her parents, especially her father’s hard work as a taxi driver, for inspiring her ambition and determination. Cardi B remains close to Carlos and often defends his privacy against media attention, showing how important their bond is to her.

Hennessy Carolina

Carlos and Clara’s second daughter, Hennessy Carolina, was born on December 22, 1995. Like her sister Cardi B, she grew up in a vibrant Bronx household full of both Dominican and Trinidadian culture. Hennessy has built her own career separate from Cardi’s fame, becoming a popular fashion influencer, social media personality, and television figure.

She has appeared on shows like Love & Hip Hop: New York and has become known for her bold fashion choices and outspoken personality. Hennessy often shares her admiration for her family and her father, showing how close she is to both her parents. Though she may not be as globally recognized as Cardi B, Hennessy has carved out her own space in the entertainment and fashion world.

Maciel Almanzar

From Carlos’s previous relationship before marrying Clara, he had a daughter named Maciel Almanzar. Unlike Cardi B and Hennessy, Maciel prefers to live a private life away from fame and media attention. Not much is publicly known about her personal or professional life, but she remains part of the larger Alman family. Her life reflects Carlos’s values of humility and family pride, even without the public spotlight.

Nicauly Villalona

Another daughter from Carlos’s earlier marriage is Nicauly Villalona. Like her sister Maciel, Nicauly has chosen to stay private, keeping her personal life out of the public eye. She shares her Dominican roots and the values passed down from her father, emphasizing family and cultural pride. Though she is not publicly involved in entertainment, her role in the family is still important, showing that not all of Carlos’s children chose a public career path.

Fernando Almanzar

Carlos also has a son named Fernando Almanzar from his previous marriage. Fernando, like his sisters Maciel and Nicauly, has maintained a low profile, with little information available about his life. While he is not in the public eye, he is still connected to the Dominican heritage and family values that Carlos instilled in all of his children.

Other Children

Aside from Cardi B, Hennessy Carolina, Maciel, Nicauly, and Fernando, Carlos Alman is also the father of three additional children from his earlier marriage. Their names and lives remain private, and very little information has been made available about them. This reflects Carlos’s preference for keeping his family matters out of the spotlight, especially since most of his children are not public figures. Despite this, it is clear that he has always valued his role as a father to all eight of his children, supporting them in the ways he can.

Relationship with Cardi B

Personal Traits and Appearance

As of 2025, Carlos Alman is 67 years old, standing about 5 feet 11 inches tall with a lean build weighing around 65 kilograms, and with black hair and dark brown eyes that reflect his Dominican heritage, he maintains a strong presence even in his older age, and those who know him describe him as strict but loving, a father who valued education, discipline, and hard work while still being supportive, and these qualities are visible in the determination and confidence of his children, especially Cardi B, who often shows the same resilience and ambition that her father demonstrated throughout his life.

Family Struggles

Like many immigrant families, Carlos Alman and his household went through several struggles while building a life in New York. Money was often tight, and both Carlos and his ex-wife Clara worked long hours in modest jobs—he as a taxi driver and she as a grocery store cashier—to make sure their children had what they needed. At one point, Carlos faced personal challenges with addiction, which was very difficult for the family, but they stayed united and managed to overcome it together. These hardships did not break the family but instead made them stronger, teaching Cardi B and her siblings important lessons about resilience, sacrifice, and sticking together during hard times.

Life Today

Now retired, Carlos lives a quiet and private life in New York City, far removed from the public attention that surrounds his famous daughter, and unlike many celebrity parents, he has no interest in fame or recognition, preferring peace and normalcy, with only a small presence on Facebook where he rarely posts, and his choice to remain out of the spotlight reflects his humble nature and shows that while his daughter lives under the constant gaze of the media, he continues to enjoy the simple joys of family and privacy.

Legacy and Cultural Influence

Carlos Alman’s legacy is not measured in wealth or fame but in the values he passed on to his children, and his Dominican heritage, combined with his strong work ethic and cultural pride, gave Cardi B the foundation to become one of the most unique voices in music today, because through his sacrifices as an immigrant father, he represents not just his own family but also the countless others who came to the United States in search of a better future, and his story highlights the strength and contributions of immigrants whose quiet determination continues to shape American culture.

Net Worth of Carlos Alman

Carlos Alman has always lived a simple and private life, far from the fame and fortune of his daughter Cardi B. Unlike her, who is worth millions, Carlos’s net worth is not publicly known because he worked as a taxi driver in New York for many years before retiring. His income came from his hard work behind the wheel rather than business or entertainment, and he has always valued family and stability over wealth or publicity.