Carlos Alman is the father of rapper Cardi B. His full surname is Almánzar, and he is a Dominican immigrant who moved to the United States in 1990 and drove a New York City cab for nine years before retiring as his daughter’s career took off.
He has never sought fame himself, so this Scan Insider profile draws on what Cardi B has shared about him and on reporting by PEOPLE.
Key Takeaways
- “Carlos Alman” is a shortened form of Carlos Almánzar, the name used by PEOPLE.
- He was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the U.S. in 1990.
- He worked as a New York cab driver for nine years, according to Cardi B.
- He and Cardi’s mother, Clara, separated when Cardi was 13.
- He has two daughters: Cardi B and influencer Hennessy Carolina.
Carlos Alman Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Almánzar |
| Known as | Father of Cardi B |
| Origin | Dominican Republic |
| Moved to the U.S. | 1990 |
| Former job | New York City cab driver (retired) |
| Former partner | Clara Almánzar (separated when Cardi was 13) |
| Children | Cardi B (born 1992) and Hennessy Carolina (born 1995) |
| Age / birth date | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Family Background
Carlos immigrated to America from the Dominican Republic in 1990, PEOPLE reported. Cardi’s mother, Clara, is from Trinidad and Tobago.
Their first daughter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, was born on October 11, 1992, in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. She was raised in the Highbridge area of the South Bronx and spent long stretches at her paternal grandmother’s home in Washington Heights, per Cardi B’s Wikipedia biography. She credits that time with giving her “such a thick accent.”
Why the Name “Alman”?
Many websites shorten his surname to “Alman.” Reliable outlets use Almánzar, the same surname Cardi B was born with. Both names refer to the same man.
Career as a New York Cab Driver
According to Cardi, her father drove a taxi in New York for nine years and retired around the time her rap career began to take off.
In 2019, she reacted on X to a New York Times TV segment about the hard working conditions cab drivers face. “My dad till this day still campaigns for cab drivers because this is some of the bulls— they deal with,” she wrote. “Please be nice to cab drivers.”
Cardi’s mother, Clara, worked as a cashier, PEOPLE reported. Neither parent came from show business.
Relationship with Cardi B
Cardi often celebrates her father on Father’s Day and his birthday. Here are a few things she has shared about him:
- In a 2018 Father’s Day post, she called the two of them “personality twins” who both love making jokes.
- She says he taught her to eat tomatoes with salt: “My dad put me on to that as a child.”
- In 2021 she posted a video of herself cooking mondongo, a Dominican tripe stew, writing, “I got it from my dad.”
- In a 2018 interview about her Afro-Caribbean roots, she said, “When my father taught me about Caribbean countries, he told me that Europeans took over our lands.”
After her daughter Kulture was born in July 2018, Cardi thanked both parents on Instagram. “My dad, you know, he’s just running errands for me in New York,” she said. “I’m just sitting here like God, thank you so much for these great amazing parents.”
Marriage to Clara and Separation
Carlos and Clara separated when Cardi was 13. She spoke about it in 2022: “When my parents got separated I wasn’t really sad about it because I just feel like I had more freedom.”
Both parents stayed involved in their daughters’ lives. In the same 2018 video, Cardi said, “I’ve been blessed since birth… Because of my parents. Like those are my biggest blessings.”
His Children and Grandchildren
Carlos has two daughters with Clara. He is also a grandfather to Cardi’s children.
| Name | Relation | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cardi B (Belcalis Almánzar) | Daughter | Born Oct 11, 1992; Grammy-winning rapper |
| Hennessy Carolina | Daughter | Born Dec 22, 1995; influencer, reality TV star and fashion designer |
| Kulture | Granddaughter | Born July 2018 to Cardi B and Offset |
| Wave | Grandson | Born September 2021 to Cardi B and Offset |
| Third grandchild | Granddaughter | Born September 2024 to Cardi B and Offset |
| Fourth grandchild | Grandson | Born November 2025 to Cardi B and Stefon Diggs |
Readers interested in famous siblings can explore the Scan Insider relatives section, and stories about stars’ children are collected under celebrity kids.
Public Appearances
Carlos rarely speaks to the media, and Cardi has been protective of his privacy. In June 2019, a Spanish-language TV reporter approached Cardi and her father on a New York street. Cardi asked the crew not to put him on TV, pointing out that he does not have security with him every day, Remezcla reported.
Most public glimpses of him come through his daughter’s social media posts, such as holiday greetings and family videos. He has not given interviews of his own, and he does not have a verified public social media account.
What Is Not Publicly Confirmed
Several sites publish a birth date, height or net worth for him. None of these figures come from a reliable source, and some contradict each other. We found no confirmation of:
- His exact age or date of birth.
- His net worth or income.
- Whether he has remarried since separating from Clara.
- Any business ventures beyond driving a cab.
Our editorial policy is to leave such details out until they are verified. For another star’s private family member, see our profile of Jacob Elordi’s sister Jalynn or Kevin James’ sister Leslie, or head back to Scan Insider for more family bios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carlos Alman?
Carlos, whose full surname is Almánzar, is the father of rapper Cardi B and influencer Hennessy Carolina. He was born in the Dominican Republic, moved to the United States in 1990 and worked as a New York City cab driver for nine years. He is now retired and keeps a private life.
How is Carlos Alman related to Cardi B?
He is Cardi B’s biological father. Cardi, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar in 1992, carries his surname. She has described the two of them as “personality twins” and credits him with teaching her Dominican dishes like mondongo and passing down his love of jokes. He is also grandfather to her children.
Does Cardi B have siblings?
Yes. Cardi B has one younger sister, Hennessy Carolina, born on December 22, 1995, in the Bronx. Hennessy is an influencer, reality TV personality and fashion designer. Both sisters are daughters of Carlos Almánzar and Clara Almánzar, who separated when Cardi was 13 years old.
What did Carlos Alman do for a living?
According to Cardi B, her father drove a taxi in New York City for nine years and retired around the time her music career took off. In 2019 she wrote that he “till this day still campaigns for cab drivers” and asked fans to be nice to drivers.
Sources
- PEOPLE – All About Cardi B’s Parents, Clara and Carlos Almánzar (2024)
- Wikipedia – Cardi B (early life and family)
- Remezcla – Cardi B asks reporter not to put her father on TV (2019)
Featured image: Cardi B, Carlos Almánzar’s daughter, in December 2018. Photo by Chris Allmeid, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
