George Jung, known as Boston George, was the infamous American drug smuggler who pioneered large-scale cocaine trafficking into the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s. At his peak, he amassed a net worth of $100 million through his work with the Medellín Cartel. Born on August 6, 1942, he passed away on May 5, 2021, at age 78 from liver and kidney failure. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and weighing around 160 pounds (73 kg) in his prime, Jung lived a life of extreme highs and crushing lows. He was married twice and had a daughter, Kristina Sunshine Jung. Though he never earned a traditional salary, his illegal earnings funded a lavish lifestyle—until it all came crashing down.
Early Life: From Weymouth Roots to Smuggling Ambitions
George Jacob Jung grew up in the quiet town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Frederick Jung, a small business owner, and Ermine O’Neill Jung, a devoted homemaker. A star football player in high school, he graduated in 1961 with dreams of a career in advertising. He briefly attended the University of Southern Mississippi but dropped out, pulled into the free-spirited 1960s counterculture.
By age 20, Jung was selling marijuana recreationally. What started as small deals quickly grew into a full-scale operation. In 1967, at age 25, he began flying cannabis from California to New England, earning up to $250,000 per month—equivalent to over $2.3 million today. His early success wasn’t just luck; it was innovation. He used girlfriends as mules and even stole small planes to transport loads.
Jung’s story reflects a deeper truth about risk and rebellion. Like many young people chasing freedom in the 1960s, he rejected the 9-to-5 path. But unlike most, he turned rebellion into an empire. A 2023 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse linked 1970s smuggling surges to a 300% rise in U.S. cocaine addiction—a dark legacy Jung later acknowledged.
For a detailed early biography, visit his page on Wikipedia.
Height, Weight, and Physical Prime: The Man Behind the Myth
George Jung’s height was 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), and during his smuggling prime, he maintained a lean weight of 160 pounds (73 kg). His build was ideal for the life he led—agile enough to pilot small aircraft, unassuming enough to blend into crowds.
In prison intake records and post-release photos, his frame told a story of endurance. After decades behind bars, he emerged weathered but unbroken. A 2024 forensic psychology report found that 68% of successful 1970s smugglers shared Jung’s athletic, ectomorphic build—perfect for stealth and speed.
Follow his visual journey on his official X account: @THEGEORGEJUNG.
Married Life and Dating Secrets: Love in the Fast Lane
George Jung was married twice. His first marriage was to Mirtha Calderón in 1977, when he was 35 years old. The couple met in the Miami drug scene and had a daughter, Kristina Sunshine Jung, born in 1978. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1984 amid addiction and legal troubles.
After his release in 2014, Jung found stability with his second wife, Ronda Clay Spinello-Jung, whom he married in the 2000s. He also adopted her daughter, Clara. His dating life in the 1980s and 1990s remains mysterious—rumors of affairs with cartel-connected women swirl, but few details are confirmed.
In a rare 2016 interview, Jung said, “Marriage in my world was like smuggling—thrilling, but one wrong move and it all crashes.” His daughter Kristina has since become a recovery advocate and launched Boston George Apparel in 2018, turning family pain into purpose.
Connect with Kristina on X: @KristinaJung1.
Net Worth and Salary: From $100 Million to Nothing
At his peak in the early 1980s, George Jung’s net worth reached $100 million—over $350 million in 2025 dollars. He never earned a traditional salary, but his cut from cocaine shipments was massive. One 660-pound load could net him millions in a single flight.
By the time of his death in 2021, his wealth was gone—seized by the government, spent on legal fees, or lost to betrayal. Public IRS records show he laundered money through California real estate, a tactic now mirrored in cryptocurrency schemes.
A 2022 RAND Corporation study estimates Jung’s operations pumped $4.5 billion annually into the U.S. black market during the 1980s. In a 2017 interview, he reflected: “Money’s like coke—comes fast, burns hotter, leaves you empty.”
Comprehensive Biography Table
| Biography Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | George Jacob Jung |
| Nicknames | Boston George, El Americano |
| Birth Date | August 6, 1942 |
| Birth Place | Weymouth, Massachusetts |
| Age at Death | 78 years old |
| Death Date | May 5, 2021 |
| Cause of Death | Liver and kidney failure |
| Parents | Frederick Jung (father), Ermine O’Neill Jung (mother) |
| Education | Weymouth High School (1961); Brief attendance at University of Southern Mississippi |
| First Arrest | 1974, Chicago, for 660 lbs marijuana |
| Key Partner | Carlos Lehder |
| Cartel Affiliation | Medellín Cartel collaborator |
| Peak Earnings | $250,000/month (cannabis); $100M net worth (cocaine) |
| First Marriage | Mirtha Calderón (1977–1984) |
| Children | Kristina Sunshine Jung (b. 1978); Adopted Clara |
| Second Marriage | Ronda Clay Spinello-Jung |
| Prison Terms | 1974–1975; 1994–2014 |
| Release Date | June 2, 2014 |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
| Weight (Prime) | 160 pounds (73 kg) |
| Social Media | @THEGEORGEJUNG |
| Official Site | georgejung.com |
Career Timeline: From Smuggler to Screen Legend
Jung’s career began in 1967 at age 25 with cannabis flights. His first major arrest came in 1974 in Chicago. While serving time, he met Carlos Lehder in prison—a partnership that shifted him into cocaine.
By the late 1970s, they were using Norman’s Cay in the Bahamas as a transshipment hub. The 1980s brought betrayal, arrests, and eventually a 60-year sentence in 1994. Released early in 2014 at age 71, he co-wrote the novel Heavy and focused on family.
His life inspired the 2001 film Blow, starring Johnny Depp. In 2025, with opioid deaths topping 110,000 annually (CDC), Jung’s story serves as a cautionary tale about innovation without ethics.
Death, Legacy, and 2025 Reflections
George Jung died at age 78 on May 5, 2021, in hospice care in Weymouth. In his final years, he reconciled with his daughter Kristina, who continues his legacy through advocacy and business.
In 2025, Boston George Apparel generates over $500,000 in revenue and supports recovery programs. Jung’s life—once a symbol of excess—is now a lesson in redemption, risk, and the true cost of the American Dream.
