Carlos Alman: Cardi B’s Father, Family and Life Story

Carlos Alman, better known as Carlos Almánzar, is the Dominican father of American rapper Cardi B. He previously worked as a New York City cab driver and shares two daughters, Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina, with his former wife, Clara Almánzar. Although his daughter’s music career has made her internationally famous, Carlos has remained relatively private.

His life has attracted interest from fans curious about Cardi B’s parents, her Dominican and Trinidadian heritage, and her childhood in New York City. Here’s what reliable interviews, family statements, and news reports reveal about his background, career, and relationship with his daughters.

Who Is Carlos Alman?

Carlos Alman is widely recognized as Cardi B’s dad. Originally from the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States and built a working life in New York, where he helped raise his family.

His daughter, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, became famous through reality television and a successful rap career. Carlos did not follow her into entertainment. Most publicly available information about him comes from Cardi B’s interviews, social media statements, and occasional family appearances.

Unlike celebrity parents who develop public careers of their own, Carlos is primarily known through his family connection. That distinction matters because many websites publish detailed claims about his age, finances, and personal relationships without providing convincing evidence.

Carlos Alman — Quick Facts

These details are based on Cardi B’s reported statements and established entertainment coverage, including People and Hot 97.

Carlos Alman, Carlos Almanzar and Carlos Almánzar: Are They the Same Person?

The different spellings of Carlos’s name can make online research confusing.

“Carlos Alman” is a shortened name frequently used in search queries and celebrity biography articles. Established publications generally identify Cardi B’s father as Carlos Almanzar or Carlos Almánzar, with the latter using the accent mark.

An especially useful source is Cardi B’s own public statement, reported by Hot 97 on May 17, 2020. She identified her father as Carlos Julio Almanzar while discussing his Dominican background and employment history.

That first-person identification carries more weight than alternative full names appearing on websites without clear sources. It does not, however, provide independent verification of his legal documents.

For readers searching for Carlos Alman, Carlos Almanzar, or Carlos Almánzar in connection with Cardi B, these names refer to the same father.

Carlos Alman’s Early Life in the Dominican Republic

Carlos comes from the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country whose language and traditions have remained important to his family’s identity.

His daughter has spoken about the Dominican side of her upbringing on several occasions. In an April 2018 interview with GQ, Cardi B explained that her father communicated with her exclusively in Spanish.

That detail offers insight into the household in which she grew up. Spanish was part of her family life, not simply a language associated with her ancestry.

However, Carlos’s early years remain largely undocumented. Reliable public sources do not clearly identify his exact birthplace within the Dominican Republic, childhood schools, parents, or early career.

His family’s connections to the Monte Cristi province are documented through later visits, but those connections do not establish that he was born in that particular region.

Carlos Alman’s Move to the United States

According to the statement Cardi B made in 2020, her father arrived in America from the Dominican Republic in 1990.

New York City became the setting for his working life and his daughters’ upbringing. The family developed connections to the South Bronx and Washington Heights, neighborhoods that also feature prominently in Cardi B’s accounts of her childhood.

People reported in July 2024 that Cardi spent time at both her parents’ South Bronx home and her paternal grandmother’s home in Washington Heights.

These locations are significant because they help explain how she maintained close connections with her Dominican family while growing up in the United States.

The reported 1990 arrival date comes from his daughter. Public reporting does not establish his visa category, citizenship history, or other private immigration records.

Carlos Alman’s Career as a New York City Cab Driver

Carlos’s best-documented occupation is taxi driving in New York City.

His employment history was discussed publicly before Cardi B became an international music star. In February 2016, The FADER interviewed Cardi about her rising career and her plans to support her family.

At the time, she was considering purchasing a neighborhood bodega so her father could leave his cab-driving job. Her mother also had ideas for a business.

However, the proposed store did not become a confirmed family business.

In a June 2017 follow-up interview, Cardi explained that she had decided against buying the bodega because of the financial risk. She also said her father had declined an offer of regular financial support and preferred that she help him find another job.

These accounts reveal something more specific than the vague descriptions found in many biographies: Carlos was still associated with cab driving during the years when Cardi was building her career.

How Long Did Carlos Work as a Cab Driver?

Cardi B stated in 2020 that her father had worked as a cab driver for nine years.

That statement confirms a period of employment, but it does not provide a complete work timeline. The earlier FADER interviews also describe him as a working cab driver in 2016 and a longtime driver in 2017.

Therefore, describing his entire employment history as exactly nine years would be more definite than the available evidence allows.

His Connection to New York Taxi Drivers

Carlos’s experience also influenced his daughter’s public comments about taxi drivers.

In 2019, Cardi discussed the difficult working conditions facing New York cab drivers after watching a segment of The Weekly, a television series from The New York Times.

According to People, she said her father continued campaigning for cab drivers and encouraged the public to treat drivers respectfully.

This is one of the clearest examples of Carlos’s working life connecting to an issue his daughter discussed publicly.

Who Is Clara Almánzar?

Clara Almánzar is Cardi B’s mother and Carlos’s former wife. She comes from Trinidad and Tobago and previously worked as a cashier.

Like Carlos, Clara generally maintains a lower public profile than her famous daughter.

Cardi has described her mother as a strict parent who closely monitored her behavior while growing up. In her 2018 interview with W Magazine, the rapper reflected on those restrictions and said she intended to establish firm rules for her own daughter.

Clara also introduced Cardi to musical artists she enjoyed, including Madonna and the Pet Shop Boys.

The family therefore included two distinct Caribbean backgrounds: Carlos’s Dominican heritage and Clara’s Trinidadian roots.

Carlos Alman and Clara Almánzar’s Relationship

Carlos and Clara raised two daughters together before their relationship ended.

Cardi B has publicly discussed her parents’ separation. In a 2022 social media video reported by People, she recalled that they separated when she was approximately 13 years old.

She explained that, from her teenage perspective, living through the separation gave her greater freedom because both parents were no longer supervising her together.

Her account describes how she personally experienced the change, rather than providing a complete explanation of the marriage.

Although some websites publish specific wedding dates, divorce years, and personal reasons for the breakup, those details are not all independently documented. The established point is that Cardi B’s parents are no longer together.

Cardi B’s Parents and Family Background

The Cardi B family has roots in both the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.

Cardi was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, on October 11, 1992. She grew up in the South Bronx and spent time with relatives in Washington Heights.

These neighborhoods helped shape the New York environment she frequently references in interviews and music.

Her father’s Dominican roots also contributed to her bilingual upbringing. As GQ documented, Carlos spoke Spanish with her, while her mother’s Trinidadian background brought another cultural influence into the home.

Having a Dominican father and Trinidadian mother describes Cardi’s family origins. It does not automatically establish every detail of either parent’s ethnic ancestry.

Understanding the difference helps avoid unsupported claims about Carlos’s identity.

Carlos Alman as Cardi B’s Father

Carlos’s relationship with Cardi B is documented through her public comments and several family appearances.

In 2018, after giving birth to her daughter Kulture, Cardi expressed appreciation for her parents’ help. She explained that her mother had been staying close to her while her father helped by running errands in New York.

She has also publicly celebrated her father’s sense of humor.

In a Father’s Day post, Cardi described herself and Carlos as having similar personalities, particularly when it came to joking.

These comments provide a picture of their relationship through Cardi’s own experiences. They do not establish every private aspect of their family life.

Who Is Cardi B?

Cardi B is an American rapper whose birth name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar.

Born in New York City in 1992, she first became widely recognized through social media and VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York.

Her 2017 single “Bodak Yellow” helped establish her mainstream music career, followed by her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, in 2018.

While her achievements have made the Almánzar surname internationally recognizable, Carlos’s public identity remains connected mainly to his role as her father rather than a separate entertainment career.

Carlos Alman’s Children: Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina

Carlos and Clara have two publicly documented daughters together.

Cardi B

Cardi B is the older daughter. Born in October 1992, she became a successful rapper, television personality, and prominent public figure.

Hennessy Carolina

Hennessy Carolina was born on December 22, 1995. She has worked as a fashion designer, influencer, and reality television personality.

Hennessy has also appeared at entertainment and fashion events alongside her sister.

Some online biographies claim that Carlos has additional children from another relationship. However, the precise total has not been adequately established by reliable independent sources.

It is therefore accurate to identify Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina as his two daughters with Clara without claiming they are necessarily his only children.

How Did Carlos and Clara Influence Cardi B?

Cardi’s interviews offer several examples of how her parents influenced her interests.

Her father introduced her to foods that became childhood favorites. She has credited him with her enjoyment of tomatoes sprinkled with salt and mondongo, a traditional tripe-based stew eaten in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere.

She also connects her humor and Spanish-language upbringing to her father.

Clara’s influence appears in different areas. Cardi has credited her mother with encouraging healthier eating habits and introducing her to certain musicians.

Rather than treating these accounts as proof that either parent was solely responsible for Cardi’s success, they show how family experiences contributed to her interests and upbringing.

Carlos Alman and Cardi B’s Public Appearances

Carlos has accompanied his daughter at several documented events.

On April 10, 2018, he attended Cardi B’s Gold Album release party in New York City. Photographs published by People identify him alongside her.

On September 13, 2025, Reuters photographed Carlos arriving with Cardi B at a bodega pop-up event in Washington Heights.

More recently, on March 10, 2026, Dominican newspaper Diario Libre reported that Carlos accompanied Cardi during a family visit to Castañuelas in the Monte Cristi province of the Dominican Republic.

These appearances show their continued public family connection without suggesting that Carlos has pursued a celebrity career himself.

What Is Carlos Alman Doing Today?

As of October 2026, detailed public information about Carlos’s everyday activities and current employment remains limited.

His previous taxi-driving career is well documented, and his participation in family events has continued. However, reliable reporting does not establish his present job, private routine, or current relationship status.

Although some biographies describe him as retired, his exact employment status has not been independently confirmed.

Carlos Alman’s Age and Net Worth — What Is Actually Known?

Several online biographies list March 19, 1958, as Carlos’s birthday. However, that exact date lacks convincing confirmation from authoritative original records or statements.

Consequently, his precise age should not be presented as established fact.

The same limitation applies to his finances. No verified public disclosure establishes Carlos Alman’s net worth.

His daughter’s financial success does not provide a reliable measure of his own assets or income.

Common Misconceptions About Carlos Alman

Online profiles sometimes mix confirmed family information with unsupported personal details.

The most common uncertainties concern his full name, exact birthday, number of children, current occupation, and personal wealth.

Cardi B’s statement supports Carlos Julio Almanzar as the fuller name she uses for her father. Reliable reporting confirms his Dominican origin, cab-driving history, and two daughters with Clara.

Information beyond those established details should be checked carefully rather than accepted simply because it appears on multiple websites.

Conclusion

Carlos Alman, more accurately identified as Carlos Julio Almanzar or Carlos Almánzar, is Cardi B’s Dominican father and a former New York City cab driver. His family history connects the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and New York City through Carlos, Clara Almánzar, Cardi B, and Hennessy Carolina. While public interviews and family appearances document important parts of his life, his precise age, current occupation, and personal finances remain largely private.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carlos Alman

Who is Carlos Alman?

Carlos Alman, also known as Carlos Almánzar, is a Dominican man best known as the father of American rapper Cardi B.

Is Carlos Alman Cardi B’s father?

Yes. Cardi B has publicly identified Carlos Almánzar as her father, and established news organizations have documented their appearances together.

What is Carlos Alman’s real name?

Cardi B identified her father as Carlos Julio Almanzar in a public statement reported by Hot 97 in May 2020.

Where is Cardi B’s dad from?

Cardi B’s father comes from the Dominican Republic. According to her account, he moved to the United States in 1990.

Who are Cardi B’s mother and father?

Cardi B’s dad and mom are Carlos Almánzar, who is Dominican, and Clara Almánzar, who comes from Trinidad and Tobago.

Who is Clara Almánzar?

Clara Almánzar is Cardi B’s Trinidadian mother. She formerly worked as a cashier and raised Cardi and Hennessy Carolina with Carlos.

What did Carlos Alman do for a living?

He worked as a New York City cab driver. His daughter publicly discussed his employment and her efforts to help him find other work.

Are Cardi B’s parents still together?

No. Cardi B has said that her parents divorced when she was approximately 13 years old.

How many children do Carlos and Clara have together?

They have two documented daughters together: Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina. Claims about Carlos having additional children remain insufficiently verified.

What is Carlos Alman’s age?

His exact age is not reliably established. The birthday published on several celebrity biography websites lacks strong independent confirmation.