When Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, better known as "El Cangrejo," appeared before American media outlets dressed head-to-toe in Hugo Boss, Hermès sneakers, and a Rolex Submariner, claiming it "pains him that people can't live like me," many Cubans were left outraged.
However, independent journalists had already documented the extravagant lifestyle of the Castro family well before July 2026. Back in April 2019, a comprehensive investigation detailed their opulent existence with specifics like names, addresses, screenshots, and costs.
The Revelations of 2019
The investigation, credited to Luis Manuel Mazorra, involved a multidisciplinary team working for several months. It exposed that Vilma Rodríguez Castro—El Cangrejo's sister, daughter of General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja and Déborah Castro Espín, and granddaughter of Raúl—was renting out a lavish mansion in Miramar, Havana via Airbnb for $650 a night under the alias "Casa Vida Luxury Holidays."
Located at the intersection of 20th Street and Seventh Avenue, this property boasted four bedrooms—two master suites with private terraces and two double rooms—along with five and a half bathrooms, a jacuzzi, a fully stocked minibar, a Nespresso machine, and high-quality cotton sheets. The nightly rate was equivalent to nearly two years' worth of the average Cuban salary, which was about $30 a month in 2019.
Legal Concerns and Documentation
Due to potential legal action from Airbnb, the investigation was thoroughly vetted by lawyers before publication. Everything had to be corroborated with screenshots, satellite images, and verifiable booking simulations. No detail was released without documentary evidence.
Continuing Impact and Reactions
In a recent YouTube video titled "Offended by El Cangrejo: You CANNOT Ignore This," Ernesto Morales, who was part of the original investigation, highlighted the hypocrisy of those suddenly scandalized: "Now it's harder for them to stay silent about all this waste and fraud. But this has always been the case."
The investigation led to tangible consequences. Following the Trump administration's sanctions on the Castro family in September 2019, Vilma altered her Airbnb name from "Vilma"—with a declared residence in Panama, where she received payments—to "Anabel," purportedly residing in Spain. Sources confirmed it was indeed the same owner.
By September 2020, the U.S. State Department had placed the mansion on its List of Prohibited Accommodations in Cuba, marking it as the only private residence to be included. The property was estimated to net between $6,000 and $10,000 monthly.
The Broader Picture
Vilma and El Cangrejo's father, López-Calleja, led GAESA for 26 years, a military conglomerate controlling between 50% and 80% of Cuba's business revenue and 95% of currency exchanges. In 2016, the OCCRP listed him among the world's most corrupt individuals, and diplomat Roger Noriega accused him of involvement in drug trafficking from Venezuela. His brother was implicated in the Panama Papers, fronting companies in tax havens.
In 2026, the regime aims to position El Cangrejo as a negotiator with Washington, backed explicitly by the PCC. This move has stirred unprecedented controversy even within the regime: singer-songwriter Israel Rojas publicly apologized for his previous skepticism about the elite's privileges, and presenter Michel Torres Corona published an article on a Uruguayan site—bypassing Cuban television restrictions—questioning, "What justifies their impunity?"
The lingering question echoes Morales's video: how can old communists and Castro revolutionaries now express outrage when independent media has long provided evidence that the Castros run Cuba like their private estate?
On July 10, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz dismissed critics by labeling the allegations a "well-designed plan to generate uncertainty and distrust" and described the criticisms as "character assassinations." Meanwhile, the family remains unchanged.
Key Questions about the Castro Family's Wealth
What did the 2019 investigation reveal about Vilma Rodríguez Castro?
The 2019 investigation revealed that Vilma Rodríguez Castro was renting out a luxurious mansion in Havana through Airbnb for $650 a night, showcasing the extravagant lifestyle of the Castro family.
Why did the investigation have to be legally vetted?
The investigation needed legal vetting because Airbnb could potentially take legal action against the media outlet, necessitating all details to be thoroughly verified with supporting evidence.
What were the consequences of the investigation?
The findings led to sanctions against the Castro family, Vilma changing her Airbnb profile, and the mansion being added to the U.S. List of Prohibited Accommodations in Cuba.