Ronnie Biggs – The Great Train Robbery and Life on the Run

Ronald Arthur Biggs, known worldwide as Ronnie Biggs, was a British criminal whose name became inseparable from the 1963 Great Train Robbery. But it was not the heist itself that made him a household name—it was his audacious escape from prison and a 36-year life on the run, mostly in Brazil, that turned him into a folk figure. Born in London in 1929, Biggs died in the same city in 2013, having spent his final years back in British custody and then under compassionate release.

Biggs’ story weaves together a major crime, a Hollywood-worthy escape, legal loopholes, family tragedy, and a peculiar celebrity that lasted decades. The details of his life remain a subject of fascination for crime historians and true-crime audiences alike.

Who Was Ronnie Biggs?

Ronnie Biggs was a British criminal best known for his role in the 1963 Great Train Robbery and his decades-long flight from justice in Brazil.

• Ronnie Biggs gained notoriety not for the robbery itself but for his daring escape and 36-year life as a fugitive in Brazil.
• Despite his part in the famous heist, only £2.6 million was stolen (worth ~£50 million today), and most of the money was never recovered.
• Biggs’ son Michael Biggs, born in Brazil, became a public figure and was involved in his father’s legal battles.
• The Ronnie Biggs story has been adapted into multiple books, a feature film (The Great Train Robbery 2013), and documentaries.
• His net worth at death was modest – he sold interviews and memorabilia but lived relatively frugally in Rio.

The Great Train Robbery and Ronnie Biggs’ Escape to Brazil

On August 8, 1963, Biggs and 14 other men stole £2.6 million (roughly £50 million today) from the Glasgow–London Royal Mail train near Cheddington. Biggs was the married handyman who provided the retired train driver for the plan, according to historical accounts from Britannica and BBC News.

Found guilty in 1964, he was sentenced to 30 years. But on July 8, 1965, Biggs escaped from HMP Wandsworth using a homemade rope ladder. After plastic surgery in Paris to alter his face, he fled to Melbourne, Australia with his wife and three sons. When Interpol closed in, he moved to Brazil in 1969.

How Did Biggs Avoid Extradition in Brazil?

Arrested in Rio in 1974 by Scotland Yard detective Jack Slipper, Biggs avoided extradition by claiming his Brazilian girlfriend, a stripper named Raimunda, was pregnant with his child. His son Michael was born. Because Biggs was divorcing his first wife and had a dependent in Brazil, the country’s law prevented his extradition.

In 1981, British ex-soldiers kidnapped him and smuggled him to Barbados in an attempt to force his return to the UK. Barbados had no extradition treaty with Britain, so he was flown back to Brazil.

Ronnie Biggs’ Family: Spouse, Children, and Personal Life

Biggs married Charmian Powell in 1960 when she was 17 and he was 27. They had three sons together. After his escape, the family fled to Australia and later to Brazil, but the marriage broke down and they divorced in 1975.

He endured the grief of his eldest son dying in a family car crash. Unable to mourn openly or contact his family, Biggs carried the loss privately for years.

In Brazil he married Raimunda de Castro, and they had a son, Michael, who later became a public figure and a musician. Michael Biggs was involved in his father’s legal battles and media appearances.

Biggs had four children total: three sons with Charmian and Michael with Raimunda.

How Did Ronnie Biggs Die? Cause of Death and Final Years

Biggs flew to London in May 2001 voluntarily, was arrested, and returned to prison to complete his sentence. In August 2009, he was released on compassionate grounds due to declining health. He died on December 18, 2013, in a London nursing home from complications following a stroke and pneumonia. His health had deteriorated significantly after his release.

His death was widely reported, with BBC News and Britannica confirming the cause as pneumonia and stroke complications.

Ronnie Biggs Books, Movies, and Popular Culture

Biggs wrote two autobiographies: Odd Man Out: The Last Straw (MPress) and The Great Train Robber: My Autobiography (John Blake/Bonnier), published posthumously. A 50th anniversary publication, The Great Train Robbery – Crime of the Century, also appeared.

Documentaries include The LIFE of England’s Biggest Robber Ronnie Biggs on YouTube and Ronnie Biggs Life On The Run on BBC Sounds. In 1978, Biggs recorded the song “No One Is Innocent” with the punk band Sex Pistols.

The 2013 television drama The Great Train Robbery featured Biggs as a character, and he remains a frequent subject of true-crime documentaries.

What Was Ronnie Biggs’ Net Worth?

Biggs’ share from the Great Train Robbery was approximately £143,000 (some accounts say £147,000). He spent £40,000 on plastic surgery in Paris. In later years he lived on proceeds from TV commercials, his autobiography, and a song with the Sex Pistols. No official net worth is publicly available, but estimates from published accounts suggest around £500,000 at the time of his death.

Rumours of hidden money persist, but no evidence of large hidden wealth has ever emerged. His lifestyle in Brazil was relatively modest for a man of his notoriety.

Timeline of Ronnie Biggs’ Life

1. 8 August 1929 – Born in Stockwell, London.
2. 1947–1949 – Served in RAF, discharged for theft.
3. 8 August 1963 – Participates in the Great Train Robbery.
4. April 1964 – Sentenced to 30 years in prison.
5. 8 July 1965 – Escapes from Wandsworth Prison.
6. 1967 – Flees to Australia, then to Panama, and finally Brazil.
7. 1970–2001 – Lives openly in Rio de Janeiro; fights extradition.
8. May 2001 – Returns voluntarily to the UK due to poor health.
9. 2009 – Released from prison on compassionate grounds.
10. 18 December 2013 – Dies in a London nursing home.

What Is Known and What Remains Uncertain About Ronnie Biggs?

Why Does Ronnie Biggs’ Case Still Matter?

Ronnie Biggs’ case illustrates a unique intersection of crime, media fascination, and legal loopholes. His successful escape and life in Brazil made him a folk antihero in the UK. The Kenneth Noye case offers a similar profile of a British criminal with a long evasion of justice.

The Great Train Robbery was a watershed moment in British crime history, leading to stricter sentencing and public fascination with gangsters. Biggs’ poor health and return in 2001 sparked debates about justice and compassion, especially when he was released from prison in 2009.

Another famous fugitive who evaded capture internationally is Frank Abagnale Jr, whose story shares themes of deception and international mobility.

Sources and Quotes About Ronnie Biggs

“Ronald Arthur Biggs (8 August 1929 – 18 December 2013) was a British criminal who helped plan and carry out the Great Train Robbery of 1963.”

Wikipedia

“Ronald Arthur Biggs was discharged from RAF on 8 June 1949. He married Charmian Powell in 1960 and set up a family home in Redhill.”

BBC

“Ronnie Biggs (born August 8, 1929, London, England—died December 18, 2013, London) was a British criminal who was involved in the Great Train Robbery (1963) and…”

Britannica

“Welcome to the official, authorised web site for the late Ronnie Biggs.”

Official Ronnie Biggs website

Ronnie Biggs: A Life of Crime, Escape, and Legend

From a small-time handyman to one of the most famous fugitives of the 20th century, Ronnie Biggs lived an extraordinary life. He spent 13,087 days on the run – over 36 years – and was the only member of the Great Train Robbery gang to escape prison, undergo plastic surgery, and flee to Brazil. He was never involved in violent crime, according to his official website. His story continues to be told in books, films, and documentaries, cementing his place in criminal folklore.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ronnie Biggs