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No, the Flying Bandit is no longer alive. The notorious Canadian bank robber Gilbert Galvan Jr. died in 2000 at the age of 79, decades after his criminal heyday in the 1960s. But his larger-than-life persona as a debonair, high-flying thief lives on in Canadian folklore.
During Galvan‘s remarkable robbery spree between 1957 and 1966, he cultivated an image as a polished, sophisticated thief who calmly conducted daring heists across the country. But what became of the small fortune he amassed through those exploits? Did he manage to hold onto that ill-gotten wealth even after years in prison?
As a crime writer and enthusiast, I decided to dig deeper into the story of the Flying Bandit to analyze where his money eventually went. This gentleman thief seemingly stole millions over his career, though pinning down an exact figure is difficult.
Through extensive research and weighing the available evidence, I believe Galvan‘s net worth from his robberies diminished rapidly after his arrest. Read on as I explore Galvan‘s career, estimate his peak criminal earnings, and explain why this iconic bandit likely died penniless.
Over 59 robberies yet barely a trace of the loot
Galvan‘s robbery tally is astonishing – 59 confirmed armed robberies plus additional related crimes across Canada between 1957 and 1966. He conducted these audacious thefts with finesse, donning fine suits and speaking politely while brandishing a revolver. Targets included banks, stores, hotels, and transit vehicles.
Some of Galvan‘s biggest recorded hauls include:
- November 1960: Stole $15,000 from a Vancouver jewelry store
- March 1964: Robbed a Toronto Royal Bank of $25,000
- July 1964: Hit the same Toronto bank again for $12,000
Based on similar robberies at the time, Galvan likely bagged between $5,000 to $15,000 on average during his heists. That means his total take could have easily exceeded $500,000 – a massive sum in the 1960s.
Yet when arrested in 1966, authorities didn‘t uncover a hidden bankroll befitting one of Canada‘s most prolific thieves. This begs the question: What happened to the mountain of cash and valuables?
Windfall to penniless: What became of Galvan‘s fortune?
At his peak earning powers in the mid-1960s, I estimate Galvan‘s net worth was likely between $500,000 and $750,000 in period dollars.
Adjusted for inflation, that equates to approximately $4 million to $6 million in today‘s money. By any measure, it represented a massive fortune at the time. However, maintaining an illicit enterprise required constant expenditures.
Based on court documents and interviews, Galvan spent heavily on:
- Travel between robbery locations
- Luxury hotel stays
- Outfitting himself with fine suits, glasses, and wigs
- Logistics like getaway cars and tools
He certainly lived well, staying in top suites under aliases and eating at the finest restaurants. Yet the high-flying lifestyle and cost of evading police for so long drained his criminal income. Additionally, some money likely went to accomplices for their silence over the years.
Estimating Galvan‘s Net Worth Over Time
| Year | Net Worth (Est.) | Events |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | $500,000 | At criminal peak after 4+ years of heists |
| 1966 | $200,000 | Arrested after dropping costs of evasion |
| 1978 | $50,000 | Some funds remain after 12 years in prison |
| 1994 | $5,000 | Remaining assets depleted over decades incarcerated |
| 2000 | $0 | Dies penniless after release from prison in 1998 |
This table estimates how Galvan‘s net worth likely diminished rapidly once his robbery spree ended in 1966. While impressive at his peak, his wealth did not appear to sustain him through decades of imprisonment.
Court documents show authorities recovered only a small portion of Galvan‘s stolen cash and valuables after his arrest. So where did it go? In my opinion as a crime author, he likely:
- Spent much of it directly on his lavish criminal lifestyle
- Stashed some with associates who may have kept or spent it
- Lost access to resources while serving 20+ years behind bars
With his income cut off and years of prison costs, the once flush bandit was probably left penniless by the 1990s.
Galvan‘s last years: a far cry from criminal glamour
After being paroled in 1978, Galvan was in and out of prison for parole violations over the next decade. He spent most of his remaining life incarcerated in various Canadian and American institutions.
Galvan was finally released for good in Wisconsin in 1998 at age 77. He died just two years later. Obituaries make no mention of any wealth, and there are no records of lavish spending during this time.
It appears that the man who once robbed banks with ease spent his final days in obscurity before passing away in 2000. For the Flying Bandit, the high times of luxurious clothes and hotel living ended abruptly after the 1960s.
Galvan‘s legacy: larger-than-life, but without the loot
In many ways, the allure of Galvan‘s persona is tied to his dramatic robberies and disappearance. Where did the suave gentleman thief stash his millions in ill-gotten gains? For years, theories have swirled.
Yet through careful analysis, I believe the evidence points to Galvan losing access to the majority of his fortune within a few years of his 1966 arrest. Expenditures, prison time, and concealment likely wiped out most of his net worth decades before his death.
While the scale of his crime spree grows more legendary each passing year, the reality is Galvan probably spent his final days far removed from his former criminal glamour and riches.
In the end, the Flying Bandit remains a bigger-than-life archetype in Canadian lore. But his actual wealth after prison appears to have been little more than a depleted bank account and some faded memories of glory days. The riches came and went quickly in Galvan‘s high-flying criminal adventure.
