After dazzling audiences, Pasapalabra clinched a sizable fortune and, without hesitation, he returned to work, continuing a brilliant professional trajectory that led him to a high-ranking role within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The appointment came from Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who had already trusted him with a crucial position in the ministry and now placed him in an even more influential role than anyone might have imagined on the Pasapalabra stage.
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He won more than 350,000 euros on Pasapalabra
Nearly ten years have passed since he first walked into the studio where one of Spain’s most watched game shows was being filmed. In 2015, after weeks of challenges and countless donuts on screen, he finally completed the game and walked away with 354,000 euros.
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The winnings were extraordinary. Ten years ago, more than 350,000 euros was a substantial sum, and he celebrated with that same gusto. While the game continued, he honored a promise to himself: a bold head shave and a celebratory spectacle. The gesture underscored the contestant’s warmth and humanity, qualities that earned him affection from everyone involved in this beloved program, which airs on Antena 3 today.
A portion of his prize was donated to Cáritas, sharing the joy with those less fortunate. After the victory, he returned to work incognito, making occasional appearances on news programs, yet resuming life as if television had not touched him for months. His professional path gradually gathered momentum, culminating in a senior role within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
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Luis Jesús Esteban, the new Pasapalabra jackpot winner from 2015 and a career police officer, now serves as a senior chief in the National Police Service for Eastern Andalusia. He began his policing career in 1995 as an inspector, earning promotions to chief inspector in 2010 and commissioner in 2016. While stationed in Algeciras, he investigated numerous drug trafficking cases, an experience that inspired a novel titled Moroloco.
Later, he held the same role as commissioner in Salamanca, and since January of last year he has managed Special Operations as chief commissioner, one of the elite GEO units. On January 12, he also became Senior Police Chief of Eastern Andalusia, following the proposal of the Director General of Police and the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska. He now serves as the highest-ranking officer for that geographic region.