It’s not every day that we get to see the subject of a true crime series come to life and tell his own story. But Gary Betzner is one of those daring individuals who will be telling his own adventure in HBO’s 2022 pilot, The Invisible.
Read on to learn more about Gary Betzner’s Biography.
Meet Gary Betzner, Subject of HBO’s The Invisible Pilot
On September 19, 1977, Gary Betzner was reported to have jumped off a bridge in Hazen, Arkansas and died in the White River. However, this report was untrue. It appears that the mastermind faked his own death to avoid a prison sentence.
So how did it all come about? Well, Gary was just a regular crop-dusting pilot, doing the same thing for 15 long years. Of course, he eventually got tired of the tough working conditions, and in 1976, he sold his company and moved to Alaska with his family.
At that time, there were rumors that people were making a lot of money investing in oil pipelines. So without hesitation, he bid $500,000 to buy in. Unfortunately, his money “didn’t go to the right person” and the contract was transferred to another company.
Having lost most of his savings, Gary then moved his family to Anchorage and began smuggling whiskey and marijuana. However, this did not generate enough income and forced them to move back to Hazen to live with his mother-in-law.
Not long after, Gary was diagnosed with gout—he claimed that cocaine was the cure. But on March 4, 1977, when he went to buy some, the dealer’s home was raided by DEA agents and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
So the turning point came. Gary was then released on bail and made plans to fake his death and start a new life in another country. To do this, Gary took weeks of hypnosis classes to hypnotize his wife into believing he was dead, practicing throwing clothes over a bridge, and when his shoes hit the water, the program would start and Sally would go into hysterics.
And somehow, the plan worked!
Gary Betzner Today
Currently, as of 2022, Gary Betzner lives in Arkansas with his third wife.
Although he regretted his actions, he still hated the CIA for going back on their word.
In case you didn’t know about their deal, Gary alleges that the CIA used him for their covert mission to arm the anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua. He shares that Morales “made a deal with the CIA to provide [the Contras]. He wanted me to transport guns and ammunition to the Contras and bring back some contraband.”
But when Gary believed that trading guns for drugs would keep him out of prison, he was arrested on November 13, 1984, and sentenced to 27 years and two months in federal prison for importing cocaine.
Gary Betzner Net Worth
Gary Betzner boasted a net worth of around $10 million at the height of his smuggling career. But since the FBI seized much of his assets, he lives a modest life today.
So Gary’s net worth as of 2022 is likely to be a few hundred thousand dollars less.
Before Gary’s life turned upside down, he had a career in the Navy. It was also during his training at the camp that he learned how to fly to transport valuable cargo without being detected, which later helped him in drug smuggling.
Gary reportedly served in the Navy for five years after graduating from high school and earned his aviation license in 1964.
Around 1970, Gary then opened Betzner Flying Service with his second wife. Thus, he entered the pesticide spraying business.
Is Gary Betzner married?
Yes, Gary Betzner has been married — not once, not twice, but three times!
His first wife was Claudia and they had a daughter named Polly.
Gary later met his second wife Sally on July 20, 1969, at a moon landing party, while he was still married to Claudia. Shortly after divorcing Claudia, Gary later married Sally, and they had two children together, daughter Sara Lee and son Travis.
The Invisible Pilot depicts his three children as victims of their father’s battle against convention, rules, and responsibility. While the show allows the children to process some of their pain and trauma, what is lost is gone forever.
“It’s all about Gary,” Sally said at one point.
As for Gary’s third wife, he decided to keep her identity a secret.
Gary Betzner’s age
Gary Betzner was 81 years old when he appeared in The Invisible Pilot in 2022.
His date of birth is not disclosed.
Gary Betzner’s Parents
Gary Betzner doesn’t have any good memories of his parents. All he remembers is that his father abused him and his mother abandoned him when he was a child.
Related FAQs
-
Where does Gary Betzner live?
As of 2022, Gary resides in Arkansas.
But his hometown is Akron, Ohio.
-
Does Gary Betzner use Instagram and Facebook?
No, Gary does not have an Instagram or Facebook account.