Sebastián Piñera.

Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique

Born 1 Dec 1949 Santiago de Chile, Chile

Died 6 Feb 2024 Lago Ranco, Chile

Citizenship Chile

Would Be 76 yr If Living

8 min read

Reading time

1,530

Words

Apr 25, 2026

Published

Film credits

Awards

TL;DR

Sebastián Piñera served as Chile’s president for two non-consecutive terms 2010-2014 and 2018-2022 before dying in a helicopter crash in Lago Ranco in February 2024. An economist with a Ph.D. from Harvard, he also appeared as himself in television programs like 60 Minutes and Teletón. He was married to Cecilia Morel and had four children.

Identity & family.

KIN · 6

Names, aliases, and relatives of Sebastián Piñera — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique

Aliases Sebastián Piñera Echenique, President Sebastián Piñera, Presidente Sebastián Piñera, Presidente Piñera, Sebastian Piñera

PARENTS: Michelle Vidal Melgarejo José Piñera Carvallo
SPOUSES: Cecilia Morel
SIBLINGS: José Piñera Echenique Miguel Piñera Echenique Pablo Piñera Echenique

At a glance.

STATS

Sebastián Piñera by the numbers — life, work, and family.

74 Years lived

16 Film credits

8 Awards

1 Marriage

Who was Sebastián Piñera?

BIOGRAPHY

Sebastián Piñera — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Piñera was born on December 1, 1949, in Santiago, Chile, to José Piñera Carvallo and Michelle Vidal Melgarejo. He attended Colegio del Verbo Divino, an all-boys Catholic school. Later, he studied at Saint Boniface’s Catholic College in Belgium, the same school attended by Hergé. He graduated in commercial engineering from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in 1971 and earned a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

Career

Piñera began his career in finance, serving as general manager of Banco de Talca and Citigroup in the 1980s. Entering politics, he won a Senate seat for the Metropolitan Region, serving from 1990 to 1998. From 1994 to 2009, he served as CEO of LAN Chile and owned Chilevisión. In 2009, he was elected president of Chile, serving from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022. On screen, he appeared as himself in programs such as 60 Minutes 1968 and the documentary Chicago Boys 2015.

Personal life

Piñera married Cecilia Morel on December 21, 1973. They had four children: Magdalena b. 1975, Cecilia b. 1978, Sebastián b. 1982, and Cristóbal b. 1984. His siblings include former minister José Piñera and musician Miguel Piñera. His uncle was archbishop Bernardino Piñera.

Legacy

Piñera was the first conservative president since Augusto Pinochet to serve two terms. He oversaw economic growth and the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. His death in a helicopter crash in 2024 prompted national mourning. He received numerous awards including the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Global Citizen Awards.

Filmography.

FILMS · 16

Browse the complete filmography of Sebastián Piñera — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

60 Minutes

1968
TV

Mentiras Verdaderas

2011
TV

Sin Dios, Ni Late

2008
TV

Animal Nocturno

2006
TV

Tolerancia Cero

1999
TV

Informe Especial

1984
TV

Estado Nacional

2006

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 8

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Sebastián Piñera — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Sun of Peru
Fulbright Scholarship
Golden Key of Madrid
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
Commander of Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero
Order of the Star of Palestine
Global Citizen Awards

Did you know?

FACTS · 18

Little-known facts about Sebastián Piñera — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

His father was José Piñera Carvallo and his mother was Magdalena Echenique Rozas.
His siblings include María Magdalena, José Piñera, Juan Pablo, Miguel Piñera and María Teresa.
He graduated from an all-boys private Catholic school: Colegio del Verbo Divino in Las Condes, Santiago.
With Cecilia Morel, he fathered Magdalena Piñera b. 1975, Cecilia Piñera b. 1978, Sebastián Piñera b. 1982 and Cristóbal Piñera b. 1984.
He graduated Commercial Engineering at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in 1971.
He attended Saint Boniface’s Catholic College in Belgium, the same school as Hergé.
He earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.
He was a classmate of Nancy Stokey and Gordon Bethune at Harvard University.
He co-owned real estate companies: Toltén, Huechuraba and Aconcagua.
He served as general manager of the banks Banco de Talca and Citigroup in the 80s.
He was a former teacher of the School of Economics for the University of Chile, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and Adolfo Ibáñez University.
He was a Senator for Metropolitan Region from 1990 to 1998.
He was ex-CEO of LAN Chile 1994-2009 and Chilevisión 2005-2010.
He was the 34th president of Chile, from 11 March 2010 to 11 March 2014.
He lost to President Michelle Bachelet in 2006.
He was a cousin of Cecilia Echeñique.
He was the 36th President of Chile, from March 11, 2018 to March 11, 2022.
He was a nephew of archbishop Bernardino Piñera.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 32

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Sebastián Piñera.

When was Sebastián Piñera born?

Sebastián Piñera was born on December 1, 1949. His birth name is Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique.
Where was Sebastián Piñera born?

He was born in Santiago de Chile, Metropolitan Region, Chile. He grew up in a prominent Chilean family.
When did Sebastián Piñera die?

Piñera died on February 6, 2024. He was 74 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Sebastián Piñera when he died?

He was 74 years old when he passed away. He was born in 1949 and died in 2024.
Where did Sebastián Piñera die?

He died in Lago Ranco, Los Ríos Region, Chile. The location is a remote area in southern Chile.
How did Sebastián Piñera die?

Piñera died in a helicopter crash. The accident occurred in Lago Ranco on February 6, 2024.
What is Sebastián Piñera's real name?

His full birth name is Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique. He was commonly known as Sebastián Piñera.
What does Sebastián Piñera do for a living?

Piñera was an actor and also served as the president of Chile. He appeared as himself in TV programs like 60 Minutes.
What nationality is Sebastián Piñera?

He was Chilean. He held citizenship in Chile and his native language was Spanish.
What language does Sebastián Piñera speak?

He spoke Spanish as his native language. He also studied in English-speaking institutions like Harvard University.
Who are Sebastián Piñera's parents?

His parents were José Piñera Carvallo and Michelle Vidal Melgarejo. His mother’s maiden name was Echenique.
Who is Sebastián Piñera married to?

He was married to Cecilia Morel from December 21, 1973 until his death. She was his spouse for over 50 years.
Does Sebastián Piñera have any siblings?

Yes, he had three siblings: José Piñera Echenique, Miguel Piñera Echenique, and Pablo Piñera Echenique. His brother Miguel is a well-known musician.
Where did Sebastián Piñera go to school?

He attended Colegio del Verbo Divino in Santiago, and later studied at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and Harvard University. He also spent time at Saint Boniface’s Catholic College in Belgium.
What awards has Sebastián Piñera won?

He received the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Sun of Peru, the Fulbright Scholarship, Golden Key of Madrid, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav, Commander of Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero, Order of the Star of Palestine, and Global Citizen Awards.
How many awards has Sebastián Piñera won?

He won 8 major awards including the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Global Citizen Awards.
What is Sebastián Piñera best known for?

He is best known as the 34th and 36th president of Chile. He also appeared as himself in TV shows like 60 Minutes and Mesa Central.
How tall was Sebastián Piñera?

Piñera was 5 feet 5 inches tall, or 1.65 meters. His height was often noted because he was shorter than many of his political peers.
What are the other names Sebastián Piñera was known by?

He was also known as Sebastián Piñera Echenique, President Sebastián Piñera, Presidente Sebastián Piñera, and Presidente Piñera.
Did Sebastián Piñera have children?

Yes, he had four children with his wife Cecilia Morel: Magdalena born 1975, Cecilia born 1978, Sebastián born 1982, and Cristóbal born 1984.
Did Sebastián Piñera have siblings?

Yes, he had five siblings total according to some records, including María Magdalena, José, Juan Pablo, Miguel, and María Teresa. Official records list three brothers.
Who were Sebastián Piñera's relatives?

His uncle was archbishop Bernardino Piñera. His cousin was Cecilia Echeñique. He was also related to Andrés Chadwick.
What was Sebastián Piñera's height?

His height was 5 feet 5 inches 1.65 m. This was relatively short compared to average Chilean male height.
Where did Sebastián Piñera go to primary school?

He attended Colegio del Verbo Divino in Las Condes, Santiago, an all-boys private Catholic school. He also studied at Saint Boniface’s Catholic College in Belgium.
What did Sebastián Piñera study?

He studied commercial engineering at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, graduating in 1971. He later earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.
Was Sebastián Piñera an actor?

Yes, his occupation is listed as actor. He appeared as himself in TV programs such as 60 Minutes, Chicago Boys, and Teletón.
What television shows did Sebastián Piñera appear on?

He appeared on 60 Minutes 1968, Mesa Central 2018, Chicago Boys 2015, and Chavismo: the Plague of the 21st Century 2018.
Who was Sebastián Piñera's uncle?

His uncle was Bernardino Piñera, who served as an archbishop in the Catholic Church. This family connection influenced his Catholic upbringing.
What companies did Sebastián Piñera own?

He co-owned real estate companies named Toltén, Huechuraba, and Aconcagua. He also held stakes in LAN Chile and Chilevisión.
How many terms did Sebastián Piñera serve as president?

He served two non-consecutive terms: first from 2010 to 2014, and again from 2018 to 2022. He was the first conservative president to do so since Pinochet.
What award did Sebastián Piñera receive from Spain?

He received the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, one of Spain’s highest honors. It was awarded during his presidency.
What was Sebastián Piñera's wife's name?

His wife was Cecilia Morel. They married on December 21, 1973 and remained together until his death in 2024.

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Published on April 25, 2026

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Sebastián Piñera.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

60 Minutes

Mentiras Verdaderas

Sin Dios, Ni Late

Animal Nocturno

Tolerancia Cero

Informe Especial

Estado Nacional