Fidel Castro is the illegitimate son of a successful Creole sugar plantation owner. Born in Cuba, 1926, he grew into a rebellious boy and at the age of thirteen helped organize a strike of sugar workers on his father's plantation. 
The young Fidel went to a Jesuit boarding school. Despite his strong dislike of the school, he showed that he was extremely intelligent (and good at sports; winning the 1944 prize as Cuba's best all-round school athlete).
These days Mr Castro is one of the longest reining dictators in the world, although power is officially handed over to his brother Raoul.

Fidel Castro is, of course, also well known for his liking of berets.