Fidel Castro's Influencer Grandson Advocates for Capitalism in Cuba

Sandro Castro, the outspoken grandson of the late Cuban leader, believes the majority of Cubans want to embrace capitalism.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:52am

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A vibrant, abstract painting depicting Sandro Castro in a fractured, overlapping geometric style, capturing the energy and controversy surrounding his calls for economic reforms in Cuba.Sandro Castro, the outspoken grandson of Fidel Castro, advocates for embracing capitalism in Cuba through his provocative social media presence.Today in Miami

Sandro Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, has amassed a large social media following with his outrageous and often bizarre antics. Despite coming from a prominent revolutionary family, Castro openly criticizes Cuba's communist government and advocates for a capitalist economic model. He believes the majority of Cubans want to embrace capitalism, not communism, and has even expressed interest in doing business with the Trump administration.

Why it matters

Sandro Castro's views and social media presence provide a rare glimpse into the life of privilege enjoyed by some members of Cuba's ruling family, even as the country's economy continues to collapse. His openness in challenging the communist system and calling for capitalist reforms highlights the growing tensions and divisions within Cuban society.

The details

Castro, 33, has built a large Instagram following of over 150,000 by posting videos that often mock the Cuban government and its economic policies. He has even gone so far as to create a satirical video featuring an actor portraying Donald Trump trying to buy Cuba. Despite his family's revolutionary legacy, Castro believes the majority of Cubans want to embrace capitalism and that the country's current economic model is failing. He has faced some backlash from the government, including being called in for questioning by state security, but has not been arrested due to his famous last name.

  • Fidel Castro, Sandro's grandfather, died in 2016.
  • Raúl Castro, Sandro's great-uncle, stepped down as president of Cuba in 2018.
  • Sandro Castro has been posting his controversial social media content over the past several years.

The players

Sandro Castro

The 33-year-old grandson of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, known for his outrageous social media antics and open criticism of Cuba's communist government.

Fidel Castro

The former longtime leader of Cuba and Sandro Castro's grandfather, who led the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Raúl Castro

Fidel Castro's brother and Sandro Castro's great-uncle, who served as president of Cuba from 2008 to 2018.

Miguel Díaz-Canel

The current president of Cuba, who took over from the Castro family in 2018.

Alexis Castro Soto del Valle

Sandro Castro's father, a telecommunications engineer who has also been critical of the Cuban government on social media.

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What they’re saying

“I am a revolutionary, but a revolutionary of ideas, of progress, of change.”

— Sandro Castro

“There are many people in Cuba that think in a capitalistic way. There are many people here who want to do capitalism with sovereignty.”

— Sandro Castro

“I think the majority of Cubans want to be capitalist, not communist.”

— Sandro Castro

What’s next

Sandro Castro's outspoken views and social media presence continue to draw attention, both within Cuba and internationally. It remains to be seen whether his calls for economic reforms and openness to doing business with the Trump administration will gain traction, or if he will face further scrutiny from the Cuban government.

The takeaway

Sandro Castro's story highlights the growing tensions and divisions within Cuban society, as the country's younger generation increasingly embraces capitalist ideals and rejects the communist system that has ruled the island for decades. His willingness to openly criticize the government and advocate for change, despite his family's revolutionary legacy, reflects the evolving political and economic landscape in Cuba.