11 Crazy Facts About Osama bin Laden

On May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden was shot and killed during a covert operation in Pakistan conducted by members of Navy SEAL Team Six. Bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, the militant group that claimed responsibility for the horrific September 11th attacks on our country. Now, on his 4 year death anniversary, Americans everywhere can remember the heroic efforts of the U.S. military and take solace in knowing Osama bin Laden, himself, is no longer a threat.

The terrorist mastermind undoubtedly spent most of his time trying to strike fear into the United States while simultaneously hiding from the world. Though few would call his a fulfilling life, bin Laden definitely had an interesting one... Here are 11 crazy facts about him that you would have never guessed!

1. He had enough wives and children to field two American football teams!

He married five times in his whole life, the first time when he was 17. He was the father of about twenty-four children. Most of them now live in Iran. US authorities have interviewed three of bin Laden's wives.

2. Adult entertainment kept him company as he hid away

As Reuters first reported, a "fairly extensive" stash of "modern, electronically recorded" pornography was found during the raid on his Abbottabad compound, according to US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

3. He knew he couldn't hide forever

Before leaving the compound, U.S. forces gathered a purse that evidently contained the will of the Al-Qaeda leader. Since then, there have been disputed reports on what the will did or did not say.

4. He nurtured his artistic side when he wasn't plotting the demise of foreign innocents

Many people say that bin Laden was a talented and passionate poet. He had vast knowledge of literature and enjoyed writing in classical Arabic language. His poems used to be very much influenced by the political movements and were even touching sometimes. One of his poems was titled “The Travail of a Child Who Has Left the Land of Holy Shrines”.

5. He knew when America was closing in on him

It is reported that bin Laden immediately recognized the incoming helicopters as American. After reciting the Kalma - the Muslim declaration of faith - and verses from the Quran with some of his children, bin Laden told his family that American helicopters had arrived and urged them to leave his room.

6. The billionaire terrorist was bullied as a child

Bin Laden spent his childhood in a huge mansion, but his childhood was surprisingly tough. His father, Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, was a very rich businessman in Saudi Arabia and had ten wives. Osama Bin Laden’s mother, Hamida al-Attas, was from Syria while all other wives of Mohammed bin Laden were from Saudi Arabia which caused tension and discrimination. Within the bin Laden family, his mother was known as “the slave” and Osama was known as “the slave child”.

7. Local retailers never carried cloths in his size

Bin Laden kept very few articles of clothing in the compound, despite having spent six years hiding in Abbottabad. His wardrobe included three pairs of pants for the summer, three for the winter, a black jacket, and two sweaters.

8. He may have been a connoisseur of cannabis

The Abbottabad compound had a crop of marijuana plants next to the home, but whether or not bin Laden and his family were growing the weed for recreational purposes remains a mystery. It has long been speculated that the Al Qaeda leader suffered from kidney failure which, for what it's worth, would allow him to get a prescription for medical marijuana in many U.S. states.

9. He answered "yes" to the Pepsi challenge

Bin Laden may have hated the United States, but that didn't stop him from reportedly indulging in plenty of Coca-Cola and Pepsi - products that are often associated with the Western commercialism the al-Qaeda leader is said to have despised.

10. He preferred to use people over carrier pigeons...or email

As the Washington Post reported, the Abbottabad compound lacked Internet access, so bin Laden would communicate through an "elaborate pass-the-buck" system. This means he would type a message on his computer, which would then be saved to a flash drive and given to a trusted courier, who would drive it to far-off Internet cafes and then return with incoming e-mail.

11. Popeye had spinach, bin Laden had apples with chocolate

Bin Laden's favorite snack was chocolate with apples. An official U.S. report states that "whenever he felt sluggish, he would take some chocolate with an apple."

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