Rico was born on January 25, 1968 in Mexico. It has been stated (at the official Just Cause Facebook page) that he grew up in Medici but was not born there. Medici is said to be both his and his mother's homeland. According to an interview with the game director, Rico's parents were killed in action, when Rico escaped the coup in Medici. In JC4, it is uncovered that Rico's father, Miguel Rodriguez, was a scientist working for Oscar Espinosa and it is possible that while Rico was in Medici.