If you've spent even five minutes in the world of La Casa de Papel, you know that the guy with the suit and the chilling laugh is the heartbeat of the show. We call him Berlin. It’s a city, a code name, and a vibe all wrapped into one narcissistic package. But if you’re looking for the berlin money heist real name, you aren't just looking for one answer. You're looking for two: the name on the character's birth certificate and the man who brought that "emotional terrorist" to life.
Let’s get the basics out of the way first.
In the show, Berlin’s legal name is Andrés de Fonollosa.
Behind the camera, the actor is the legendary Pedro Alonso.
There. That's the short version. But honestly, if you think that’s all there is to it, you’re missing the best parts of the story. The name Andrés de Fonollosa carries a heavy history of terminal illness, secret brotherhoods, and a jewelry-stealing legacy that spans from the Mint of Spain all the way to a prequel series in Paris.
The Mystery of Andrés de Fonollosa
For most of the first season, we didn't know who this guy was. He was just the guy in charge—the one who would crack a joke while holding a gun to someone's head. It wasn't until the police started digging into the gang's identities that the name Andrés de Fonollosa finally popped up.
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Why does the name matter? Because it connected him to the Professor.
Most fans remember the "Bella Ciao" scene where we realized they weren't just comrades; they were brothers. While the Professor is Sergio Marquina, Berlin kept the de Fonollosa name. It’s a name that signifies a certain level of class and ego. He didn’t want to be just another thief. He was a "grand larcenist."
Andrés wasn't just a name; it was a countdown. By the time he entered the Royal Mint, he was suffering from Helmer’s Myopathy. He knew he was dying. That’s probably why he didn't care about the consequences. When you’re Andrés de Fonollosa and you’ve got a shelf life, the city name "Berlin" becomes a mask that allows you to be a hero, a villain, and a martyr all at once.
Pedro Alonso: The Man Behind the Mask
Now, if we talk about the berlin money heist real name in terms of the actor, we have to talk about Pedro Alonso.
I’ve seen a lot of actors play "bad guys," but Alonso does something different. He makes you love a character who is, by all accounts, a pretty terrible person. He's described Berlin as "shady" and "perverse," yet the audience couldn't get enough of him.
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Alonso wasn't even supposed to be in the later seasons. I mean, the guy died in a hail of bullets at the end of Part 2. But the fans went so crazy for Andrés that the writers had to invent an entire world of flashbacks just to keep him on screen.
Pedro Alonso (born Pedro González Alonso) is a Spanish actor who was actually quite famous in Spain long before Money Heist hit Netflix. He was in Gran Hotel—another show you should definitely watch if you like drama—and he's an artist and writer too. He often posts his paintings and philosophical thoughts on Instagram, which is a far cry from the diamond-stealing madman we see on TV.
Key Facts About the Character and Actor
- In-Universe Name: Andrés de Fonollosa.
- Actor Name: Pedro Alonso (Pedro González Alonso).
- Alias in Prequel: Simon Martínez.
- Brother: Sergio Marquina (The Professor).
- Signature Weapon: M16.
- Diagnosis: Helmer’s Myopathy (a fictional degenerative disease).
Why "Berlin" and Not Andrés?
It’s interesting, right? Even after we find out his real name, nobody calls him Andrés. Not the Professor (usually), not the gang, and definitely not the fans.
The name Berlin represents the cold, wall-like exterior he built around himself. In the prequel series Berlin, we see a younger Andrés. He’s more romantic. He’s "Simon Martínez" when he’s undercover in Paris. He’s a guy who falls in love too easily and spends $44 million heists worrying about a girl.
But by the time he reaches the original Money Heist timeline, Andrés is gone. There is only Berlin. The "real name" becomes a secret held by the police and his brother, while the city name becomes the legend.
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The Impact of the Name on the Spin-off
When Netflix announced the spin-off, they didn't call it Andrés. They called it Berlin.
This was a deliberate move. The brand of "Berlin" is worth more than the identity of Andrés de Fonollosa. It’s a marketing machine. But for the hardcore fans, knowing the berlin money heist real name provides the context for his actions. It explains his relationship with his son, Rafael, and his ex-wife, Tatiana.
Without the "Andrés" identity, he's just a caricature. With it, he’s a tragic figure who chose to die on his own terms rather than let a disease take him out in a hospital bed.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that Berlin is the older brother who "raised" the Professor. In reality, their bond is deeper and more complex, built on their father's legacy. Their father was also a thief—a man who was killed outside a bank.
The name Andrés de Fonollosa is a tie to that past. While the Professor stayed in the shadows, Andrés lived in the light, spending his money on fine wine and expensive suits until there was nothing left but the next big score.
Moving Beyond the Heist
If you're fascinated by the man behind the berlin money heist real name, the best thing you can do is look into Pedro Alonso’s other work. He brings that same "volcanic" energy to almost every role.
- Check out Gran Hotel on streaming platforms to see him play a completely different kind of antagonist.
- Watch the Berlin prequel series to see the "Andrés" side of the character—the one who wasn't yet dying and still believed in the "grandeur" of love.
- Follow Pedro Alonso’s art; he often incorporates his "Berlin" experiences into his paintings and his book, Libro de Filipo.
Understanding the man and the character helps you see that Berlin isn't just a city in Germany. It’s the final act of a man named Andrés de Fonollosa who wanted to make sure the world never forgot he existed.