When Vicente Fernández passed away on that somber December day in 2021, Mexico didn’t just lose a singer. It lost a patriarch. But for los hijos de Vicente Fernández, the end of an era meant stepping into a spotlight that was suddenly much harsher, much colder, and filled with a lot more legal paperwork than anyone expected.
You’ve seen the photos of the "Three Foals" (Los Tres Potrillos) standing by the casket. They looked united. They looked like the perfect ranchera royalty. But honestly? The reality of the Fernández dynasty is way more complicated than a curated Instagram post or a Netflix biopic might lead you to believe.
Growing up at Rancho Los Tres Potrillos wasn't just about riding horses and wearing custom-tailored charro suits. It was about living under the shadow of a man who was essentially a living god in the eyes of his fans. That kind of pressure does something to a family. It creates a mix of fierce loyalty, deep-seated rivalry, and a desperate need to find an individual identity while carrying one of the heaviest last names in Latin music history.
The Heir Apparent and the Rebel: Vicente Jr. and Alejandro
Let’s talk about the eldest first. Vicente Fernández Jr. has had a rough go of it, frankly. People often overlook him because he doesn't have the velvet voice of his father or the sex appeal of his younger brother. But the man has survived things that would break most people.
Remember the 1998 kidnapping? It’s the stuff of nightmares. He was held for 121 days. The kidnappers—part of a group known as "Los Mochaorejas"—cut off two of his fingers to pressure "El Chente" into paying the ransom. That event changed the family forever. It’s why the ranch became a fortress. While Vicente Jr. tried his hand at singing, his career never reached the stratosphere. He’s spent more time in the tabloids for his high-profile relationships, including his marriage to Mara Patricia Castañeda and his current life with Mariana González, often dubbed the "Mexican Kim Kardashian."
Then there’s Alejandro Fernández. "El Potrillo."
Alejandro is the only one who truly cracked the code. He figured out how to be a Fernández while being himself. He took the ranchera foundation his father gave him and smashed it into pop, ballad, and even electronic influences. It wasn't always easy. Early in his career, his father was famously strict about Alejandro’s image. Vicente wanted him in the suit, on the horse, singing the classics. Alejandro wanted the leather jackets and the sold-out arenas in Vegas.
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There was a period where the tension was palpable. You could see it in interviews. But Alejandro’s massive commercial success—over 30 million albums sold—eventually earned him a peer-like respect from his father. He became the global face of the brand. But even the biggest star has his "messy" moments. Alejandro’s struggles with the party lifestyle have been documented by every paparazzi from Guadalajara to Madrid. It's the classic burden of the superstar son: trying to drown out the noise of a legendary father.
The Businessman and the Mystery Daughter
Gerardo Fernández is the one you rarely see. He’s the middle son, and honestly, he’s probably the most powerful one in the room. He didn’t want the stage. He wanted the books.
Gerardo has long been the manager of the family’s vast real estate and business empire. He’s the one who kept the ranch running as a business entity. However, he’s also been the lightning rod for controversy. In the unauthorized biography El Último Rey by Olga Wornat, some pretty heavy allegations were leveled against him regarding his business dealings and his relationship with his brothers. The family, of course, circled the wagons and denied everything. It highlights a recurring theme: in this family, loyalty to the "Fernández" brand often comes before personal transparency.
And then we have Alejandra Fernández.
Many fans still get confused about her. Alejandra is the daughter of Gloria Abarca Villaseñor, the sister of Vicente’s wife, Doña Cuquita. Because the couple wanted a daughter so badly, they essentially raised her as their own from the time she was a baby. Vicente later officially adopted her. She has stayed almost entirely out of the entertainment industry, working in fashion and design. She is the quiet center of the family, the one who stayed away from the microphones and the scandals, proving that you can carry the name without the drama if you try hard enough.
The Inheritance Wars and the Legal Chaos
Since 2021, the conversation around los hijos de Vicente Fernández has shifted from music to "who owns what." It’s getting messy.
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The biggest point of contention isn't just the money—it's the image. Televisa and the Fernández family went to war over the production of the series El Último Rey. The family claimed the network was infringing on Vicente’s trademarked name and image rights. This wasn't just a legal spat; it was a battle for the legacy.
The estate is estimated to be worth anywhere from $25 million to $50 million, depending on which source you believe. But that’s just the liquid assets. When you factor in the royalties from a catalog of over 50 albums, the sprawling Rancho Los Tres Potrillos, the private jets, and the tequila brands, the "Fernández" name is worth hundreds of millions.
Gerardo reportedly holds the keys to much of this, which has led to whispers of internal friction. While they put on a united front for the yearly tributes at the ranch, sources close to the family suggest that the division of assets has been anything but smooth. It’s the classic "Succession" scenario, just with more tequila and better hats.
What People Get Wrong About the Third Generation
The story doesn't end with the children. The grandchildren are already taking over.
Alex Fernández and Camila Fernández (Alejandro’s kids) are the frontrunners. Alex sounds so much like his grandfather it’s actually a bit haunting. He’s leaning hard into the traditional mariachi style. Camila, on the other hand, is carving out a niche in "Mariachi-Pop."
The misconception is that they have it easy. Sure, the doors are open. But they are walking into a room where everyone is comparing them to a man who is literally a national monument. If they hit a wrong note, it’s not just a bad performance; it’s a "betrayal of the legacy."
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Navigating the Fernández Legacy Today
If you’re trying to keep up with the family or understand their impact on Mexican culture, you have to look past the glitz. The family is currently focused on two things: preserving the museum-like state of the ranch and expanding the "Chente" brand into new markets.
Here is the reality of where things stand:
- The Ranch is a Pilgrimage Site: You can actually visit the gates of Los Tres Potrillos. The family has kept parts of it open to fans because they know that without the "pueblo," there is no dynasty.
- The Music is Evolving: Watch Alejandro’s latest tours. He is increasingly incorporating his father’s hits into his sets, acting as a bridge between the old-school ranchera fans and the younger generation.
- Legal Battles are Ongoing: Expect more news regarding trademark disputes. The family is very protective of the "Vicente Fernández" name and will sue anyone—even major networks—that tries to use it without a license.
If you're a fan or just a casual observer, the best way to honor the history of los hijos de Vicente Fernández is to listen to the 2022 and 2023 posthumous releases. These tracks were meticulously curated by the sons to ensure the "quality" of their father's voice remained intact.
To really understand the weight they carry, watch the 1984 footage of a young Alejandro singing with his father for the first time. The fear in his eyes is real. That fear—the fear of not being enough for a legend—is what drives this family today. They aren't just heirs; they are the custodians of a cultural identity.
Next Steps for the Savvy Fan:
- Check the Trademarks: Before buying any "official" merchandise online, verify it’s through the VFG (Vicente Fernández Gómez) official store. Most of the stuff on Etsy or third-party sites is bootlegged and the family is actively cracking down on these.
- Visit Guadalajara: If you want the real experience, the "Arena Vicente Fernández Gómez" is where the big shows happen. It’s one of the top venues in Latin America and is still owned and operated by the family.
- Listen Chronologically: To hear the influence the sons had on their father, listen to his albums from the late 90s onwards. You can hear the production value shift as Alejandro and Vicente Jr. started having more say in the recording booth.
The story of the Fernández family isn't over. It's just entering a new, more corporate, and perhaps more complicated chapter.