Juan Carlos I ascended to the throne in 1975, just two days after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. He was initially seen as Franco's protege, but he defied expectations by steering Spain toward a modern parliamentary monarchy.
The king's reputation began to unravel in 2012, triggered by a series of personal and financial scandals.
: He famously stood down a military coup in 1981, cementing his legacy as a "national savior".
: For decades, he was considered one of the most popular and progressive monarchs in Europe. 📉 The Fall: Scandals and Secrets
: During a severe economic recession in Spain, the king was pictured with a dead elephant on an expensive safari in Botswana.
: He faced a harassment suit in London brought by Corinna, which was eventually dismissed due to crown immunity and lack of evidence.
: Allegations emerged regarding a $100 million payment from Saudi Arabia hidden in secret Swiss bank accounts.