Barry Seal was a drug runner for the cartel who was assassinated by contract killers hired by the cartel in 1986. After his death, his family struggled financially. His real-life wife, Deborah Seal, and their three children lost all claim to Barry’s million-dollar fortune and went on to lead what is described as a “modest life” . The movie "American Made" portrays Barrys wife, Lucy Seal, working as a waitress after Barrys death, and their family losing all their riches. Deborah Seal and her children acted independently of Barrys estate and sold the movie rights to Universal for an undisclosed sum. Lisa Seal Frigon, Barrys daughter from his first marriage, filed a lawsuit against Deborah and Universal, claiming that she was the legal executor of Barrys estate and should have been the one that the studio approached for the rights to the pilot’s story. Barry Seal had five children, and all of them live fairly private lives.