List of Famous people born in Santander Department, Colombia

Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento was a Colombian liberal politician and journalist who ran for the Presidency of Colombia on two occasions, the first time for the political movement New Liberalism that he founded in 1979. The movement was an offspring of the mainstream Colombian Liberal Party, and with mediation of former Liberal president Julio César Turbay Ayala, Galán returned to the Liberal party in 1989 and sought the nomination for the 1990 presidential election.

Daniel Arenas Consuegra is a Colombia actor who has worked in both Colombia and Mexican television.

Carlos Arturo Ardila Lülle is a Colombian entrepreneur and the founder and head of the Organización Ardila Lülle, a major Colombian conglomerate which controls companies such as RCN TV, the Postobon soft drink, and the Atlético Nacional football team. His net worth is estimated at over $1.8 billion U.S. dollars.

Colonel Valdemar Franklin Quintero was the commander of the Colombian National Police in Antioquia Province. Franklin had led several major raids which resulted in the seizure of multiple tons of cocaine. He was murdered by the Medellín cartel in Medellín because of these drug seizures and his refusal to talk with the cartel. He successfully thwarted an attempt to kill Luis Carlos Galán, a Colombian journalist and presidential candidate, when an RPG was launched at Galán. The cartel formally took responsibility for the slaying of the police commander by calling a series of local radio stations. The caller, who identified himself as a person from "The Extraditables", said "We, the Extraditables, claim responsibility for the murder of Col. Valdemar Franklin in response to the repression committed and the government's refusal to have a dialogue with us". Pablo Escobar, a major Colombian drug lord, had allegedly ordered the murder of Franklin on the day of the death of Luis Carlos Galán.

Paola Andrea Rey Arciniegas is a Colombian actress and model.

Daniel Elahi Galán Riveros is a Colombian tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of 115 as of 7 December 2020. He has a career-high ATP doubles ranking of 305 achieved on 26 February 2018.

Michael Rangel is a Colombian professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for Independiente Santa Fe.

Horacio Serpa Uribe was a Colombian lawyer, politician and Senator. Serpa ran as the Colombian Liberal Party candidate for President on three occasions; in 1998, 2002, and 2006. He previously served as congressman for Santander as Senator, Inspector General of Colombia, president of the National Constituent Assembly, Minister of the Interior, and as Ambassador to the Organization of American States. He was also involved in the 8000 process scandal in which money from the Cali Cartel entered the presidential campaign of Liberal candidate Ernesto Samper. In 2007 Serpa ran for the governorship of Santander Department and was elected on 28 October in the regional elections.

José de Jesús Horacio Pimiento Rodríguez was a Colombian prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Montería from 1959 to 1964, Bishop of Garzón-Neiva from 1964 to 1975, and finally Archbishop of Manizales from 1975 to 1996. He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015.

Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda was a Colombian anthropologist who pioneered work on Colombian family and medical anthropology.