Augusto Pinochet was a Chilean military officer who led a coup d'état in 1973, overthrowing the democratically elected president, Salvador Allende. He subsequently ruled Chile as a dictator until 1990. His government was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the imprisonment, torture, and disappearance of thousands of Chileans. During his rule, Pinochet implemented economic reforms that transformed Chile's economy, often referred to as the "Chicago Boys" model, which was influenced by Milton Friedman and other economists. Despite some economic growth, his regime faced significant criticism for its authoritarian practices and lack of political freedoms.