Though outwardly he works with the Mexican cartel to distribute cocaine, he secretly plots revenge against its members over the death of his business associate and romantic partner Maximino "Max" Arciniega at the hands of Hector Salamanca, the patriarch of the cartel-backed drug trade in the Southwest.
Gus Fring hated Hector Salamanca, because Hector killed Max Arciniega, who was Gus's best friend and possibly lover in 1989.
Gus and Hector's bitter rivalry began when the latter murdered Max on the order of Don Eladio as a punishment for Gustavo selling drugs to his men without consent. Heartbroken and enraged, Gus emptied Hector's pills and filled them with ibuprofen which can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Because of the rivalry between Gus and Hector, Lalo becomes dedicated to disrupting Gus' legitimate restaurant business Los Pollos Hermanos and Lavandería Brillante, as well as his reputation with the cartel. Unlike his other rivals such as Walter White, Gus was highly fearful of Lalo due to his cunning and resilience.
As Gus explains to Mike when Mike attempted to kill Hector: he needed him alive, as in Breaking Bad it's explained that Hector killed Gus' close friend (and possible lover) Max, which caused Gus to have an undying vendetta against Hector.
The Breaking Bad episode "Hermanos" shows that Gus and his long-time business partner and boyfriend Max Arciniega started Los Pollos Hermanos as a front to sell methamphetamine that Max "cooked".
Max Arciniega was the business and romantic partner of Gustavo Fring and co-founder of the Los Pollos Hermanos franchise.
Up to this point, Gus is portrayed as the smartest person on the show, matched only by Walter White in Breaking Bad. In spite of this, Lalo is able to believably outmaneuver him at nearly every turn.
Lalo died smiling as a nod to the maniacal personality he carried throughout life, but also to stress the satisfaction he derived from having been right about Gus. The familiar, creepy smirk was one final act of rebellion. Even in his most painful moment, he refused to let Gus see a glimmer of defeat on his face.
After Bolsa and Gus visit Hector and promise him vengeance for Lalo's supposed death, Gus realizes from Hector's demeanor that Lalo is still alive. Now anticipating a revenge attack by Lalo, Gus has Mike arrange for around-the-clock guards for his home and businesses.
Hector Salamanca
Having served as one of Don Eladio's most feared men for decades, Hector has been as close to the top as it gets.
Were Gus and Max lovers? No, Max says outright that Gus is like a "brother to me". In BCS, the "boyfriend" line was delivered jokingly as in, it was quite obvious that their relationship was close and seen as homoerotic to people who worked near the two.
Hector Salamanca, also known as Don Hector, was the elderly don of the Salamanca drug organization and an associate of cartel boss Don Eladio Vuente. He was the son of Abuelita, the uncle of twins Marco and Leonel Salamanca, Tuco Salamanca, and Lalo Salamanca, and the grandfather of Joaquin Salamanca.
Abuelita Salamanca
She is the only Salamanca family member whose fate is currently unknown and who is not associated with the Cartel. She is most likely dead by the end of Breaking Bad as Gus states that all of the Salamancas are dead.
In season 4 of Breaking Bad, Gus tells Hector Salamanca that “the Salamancas are all dead now”: Gus Fring can only become the new drug king after the death of all those who stand against and above him. Gus tells him in one of their meetings.
Hector is a former drug agent who worked for Don Eladio. His family members are very involved in the drug business. After an unexplained incident, he's left paralyzed in most of his body and can't speak or move on his own. His only means of communication is the bell on his wheelchair.
Most notably, Lalo Salamanca has been the most significant villain of Better Call Saul and easily rivaled those of the original series. He might be charismatic, but he's also unpredictable and psychopathic.
Lalo Salamanca is the only Near Pure Evil from the Breaking Bad franchise who originated from the prequel Better Call Saul instead of the original show. He is also one of the two Near Pure Evils who appears in only one installment of the Breaking Bad franchise, the other being Jack Welker.
Nacho Varga (Michael Mando)
By season five, Nacho was a mole in the Salamanca organization, which is a very dangerous place to be. After being befriended by Lalo, Nacho filled Gus in on his rival's plans but ultimately wanted out of this tug-of-war between ruthless men as the intensity grew.
In Better Call Saul season 6, episode 8, Gus kills Lalo because he knows that, if he doesn't, his rival will take him out instead.
Walter White in 'Breaking Bad'
There's no denying that Walter White is a calculated genius when he isn't letting his ego get in his way.
Eduardo 'Lalo' Salamanca
Pretty much from the word go, Lalo cements himself as not only the smartest of the Salamanca family but as one of the best and most intelligent villains of either series also.
Originally collaborating with the Mexican drug cartel to distribute cartel cocaine, Gus eliminated his dependence on the cartel and began distributing methamphetamine himself, and eventually became the kingpin of his solo drug empire, which was the most successful drug operation in United States history until his ...
Hatred. Gus Fring's biggest weakness was his unending hatred for Hector Salamanca, who, twenty years ago, had shot his partner in the head just to make a point. That's why he spent the next 20 years in the drug business and not just go back to cooking fried chicken and making a stable profit.
He is a major kingpin in the Breaking Bad series. He covers up his drug activity by owning legitimate businesses and doing charity work. His heart and conscience have become wicked, and he reflects who Walter White may have wanted to become. Gus is evil, but he's also calculating.