John Gotti, the notorious “Dapper Don,” remains a figure of fascination in American organized crime history. While infamous for leading the Gambino crime family, Gotti’s life extended beyond the underworld. He was also a father to five children: Angela, Victoria, John Angelo, Frank, and Peter. His dedication to “the streets,” a term his son John Angelo used to describe his father’s criminal career, often overshadowed his family life in Howard Beach, New York City. Gotti Jr. himself acknowledged this, stating in a CBS News interview, “In fact, his wife and kids were second to the streets. He loved it. He loved the code. He loved the action.” Despite his death in prison in 2002, John Gotti’s influence continues to resonate through his children and grandchildren. This article delves into the lives of Angela, Victoria, John Angelo, Frank, and Peter Gotti, exploring their diverse paths and experiences within and sometimes outside the shadow of their infamous father.
Angela “Angel” Gotti
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Angela “Angel” Gotti, the eldest child of John and Victoria Gotti, was born in 1961. In contrast to some of her siblings, Angela has chosen to maintain a more private life, with her Instagram account set to private. However, she is active on X (formerly Twitter) where she engages with family matters and shares updates about her two children, son Frankie Gotti Albano and daughter Victoria Gotti Albano, from her past relationship with trucking executive Louis Albano.
Angela has consistently been a vocal defender of the Gotti Family, often challenging media portrayals she deemed unfair or inaccurate. In 2001, while her father was in solitary confinement and battling cancer, she launched a website to counter negative narratives surrounding him, according to The New York Post. Her unwavering support for her family was also evident in her regular attendance at her brother John Angelo’s trials. On one occasion, she was visibly emotional in court, breaking down in tears upon hearing an audio recording of her father’s voice. She later expressed to The New York Post, “I don’t like to hear my father talking. How would you like to hear someone who died? It upset me very much. It’s hard for me to see and hear him,” revealing the deep personal impact of her father’s legacy.
Venturing into entrepreneurship, Angela launched Angel Gotti Footwear in 2013. Her line featured handcrafted flip-flops and sandals adorned with beads, flowers, ribbons, and crystals. She described to Footwear News that each pair required hours of meticulous work and expressed plans to expand her collection to include handbags. While largely out of the public spotlight since then, Angela remains supportive of her family’s endeavors, including her nephew’s boxing career, as seen in her social media activity.
Victoria Gotti
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Victoria Gotti, born in 1962, is the second child of John and Victoria Gotti and has perhaps the most public profile among the Gotti children. Growing up in Howard Beach, Queens, Victoria shared insights into her upbringing in a 2019 PEOPLE interview, recalling a lesson in resilience imparted by her father. “One time when I was a kid, I fell and I was crying,” she recounted. “And I remember him kneeling down — I thought he was coming to pick me up — and he said, ‘Remember, Victoria: We don’t fall. We bounce, you hear me?’ ” This anecdote reflects a glimpse into John Gotti’s parenting style, emphasizing toughness and perseverance.
In 1984, Victoria married Carmine Agnello, who was also associated with the Gambino crime family. Together, they have three sons: Carmine Gotti Agnello Jr., John Gotti Agnello, and Frank Gotti Agnello. Victoria has carved out a multifaceted career as an author, television personality, and businesswoman. Her literary work began with Women and Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Comprehensive Guide to Living With M.V.P. and Its Symptoms in 1995, drawing from her personal experience with the heart condition. She further explored her writing talents with novels like The Senator’s Daughter, I’ll Be Watching You, and Superstar, as well as a cookbook Hot Italian Dish, and a memoir This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti, offering a personal perspective on her unique family life.
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Beyond writing, Victoria has worked as a reporter for WNYW (Fox 5 New York) and as a columnist for the New York Post, demonstrating her versatility in media. Her personal life faced challenges when her husband Carmine Agnello was charged with federal racketeering and tax evasion in 2000, as reported by The New York Times. He pleaded guilty and received a nine-year prison sentence and a $10 million asset forfeiture. Victoria and Carmine divorced in 2003.
In 2004, Victoria and her sons became the subject of the A&E reality show Growing Up Gotti, providing a glimpse into their lives post-Carmine’s incarceration. Following the reality show’s conclusion in 2005, she participated in Celebrity Apprentice in 2012. More recently, Victoria collaborated with Lifetime to co-write and produce a TV biopic about her life, Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter. Reflecting on her father’s impact, she told PEOPLE that she missed him, emphasizing his “a lot of heart” and recalling his life lessons: “When we were much younger, he would say, ‘You can’t put a price on freedom. Every day you’re free you should live life as if it’s your last,’ ” she shared. “Now all these years later, I realize what he means. He just appreciated things more than others would have. He taught me that.” Today, Victoria maintains an active presence on social media, celebrating her children and expanding family.
John Angelo Gotti
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John Angelo Gotti, born in 1964, is the third child and eldest son of John and Victoria Gotti, often referred to as John Gotti Jr. He followed a path deeply intertwined with his father’s legacy, entering the Gambino crime family in 1988. He described this induction to 60 Minutes as “the proudest moment of [his] life,” signifying his desire to emulate his father. “My father was my cause,” he explained. “If my father wasn’t in that life, I probably wouldn’t have been in the street life either. Whatever he was is what I wanted to be. And if he decided the next day, ‘You know what? I don’t like this anymore. I’m gonna be a butcher,’ I would tell him, ‘I hope you have a smock for me.’ “
When John Gotti Sr. was imprisoned in 1992, John Angelo, along with his uncle Peter, assumed leadership roles within the family, though The New York Times reported that they remained under John Gotti Sr.’s direction. In 1998, John Angelo faced federal charges including extortion of construction companies, labor unions, and the Scores nightclub in New York City, as well as alleged telephone fraud, according to The New York Times. He entered a plea agreement, resulting in a six-year and five-month prison sentence and a $1 million fine, but further legal challenges followed.
In 2015, John Angelo authored his memoir, Shadow of My Father, recounting his experiences growing up as the son of the “Teflon Don.” His book served as the basis for the 2018 film Gotti, starring John Travolta as John Gotti Sr. On the personal front, John Angelo married Kimberly Gotti in 1990. They have six children, including John Gotti III, who has pursued a career as a mixed martial arts fighter, extending the Gotti name into a new arena.
Frank Gotti
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Frank Gotti, born in 1967, was the fourth child of John and Victoria Gotti. Tragically, Frank’s life was cut short at the age of 12 when he was killed in a car accident on March 18, 1980. Details surrounding his death are recounted in his sister Victoria’s memoir, This Family of Mine. According to her account, Frank was riding a minibike near a construction site when he was struck by a car driven by neighbor John Favara. Police investigations ruled the incident an accident, and no charges were filed, as reported by The Seattle Times.
However, four months after Frank’s death, John Favara disappeared and was presumed murdered. The Seattle Times reported that court papers indicated Favara was shot and his body was disposed of in acid. While the Gotti family was widely believed to be involved in Favara’s disappearance and presumed death, no one was ever officially charged in connection with the case. Frank Gotti’s untimely death and the subsequent events surrounding John Favara remain a dark and controversial chapter in the Gotti family history.
Peter Gotti
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Peter Gotti, the youngest child of John Gotti Sr., has generally maintained a lower public profile compared to his siblings. He and his wife, Tricia Gotti, are the owners of Rebel Ink Tattoo & Piercing parlors, with locations in Queens and Long Island, New York. They have five children: four sons and one daughter.
Despite his efforts to stay out of the limelight, Peter and his family have faced their share of legal issues. In 2017, his son John Gotti was sentenced to eight years in prison for narcotics possession and intent to sell. Peter expressed his deep sorrow to reporters at the time, stating, “My heart is wherever he winds up. Worst thing I’ve seen in my life but what am I going to do? I am a father. I love my son with all my heart.” He added, “We will get through this. He will be fine, he is a strong kid. He will be fine. He will come out a much better man than he went in,” demonstrating a father’s unwavering support despite difficult circumstances. The following year, in 2018, The New York Times reported that Peter’s son John received an additional five-year prison sentence for arson, with half of it to be served concurrently with his drug sentence, further compounding the family’s legal troubles.
In conclusion, the children of John Gotti have navigated diverse paths in life, each shaped by the complex legacy of their father and the Gotti family name. From Angela’s private yet supportive role and Victoria’s public presence in media and literature, to John Angelo’s direct involvement in his father’s world and Peter’s quieter life punctuated by family challenges, their stories provide a multifaceted view of the Gotti family beyond the sensational headlines. The Gotti family name continues to evoke strong reactions and remains a significant part of American crime history, but these individual narratives reveal the personal dimensions of living in the shadow of a notorious figure.
