The term “Mafia Family” conjures images of shadowy figures, illicit deals, and a code of silence that has captivated and terrified societies for generations. In the United States, no groups embody this concept more vividly than the “Five Families” of New York City. This moniker refers to the five dominant Italian-American Mafia crime families – Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese – that have shaped the landscape of organized crime in America for nearly a century. Emerging from the bloody Castellammarese War in the early 1930s, these families rose to immense power, controlling vast criminal empires and infiltrating legitimate industries. While their influence has waned in recent decades due to relentless law enforcement pressure, particularly the RICO Act, the legacy of the Five Families continues to fascinate and influence popular culture, cementing their place in the annals of American crime history.
Background and Formation of the Mafia Families
The genesis of the Five Families is inextricably linked to the violent Castellammarese War (1930-1931), a brutal power struggle between two Mafia bosses in New York: Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. This conflict was not merely a battle for territory; it was a clash between old-world Sicilian traditions represented by Maranzano and a more modern, Americanized approach favored by figures like Lucky Luciano, who was then a lieutenant under Masseria.
Charles “Lucky” Luciano, a pivotal figure in the formation of the Five Families, orchestrated the demise of old-guard bosses and modernized the Mafia structure.
Luciano, recognizing the unsustainable nature of the war and the outdated methods of his boss, secretly conspired with Maranzano. In a pivotal act of betrayal, Luciano’s faction assassinated Masseria in April 1931, effectively ending the Castellammarese War. However, the peace was short-lived. Maranzano, now the undisputed top boss, established a new power structure, dividing New York’s Italian Mafia groups into the families that would become known as the Five Families: Luciano, Gagliano, Mangano, Maranzano, and Profaci. He declared himself “capo di tutti i capi,” or “boss of all bosses,” a move that concentrated power in his hands but also sowed the seeds of future conflict.
Luciano, ambitious and forward-thinking, saw the “boss of bosses” title as an anachronism and a potential source of instability. Later in 1931, mirroring his move against Masseria, Luciano orchestrated Maranzano’s assassination. Taking the reins of power, Luciano dismantled the “capo di tutti i capi” title and established “The Commission.” This council was composed of the heads of the Five Families, along with leaders from the Buffalo Mafia and the Chicago Outfit, fostering a semblance of cooperation and dispute resolution within the Italian-American Mafia. Luciano himself served as the chairman, guiding this new era of organized crime.
This new framework, while often strained and punctuated by internal conflicts, ushered in a period of unprecedented power and prosperity for the Italian-American Mafia. For approximately three decades, the Five Families accumulated immense wealth and influence, dominating various criminal rackets and even infiltrating legitimate businesses. However, the passage of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in 1970 marked a turning point. This powerful legal tool proved highly effective against organized crime, leading to numerous convictions and the erosion of the Five Families’ once-unshakeable grip. The threat of lengthy prison sentences also incentivized Mafia members to become informants, further weakening the organization from within.
The Lucchese Mafia Family
Originally known as the Gagliano family, the Lucchese crime family traces its lineage back to Gaetano “Tommy” Reina, whose death ignited the Castellammarese War. Following Reina’s demise and the subsequent rise of Thomas “Tommy” Gagliano, the family solidified its power. Upon Gagliano’s death in 1951, Thomas “Three-Finger Brown” Lucchese assumed leadership and renamed the family, cementing its modern identity.
Anthony “Tony Ducks” Corallo, a notorious Lucchese family boss, was known for his cunning and involvement in labor racketeering.
The Lucchese family, alongside the Gambino family, exerted significant control over New York’s trucking and garment industries, strategically leveraging labor unions and trade organizations to their advantage. Their reach extended into various criminal enterprises, including narcotics trafficking, with heroin being a particularly lucrative commodity. In 1978, the family’s notoriety reached new heights with the infamous Lufthansa heist at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a crime allegedly masterminded by Lucchese associate Jimmy Burke. This audacious robbery, netting approximately $5.8 million in cash and jewels, was the largest cash theft in American history at the time and highlighted the family’s deep infiltration of key infrastructure.
The latter part of the 1980s witnessed a turbulent period for the Lucchese family as Vittorio “Little Vic” Amuso ascended to the boss’s seat. His reign was marked by intense internal strife and bloody conflicts, contributing to the family’s instability. Despite receiving a life sentence in 1992 on a range of charges, Amuso continued to exert control over the family from prison, demonstrating the enduring, albeit diminished, power of these Mafia organizations.
The Bonanno Mafia Family
The Bonanno family bears the name of Joseph “Joe Bananas” Bonanno, who took over leadership following Maranzano’s assassination. Bonanno’s tenure as boss was remarkably long, spanning over three decades, during which he elevated the family’s prominence within the Mafia hierarchy. The Bonanno family’s criminal portfolio was diverse, encompassing loan-sharking, illegal gambling operations, narcotics distribution, and prostitution rings.
Vincent Asaro, a Bonanno family captain, represents the enduring legacy of the family, even as law enforcement efforts chipped away at their power.
In 1964, Bonanno’s attempt to seize greater control of the Mafia backfired, forcing him into hiding and ultimately leading to his forced retirement. This power vacuum, coupled with the increasing effectiveness of RICO prosecutions against the family, triggered a period of internal turmoil. A significant blow came in 1976 when FBI agent Joseph Pistone, operating undercover as “Donnie Brasco,” successfully infiltrated the Bonanno family. His years-long operation exposed the family’s inner workings and led to numerous arrests, resulting in the Bonanno family’s expulsion from the Commission, a symbolic but significant demotion. Despite this setback, the Bonanno family managed to regain its Commission seat in the 1990s under Joseph Massino. Later, Michael “the Nose” Mancuso took over as boss, continuing the family’s operations in a changed, more challenging environment.
The Colombo Mafia Family
The Colombo crime family’s origins trace back to Joseph Profaci, who led the organization until his death in 1962. His successor, Joseph Magliocco, Profaci’s brother-in-law, engaged in a conspiracy with Joseph Bonanno to assassinate the bosses of the Gambino and Lucchese families. However, their plot was betrayed to the Commission by their own hitman, Joseph Colombo.
Joseph Profaci, the founding boss of the Colombo family, established a long-lasting, albeit sometimes turbulent, criminal enterprise.
As a reward for his loyalty and betrayal, Joseph Colombo was appointed boss of the family in 1964. In a surprising move for a Mafia figure, Colombo adopted a public persona, vehemently criticizing the FBI for alleged racial profiling in the wake of the RICO Act’s implementation. He even founded the Italian American Civil Rights League, seeking to challenge negative stereotypes and law enforcement tactics targeting Italian Americans. Despite this public activism, the Colombo family remained deeply involved in a wide array of illegal activities, including extortion, loansharking, and the ever-present drug trade. In 2011, a series of arrests severely weakened the Colombo family, leaving it without a clear leader and further diminishing its standing within the Five Families.
The Gambino Mafia Family
The Gambino family boasts the oldest lineage among the Five Families, with its roots stretching back to the early 20th century and Salvatore D’Aquila, considered its first boss. Following D’Aquila’s murder in 1928, a succession of leaders guided the family, including Vincent Mangano, who took control in 1931 when the Five Families structure was formally established. Mangano’s reign ended violently in 1951, reportedly at the hands of Albert Anastasia, the notorious head of Murder, Inc., a Mafia-affiliated assassination squad.
Carlo Gambino, who renamed the family, is considered one of the most powerful and influential Mafia bosses in American history.
Anastasia then became boss, but his violent and unpredictable leadership was short-lived. In 1957, he was murdered, paving the way for Carlo Gambino to seize control and rename the family. Gambino’s leadership, lasting until 1976, is widely regarded as the family’s golden age. He cultivated an image of quiet power and strategic influence, and is believed to have become the de facto “boss of bosses,” though he never officially held the title. Under Gambino, the family reached unprecedented levels of power and wealth, becoming arguably the most dominant mafia family in the US.
After Gambino’s death, Paul Castellano took over, but his leadership was challenged by John Gotti. In 1985, Gotti orchestrated Castellano’s assassination and assumed control of the Gambino family. Gotti, in stark contrast to Gambino, embraced media attention and a flamboyant lifestyle, earning him the moniker “The Teflon Don” for his ability to evade convictions initially. He continued the family’s involvement in narcotics and racketeering but also expanded into more legitimate business ventures, attempting to diversify their income streams. However, Gotti’s luck eventually ran out. He was convicted of various crimes, including Castellano’s murder, and sentenced to life in prison. Leadership of the Gambino family continued to shift, with Frank Cali reportedly serving as boss from 2015 until his murder in 2019, demonstrating the ongoing volatility and violence that still plagues these organizations.
The Genovese Mafia Family
The Genovese crime family, initially known as the Luciano family, was founded by the architect of the modern Mafia structure, Lucky Luciano. His second-in-command was Vito Genovese, a figure who would later vie for control. After Luciano’s deportation to Italy in 1946, Frank Costello assumed leadership. However, Genovese harbored ambitions for the top spot and challenged Costello’s authority.
Frank CostelloFrank Costello, known as the “Prime Minister” of the Mafia, preferred political influence and business dealings over outright violence.
In 1957, Genovese ordered a hit on Costello. Although Costello survived the assassination attempt, he was sufficiently intimidated to step down, paving the way for Genovese to take over and rename the family in his honor. Genovese consolidated power and effectively became the “boss of bosses,” though his reign was cut short by imprisonment. Following Genovese’s death in 1969, Vincent “Chin” Gigante rose to prominence. Gigante adopted an eccentric public persona, feigning mental illness and wandering the streets in pajamas to avoid prosecution, earning him the nickname “The Oddfather.” While prosecutors argued this was a ruse, it contributed to his mystique and prolonged his time at the head of the family.
Despite Gigante’s unconventional tactics, the Genovese family reportedly became exceptionally powerful in the 1990s, known for their secrecy and caution. Their criminal enterprises were diverse, but they particularly profited from narcotics trafficking, leveraging their control over waterfront labor unions to facilitate the movement of illicit goods. However, even the Genovese family could not escape the reach of the law indefinitely. In 1997, Gigante was convicted of racketeering and other crimes, finally ending his reign. After Gigante’s death in 2005, Liborio Bellomo reportedly became the boss, continuing the Genovese family’s legacy, albeit in a significantly weakened state.
The Five Families in American Culture and Popular Imagination
Despite the significant decline in their power and influence since their mid-20th-century heyday, the Five Families maintain a powerful and enduring presence in American culture. Their exploits and mystique have been immortalized in countless books, films, and television shows, shaping the popular perception of the Mafia and organized crime.
The GodfatherThe Godfather, a cinematic masterpiece, profoundly shaped popular culture’s understanding and romanticized view of the Mafia.
Iconic films like Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990), and Donnie Brasco (1997) have drawn heavily from the history and lore of the Five Families, often romanticizing or dramatizing their lives and activities. Television series such as The Sopranos (1999–2007) and Boardwalk Empire (2010–14) have further explored the complexities and contradictions of Mafia life, captivating audiences and solidifying the Five Families’ place in popular culture. This enduring fascination, even as the real-world power of these mafia families diminishes, highlights the potent grip that the idea of the “mafia family” continues to hold on the American imagination.
