godfather

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)

This is an incomplete list of crime bosses. This list is arranged alphabetically by last name, and broken into categories by year that an individual is believed to have assumed leadership of a criminal organization.

19th century

• Vito Cascio Ferro (1862-1943), natural causes.
• Antonio Morello (1854-1898), assassinated.
• Giuseppe Morello, (1870-1930), natural causes.
• Ignazio "Lupo the Wolf" Saietta (1877-1947), natural causes.
• Jefferson R. "Soapy" Smith (1860-1898), assassinated.
• Al Swearengen (1845-1904), natural causes.

Early 20th century (1900-1919)

• James "Big Jim" Colosimo (1878-1920), assassinated.
• Salvatore "Toto" D'Aquila (1878-1928), assassinated.
• Vito Di Giorgio (1880-1922), assassinated.
• Owney "The Killer" Madden (1891-1965), natural causes.
• Nicholas Morello (1866-1916), assassinated.
• Arnold Rothstein (1882-1928), assassinated.
• Salvatore Sabella (1891-1962), natural causes.
• Ciro Terranova (1889-1938), natural causes.
• Calogero Vizzini (1877-1954), natural causes.
• Du Yuesheng (1887-1951), natural causes.

Prohibition (1919-1933)

• Joe Adonis (1902-1971), natural causes.
• Joe Aiello (1891-1930), assassinated.
• Joseph Ardizzone (1884-1932), assassinated.
• Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno (1905-2002), natural causes.
• Al "Scarface" Capone (1899-1947), natural causes.
• Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll (1908-1932), assassinated.
• Moe Dalitz (1899-1989), natural causes.
• Rosario DeSimone (1873-1946), natural causes.
• Jack "Legs" Diamond (1897-1931), assassinated.
• Jack Dragna (1891-1956), natural causes.
• Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci (1898-1927), assassinated.
• Tommy Gagliano (1884-1951), natural causes.
• Waxey Gordon (1886-1952), natural causes in prison.
• Meyer Lansky (1902-1983), natural causes.
• John Lazia (1896-1934), assassinated.
• Louis Lepke (1897-1944), executed.
• Antonio "The Scourge" Lombardo (1892-1928), assassinated.
• Charles "Lucky" Luciano (1897-1962), natural causes.
• Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino (1891-1974), natural causes.
• Vincent Mangano (1888-1951), assassinated.
• Salvatore Maranzano (1886-1931), assassinated.
• Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria (1887-1931), assassinated.
• George "Bugs" Moran (1891–1957), natural causes.
• Alfred Mineo (?-1930), assassinated.
• Giuseppe Morello (1880-1930), assassinated.
• Dean O'Banion (1892-1924), assassinated.
• Raymond L.S. Patriarca (1908-1984), natural causes.
• Joseph Pinzolo (1887-1930), assassinated.
• Joe Profaci (1897-1962), natural causes.
• Gaetano Reina (1889-1930), assassinated.
• Paul "The Waiter" Ricca (1897-1972), natural causes.
• Joseph "Polack Joe" Saltis (1894-1947), natural causes.
• Dutch Schultz (1902-1935), assassinated.
• Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (1906-1947), assassinated.
• Stephanie "Queenie" St. Clair (1886-1969), natural causes.
• Johnny Torrio (1882-1957), natural causes.
• Earl "Hymie" Weiss (1898-1926), assassinated.
• Frankie Yale (1893-1928), assassinated.
• Abner "Longy" Zwillman (1899-1959), suicide.

Great Depression and World War II (1933-1945)

• Joseph "Joe the Barber" Barbara (1905-1959), natural causes.
• Charles Binaggio (1909-1950), assassinated.
• Alex "Shondor" Birns (1907-1975), assassinated.
• Charles "Charlie the Wop" Carrollo (1902-1979), natural causes.
• Frank Costello (1891-1973), natural causes.
• Antonio Cottone (1904-1956), assassinated.
• Salvatore Giuliano (1922-1950), killed by law enforcement.
• Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (1905-1968), natural causes.
• Willie Moretti (1894-1951), assassinated.
• Alfred "The Owl" Polizzi (1900-1994), natural causes.
• Ross Prio (1901-1972), natural causes.
• Giuseppe Genco Russo (1893-1976), natural causes.
• John T. Scalish (1912-1976), natural causes.
• John Sciandra (1899-1940), assassinated.
• Santo Trafficante, Sr. (1886-1954), natural causes.

Post-World War II (1945-1970)

• Tony "Big Tuna" Accardo (1906-1992), natural causes.
• Felix "Milwaukee Phil" Alderisio (1912-1971), natural causes in prison.
• Gus Alex (1916-1998), natural causes in prison.
• Albert Anastasia (1902-1957), assassinated.
• Gaetano Badalamenti (1923-2004), natural causes in prison.
• "King" David Barksdale (1947-1974), natural causes.
• Francesco Paolo Bontade (1914-1974), natural causes.
• Angelo Bruno (1910-1980), assassinated.
• Russell Bufalino (1903-1994), natural causes.
• Giuseppe Calderone (1925-1978), assassinated.
• Giuseppe Calò (1931-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Michele "The Cobra" Cavataio (1929-1969), assassinated.
• Jackie "The Lackey" Cerone (1914-1996), natural causes.
• Chen "King Duck" Chi-li (1943-2007), natural causes.
• Carl Civella (1910-1994), natural causes in prison.
• Nicholas Civella (1912-1983), natural causes.
• Mickey Cohen (1913-1976), natural causes.
• Joe Colombo (1914-1978), natural causes.
• Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante (1912-1997), natural causes.
• Frank DeSimone (1909-1967), natural causes.
• Calcedonio Di Pisa (1931-1962), assassinated.
• Gaspar DiGregorio (1905-1970), natural causes.
• Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli (1911-1972), assassinated.
• Gaetano Fidanzati (1935-Present), international fugitive since 2008.
• Jeff Fort (1947-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Marcel Francisci (1920-1982), assassinated.
• "Crazy" Joe Gallo (1929-1972), assassinated.
• Carlo Gambino (1902-1976), natural causes.
• Sam "Momo" Giancana (1908-1975), assassinated.
• Vito Genovese (1897-1969), natural causes in prison.
• Antonio "Nenè" Geraci (1917-2007), natural causes.
• Anthony "Fat Tony" Gizzo (1902-1953), natural causes.
• Michele "The Pope" Greco (1924-2008), natural causes in prison.
• Salvatore "The Engineer" Greco (1924-?), international fugitive since 1963.
• Salvatore "Little Bird" Greco (1923-1978), natural causes.
• Danny Greene (1933-1977), assassinated.
• Dündar Kılıç (1935-1999), natural causes.
• Ronnie and Reggie Kray (1933-1995 and 2000), natural causes.
• Angelo La Barbera (1924-1975), assassinated.
• Salvatore La Barbera (1922-1963), assassinated.
• Luciano Leggio (1925-1993), natural causes in prison.
• Nick Licata (1897-1974), natural causes.
• Philip "Cockeyed Phil" Lombardo (1908-1987), natural causes.
• Frank Lucas, retired from crime since 1991.
• Tommy Lucchese (1899-1967), natural causes.
• Joseph Magliocco (1898-1963), natural causes.
• Cesare Manzella (1897-1963), assassinated.
• Carlos Marcello (1910-1993), natural causes.
• Eddie McGrath (1906-?), date and cause of death unknown.
• James "Buddy" McLean (1929-1965), assassinated.
• Joe "Pegleg" Morgan (1929-1993), natural causes in prison.
• Michele Navarra (1905-1958), assassinated.
• John "Handsome Johnny" Roselli (1905-1976), assassinated.
• Khun Sa (1933-2007), natural causes.
• Antonio Salamone (1918-1998), natural causes.
• Paul Sciacca (?-1970), natural causes.
• Mickey Spillane (1934-1977), assassinated.
• Santo Trafficante, Jr. (1914-1987), natural causes.
• Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti (1910-1978), natural causes in prison.
• Howie Winter (1929-Present), retired as boss in 1978.

Modern era (1970-Present)

• Mariano Agate (1939-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Pietro "The Little Gentleman" Aglieri (1959-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Evsei Agron (?-1985), assassinated.
• Joseph "Joey Doves" Aiuppa (1907-1997), natural causes.
• Yaakov Alperon (1955-2008), assassinated.
• Victor "Little Vic" Amuso (1934-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Francisco Javier Arellano Félix (1969-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Leoluca Bagarella (1942-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Marat Balagula (1943-Present), at large.
• Leroy "Nicky" Barnes (1933-Present), currently enrolled in the Witness Protection Program
• Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano (1959-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Jose Miguel Battle, Sr. (1930-2007), natural causes in prison
• Donnovan "Bulbie" Bennett (1964-2005), killed by law enforcement.
• Griselda Blanco (1943-Present), deported to Colombia after serving twenty-year prison sentence.
• Stefano Bontade (1939-1981), assassinated.
• Dominic Brooklier (1914-1984), natural causes in prison.
• Klaus "The Minister" Bruinsma (1953-1991), assassinated.
• Giovanni "The Pig" Brusca (1957-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• James "Whitey" Bulger (1929-Present), international fugitive since 1994.
• Martin "The General" Cahill (1949-1994), assassinated.
• Nam Cam (1948-2004), natural causes in prison.
• William "Willie the Rat" Cammisano (1914-1995), natural causes.
• Samuel "Sam Wings" Carlisi (1914-1997), natural causes in prison.
• Rafael Caro Quintero (1954-Present), serving forty-year prison sentence.
• Amado Carrillo Fuentes (1956-1997), natural causes.
• Alfonso Caruana (1946-Present), serving twenty-two-year prison sentence.
• Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso (1942-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Paul Castellano (1915-1985), assassinated.
• Anthony "Tony Ripe" Civella (1930-1976), natural causes.
• Jimmy Coonan (1946-Present), serving seventy-five-year prison sentence.
• Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo (1913-2000), natural causes in prison.
• John D'Amato (?-1992), assassinated.
• William "Big Billy" D'Elia (1946-Present), serving nine-year prison sentence.
• Boris Dekanidze (?-1995), executed.
• Giuseppe "The Tiger" Di Cristina (1923-1978), assassinated.
• John "No Nose" DiFronzo (1928-Present), at large.
• Rayful Edmond (1964-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Monya Elson (1951-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Pablo Escobar (1949-1993), killed by law enforcement.
• Natale "Joe Diamond" Evola (1907-1973), natural causes.
• Giuseppe Falsone (1970-Present), international fugitive since 1999.
• Giuseppe Farinella (1925-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (1946-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Joseph Ferriola (1927-1989), natural causes.
• Guy Fisher (1947-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno (1913-1993), natural causes.
• Carmine "The Cigar" Galante (1910-1979), assassinated.
• Giuseppe Giacomo Gambino (1941-1996), suicide.
• Raffaele Ganci (1932-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Mario Gigante (1923-Present), at large.
• Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (1928-2005), natural causes in prison.
• "Factory" John Gilligan (1952-Present), serving twenty-five-year prison sentence.
• John Gotti (1940-2002), natural causes in prison.
• Peter "One-Eyed Pete" Gotti (1939-Present), serving twenty-nine-year prison sentence.
• Giuseppe Graviano (1963-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Joaquín "Shorty" Guzmán (1957-Present), international fugitive since 2001.
• Larry Hoover (1950-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Dawood Ibrahim (1955-Present), international fugitive since 1993.
• Georgi Iliev (1966-2005), assassinated.
• Vasil Iliev (1964-1995), assassinated.
• Salvatore Inzerillo (1944-1981), assassinated.
• Vyacheslav "Yaponchik" Ivankov (1940-2009), assassinated.
• Pappu Kalani (1951-Present), on bail while awaiting trial.
• Vladimir Kumarin (?-Present), incarcerated while awaiting trial.
• Carlos Lehder (1950-Present), serving fifty-five-year prison sentence.
• James T. "Blackie" Licavoli (1904-1985), natural causes in prison.
• Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi (1939-Present), at large.
• Salvatore "The Baron" Lo Piccolo (1942-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo, (1929-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Giuseppe Lucchese (1959-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Francesco Madonia (1924-2007), natural causes in prison.
• Andrea Manciaracina (1962-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Luigi "Baby Shanks" Manocchio (1929-Present), on bail while awaiting trial.
• James "Little Jimmy" Marcello (1943-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Joseph "Big Joey" Massino (1943-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff (1960-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Joseph "Skinny Joe" Merlino (1962-Present), serving fourteen-year prison sentence.
• Gerlandino Messina (1972-Present), international fugitive since 1999.
• Matteo Messina Denaro (1962-Present), international fugitive since 1993.
• Sergei Mikhailov (1958-Present), at large.
• Peter "Shakes" Milano (1925-Present), at large.
• Felix "The Cat" Mitchell (1954-1986), assassinated.
• Semion Mogilevich (1946-Present), incarcerated while awaiting trial.
• Diego León Montoya Sánchez (1958-Present), incarcerated while awaiting trial.
• Giovanni Motisi (1959-Present), international fugitive since 1998.
• Gianni Nicchi (1981-Present), international fugitive since 2006.
• Khozh-Ahmed Noukhayev (1954-?), missing and presumed dead.
• Gilberto Rodríguez "The Chess Player" Orejuela (?-Present), serving thirty-year prison sentence.
• Raymond Patriarca, Jr. (1945-Present), retired as boss in 1991.
• Carmine "Junior" Persico (1933-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Santiago Luis Polanco Rodríguez (1961-Present), retired from crime in 1992.
• Mario Prestifilippo (1958-1987), assassinated.
• Bernardo "Bennie the Tractor" Provenzano (1933-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Vincenzo Puccio (1945-1989), assassinated.
• Domenico Raccuglia (1964-Present), international fugitive since 1996.
• Bosko "The Yugo" Radonjich (?-Present), deported to Serbia.
• Philip "Rusty" Rastelli (1918-1991), natural causes.
• Željko "Arkan" Ražnatović (1952-2000), assassinated.
• Rosario Riccobono (1929-1982), assassinated.
• Giovanni "Joe the Eagle" Riggi (1925-Present), serving twenty-year prison sentence.
• Salvatore "Toto" Riina (1930-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Nicolo Rizzuto (1924-Present), at large.
• Vito Rizzuto (1946-Present), serving eight-year prison sentence.
• José Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha (1947-1989), killed by law enforcement.
• Antonio Rotolo (1946-Present), serving thirteen-year prison sentence.
• "Cadillac" Frank Salemme (1933-Present), currently enrolled in the Witness Protection Program.
• Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno (1911-1992), natural causes in prison.
• Benedetto "The Hunter" Santapaola (1938-Present)
• Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo (1929-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Benedetto Spera (1934-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro (1938-1986), assassinated.
• John Stanfa (1940-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Omid Tahvili (1970-Present), international fugitive since 2007.
• Philip "Chicken Man" Testa (1924-1981), assassinated.
• Frank "Funzi" Tieri (1904-1981), natural causes.
• Joseph "Lead Pipe Joe" Todaro (1923-Present), at large.
• Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov (1949-Present), international fugitive since 2002.
• Robert Trimbole (1931-1987), natural causes.
• John "Peanuts" Tronolone (1910-1991), natural causes.
• Koose Muniswamy Veerappan (1952-2004), killed by law enforcement.
• Vincenzo Virga (?-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Giuseppa "Giusy" Vitale, currently enrolled in the Italian Witness Protection Program.
• Vito Vitale (1958-Present), serving life sentence in prison.
• Michele "The Madman" Zaza (1945-1994), natural causes.

See also

• List of mafiosi by city
• List of Italian-American mobsters
• List of fictional crime bosses

References