At his peak in the early 1980s, American mafia boss Paul Castellano was worth $20 million. About $50 million today. In June 1915, Brooklyn native Paul Castellano died in December 1985. “Big Paulie” and “Howard Hughes of the Mob” were his nicknames. He led the New York Gambino crime family after Carlo Gambino. John Gotti killed him in 1985.
New York City construction tycoon Paul Castellano sold bulk beef. He was portrayed by Richard C. Sarafian in the 1996 HBO movie “Gotti,” Abe Vigoda in the 1998 NBC TV movie “Witness to the Mob,” Sam Coppola in “The Big Heist,” and Chazz Palminteri in “Boss of Bosses” on TNT. The Godfather starred his nephew Richard S. Castellano. Multiple gunshot wounds killed 70-year-old Paul Castellano on December 16, 1985.
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What was Paul Castellano’s Net Worth?
| Net Worth: | $20 Million |
| Date of Birth: | Jun 26, 1915 – Dec 16, 1985 (70 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Profession: | Crime boss |
Paul Castellano’s Wealth
In the early 1980s, Paul Castellano was valued at least $20 million. Inflation-adjusted, that’s $50 million. Sammy “The Bull” Gravano later wrote that mob bosses like Paul and John Gotti earned $10-15 million every year.
Castellano built The White House, a lavish 17-room Staten Island mansion, for over a million dollars in 1981. Olympic-sized pool, English garden, and Carrara marble throughout the property. Castellano increased his capos’ cuts from 10% to 15% to fund his lavish lifestyle. Paul’s lavish mansion and the increase in monthly tribute sowed the seeds of his assassination at a time when many of his capos were struggling.
What Was the Net Worth of Paul Castellano at the Time of His Death?
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— The Shahab (@TheShahab4) November 16, 2022
Paul Castellano’s Early Life
Castellano was born in Brooklyn on June 26, 1915. His Italian-immigrant parents were Giuseppe and Concetta Castellano. Giuseppe was a Mangano, afterward Gambino, butcher. Castellano quit eighth grade to become a butcher. He was arrested in 1934 for robbing a haberdasher. Three months in prison boosted his mob credibility.
Boss of Bosses
In 1932, Castellano’s sister Catherine married cousin, Carlo Gambino. Gambino and Castellano joined the Mangano crime family in the 1940s. Castellano capoed under Albert Anastasia. Gambino, Castellano’s brother-in-law, became boss after Anastasia’s death.
Castellano attended the historic 1957 Apalachin mob conference in New York. Castellano was arrested after police invaded the gathering. He served a year for contempt. He received a five-year sentence for conspiring to hide information in January 1960. In November 1960, an Appeals Court upheld his conviction.
Castellano spent his career building legal firms. His mob connections improved many of his enterprises. Castellano founded Dial Poultry, which supplied 300 New York City butchers, in his early career.
He worked in construction concrete too. He managed the Gambino family’s stake in the “Concrete Club,” a club of contractors chosen by The Commission, the Italian-American mafia’s governing body, to handle large construction contracts. The selected contractors would provide the Commission with a 2% kickback.
After choosing Castellano over Aniello Dellacroce, Carlo Gambino died in October 1976. Castellano and Dellacroce supporters split the Gambino family. Castellano killed more Gambino associates and capos in the following years, further splitting the family.
Castellano struck a deal with Manhattan’s Irish-American Westies gang in 1978. The Gambino family gained access to outside hitmen, while the Westies demanded protection from other Italian mafia organizations.
Castellano built a luxurious 17-room Staten Island estate while he was powerful. It’s English lawn and Carrara marble resembled the White House. Castellano became a hermit after finishing the residence. Instead, family capos visited the home to give and take commands.
Castellano has been in several movies and TV shows due to the Gambino crime family’s prominence in mafia history. “Gotti” starred Richard C. Sarafian. “Witness to the Mob,” “The Big Heist,” and “Boss of Bosses” portrayed him on television. “Gotti,” a 2018 biopic starring Donald John Volpenhein, and “Fear City: New York against The Mafia,” a 2020 Netflix documentary, included him.
Paul Castellano’s Personal Life
Castellano married Nina Manno—his childhood sweetheart—in 1937. They have three sons and one daughter. Gloria Olarte, his Colombian maid, was his mistress.
