Paul Castellano

Lore & Background

Castellano was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, to Italian immigrant parents. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade, learned butchering and collecting numbers game receipts from his father, and was first arrested in 1934 for robbing a haberdasher. He refused to identify accomplices, enhancing his mob reputation. He married his childhood sweetheart in 1937 and had three sons and a daughter. He often signed his name as 'C. Paul Castellano' due to hating his first name.

Castellano joined the Mangano family in the 1940s and rose to caporegime under Carlo Gambino. He attended the Apalachin meeting in 1957, was arrested, and spent a year in prison for contempt. He identified as a businessman, converting illegal enterprises to legitimate ones, including Dial Poultry and concrete supply through the 'Concrete Club.' He allegedly ordered hits on Vito Borelli, Nicholas Scibetta, James Eppolito and his son, Frank Amato, and Roy DeMeo. He forged alliances with the Westies and the Cherry Hill Gambinos.

Castellano succeeded Gambino in 1976, against expectations, over underboss Aniello Dellacroce. The succession split the family into rival factions. He built a seventeen-room mansion on Staten Island resembling the White House, had an affair with his maid, and became a recluse. John Gotti, a protégé of Dellacroce, grew dissatisfied with Castellano's leadership, leading to Castellano's murder on December 16, 1985.

Reader's Guide

Paul Castellano's significance lies in his leadership of the Gambino crime family during a period of transition toward white-collar crime. His succession over the more traditional Dellacroce faction created internal strife that ultimately led to his assassination. Castellano's focus on legitimate businesses, such as poultry distribution and concrete supply, reflected a shift in organized crime toward infiltration of the construction industry. His alliances with the Westies and Cherry Hill Gambinos expanded the family's reach. However, his reclusive style and greed alienated key members like John Gotti, whose coup reshaped the Mafia in New York. Castellano's murder marked a turning point, highlighting the dangers of internal dissent and the volatility of mob leadership. His legacy is one of a boss who prioritized business over street credibility, a strategy that both elevated and doomed him.

Did You Know?

• Castellano often signed his name as 'C. Paul Castellano' because he hated his first name.
• He was no relation to actor Richard S. Castellano from The Godfather, despite claims by Richard's widow.
• Castellano's mansion on Staten Island was designed to resemble the White House.
• He allegedly ordered a hit on his daughter's boyfriend over a rumor comparing his appearance to Frank Perdue.