Castellano was a popular American crime boss known as ‘Howard Hughes of the Mafia’ and ‘Big Paulie’. Paul Castellano succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family. On December 16, 1985, Castellano was assassinated, on the orders of John Gotti, who would later become president.

PAUL CASTELLANO: EARLY CHILDHOOD, EDUCATION, FAMILY

Castellano was born in Brooklyn on June 26, 1915 to Giuseppe Castellano and Concetta, Italian immigrants. Giuseppe was a butcher and an early member of the Mangano crime family, the predecessor of the Gambino family. Likewise, in eighth grade, Castellano dropped out of school to learn to butcher and collect a number of gambling receipts, both from his friend. Additionally, Castellano was first captured in Hartford, Connecticut, in July 1934 for the theft of a chopper. Castellano, 19, refused to identify his two accomplices to police and served a three-month prison sentence. Castellano bolstered his reputation for gang allegiance by refusing to cooperate with authorities.

Castellano’s sister Catherine had married one of their brothers, Carlo Gambino, a future Mafia boss, in 1926. Castellano married his childhood sweetheart Nina Manno in 1937; the couple had three children, Paul, Philip and Joseph Castellano, as well as a daughter, Constance Castellano; Manno would later die in 1999. His nephew was godfather actor Richard S. Castellano. Castellano often signed his name as “C. Paul Castellano” because he hated Constantino, his first name. Eventually he was famous as “Big Paul”. Castellano was popular as a tall, imposing figure with 1.87 meters in height and 122 kg.

PAUL CASTELLANO: CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Castellano was a member of the Mangano family in the 1940s. Under boss Vince Mangano’s successor, Albert Anastasia, he became a capo. Likewise, in 1957, Castellano attended the abortive Apalachin reunion in Apalachin, New York, after Anastasia’s homicide and Carlo Gambino’s promotion to President. New York State Police charged Castellano as one of 61 high-ranking mobsters in the conference raid. Castellano considered himself more of a businessman than a hoodlum; he took over illegal businesses and turned them into legitimate ones. But Castellano’s businesses and those of his parents flourished from their ties to the mob.

In his early years, Castellano used his butcher’s expertise to start Dial Poultry, a poultry distribution business that once supplied 300 butchers throughout New York City. Dial’s customers also included the Main Food and Waldbaum supermarket chains. Castellano used intimidation methods to coerce his customers into buying Dial’s products. When Castellano became more influential within the Gambino family, he began making money in construction concrete. Castellano’s son, Philip, was the founder of Scara-Mix Concrete Company, which held a virtual monopoly on construction concrete on Staten Island. Within the “Concrete Group”, a group of contractors chosen by the Commission to manage contracts between $2 million and $15 million, Castellano also managed Gambino interests. The contractors, in return, granted the Commission a commission of two per cent on the value of the contract.

PAUL CASTELLANO: PERSONAL LIFE AND WIFE

Mafia married Nino Manno in 1937. The couple were together until 1985. No further information regarding their married life is available.

PAUL CASTELLANO: WEALTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA

At the height of his power in the early 80s, the American mob boss had a net worth of around $20 million, which is equivalent to around $50 million today.

PAUL CASTELLANO: MORT

Bilotti took Castellano to the scheduled early evening meeting at the Sparks Steak House in Midtown Manhattan on East 46th Street near Third Avenue on Monday, December 16, 1985. Likewise, a batting team was waiting near the restaurant entrance; backup shooters Dominick Pizzonia, Angelo Ruggiero and Anthony Rampino were positioned in the street. Gotti watched the scene in front of a car.

The gunmen charged and shot him repeatedly as Castellano left the car in front of the restaurant around 5:26 p.m. EST. The suspected shooter who shot Castellano in the head was John Carneglia. Bilotti was shot as he opened the driver’s door; Gotti flew out to view the bodies before fleeing the scene of the murder.