Vito Genovese

Born November 21, 1897, in Italy, Vito Genovese was a good friend of “Lucky” Luciano. After He took control of Lucky’s Family the authorities renamed is the Genovese Family which is still around today. For a small-time Vito was known as the Boss of all Bosses from 1957–1959 during the peek of the Genovese Family’s wealth and power.

During the 1946 Havana conference that was arranged by Lansky, Vito and Luciano had a meeting and Vito wanted to become the Boss of Bosses and run the Luciano family. He was qualified but never trusted by Luciano, unlike Costello. Costello was trusted by Luciano and became the acting head of the family, keeping Genovese as Caporegime. When Luciano moved to Italy and was arrested Costello was the acting head of the Family. Once he was acting head Costello appointed Vito as the underboss of the family.

“Whacks”. Whacks are key to power struggles. Whacks are essentially killing someone to humiliate the family. Assassinations are key to help people rise up to power. In 1957 Vito arranged for Vincent Gigante to attempt to kill Costello only making him retire and letting Vito rise to power and make the Luciano Family become the Genovese Family. Then, Vito and Gambino arranged for the hit on Albert Anastasia to let Gambino assume control and turn the Anastasia Family into the Gambino Family. This was successful and now the Gambino and Genovese Family are the two most powerful families in the New York Five Families.

Vito was arrested in 1957 after the alleged Costa Nostra meeting. He was charged with Drug Trafficking. He was 10 years into a 15-year prison sentence when he died of a heart attack in 1969.