John Gotti

NAME John Joseph Gotti Jr.

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Gotti was the flamboyant and ruthless boss of the Gambino crime family, one of the most powerful Mafia organizations in the United States. He became infamous in the 1980s as the "Dapper Don" for his flashy style and "Teflon Don" for his ability to avoid conviction.

BIRTH John Joseph Gotti Jr. was born on October 27, 1940, in the South Bronx, New York. He was the fifth of 13 children born to Italian immigrant parents.

FAMILY BACKGROUND He was the fifth of 13 children born to John Joseph Gotti Sr. and Philomena "Fannie" DeCarlo, both children of Italian immigrants. His father was described as a day laborer and construction worker who "was a rolling stone; he never provided for the family" according to Gotti's later accounts to Sammy Gravano. The family lived in poverty in a "dirt-poor, poverty-ridden section of the South Bronx". Some of Gotti's 12 siblings died during childhood due to poor medical care. Four of his brothers - Peter, Gene, Vincent, and Richard - also chose lives of crime and became "made men" in organized crime. (1)

CHILDHOOD The Gotti family moved frequently during John's childhood. When he was 10 years old, they moved from the South Bronx to the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, and later to East New York, Brooklyn when he was 11. 

He was considered a bully and a constant discipline problem. Young "Johnny Boy" learned to use his fists at an early age and "had a quick temper and a burning anger as he looked on in disdain at those who had a better life". Instead of aspiring to legitimate careers, his goal was to become one of the wiseguys he saw on street corners. By age 12, he was running errands for local mobsters alongside his brothers. In 1954, at age 14, Gotti was injured during a robbery when a cement mixer fell on his toes, crushing them and leaving him with a distinctive gait for life. (2) 

EDUCATION Gotti demonstrated above-average intelligence but had little interest in academic.  His teachers considered him "a disturbing distraction" and "a class bully and a routine discipline problem". At 16, he dropped out of Franklin K. Lane High School permanently and became a full-time member of the Fulton-Rockaway Boys street gang. He had attended New York Military Academy in his youth according to some sources.

CAREER RECORD Gotti rose through the ranks of organized crime. Initially working as an enforcer, hijacker, and loan shark, he eventually became head of the Gambino family after orchestrating the murder of boss Paul Castellano in 1985. Under Gotti, the Gambino family became the most powerful crime syndicate in America.

APPEARANCE Gotti was medium height, solidly built, with sharp facial features and slicked-back hair. Considered good looking in his younger days, his physical appearance became gaunt and drastically changed during his final years in prison due to throat cancer. 

John Gotti being booked by the FBI New York offices on December 11, 1990

FASHION Gotti became known as the “Dapper Don” thanks to his extravagant taste in clothing. He spent thousands on made-to-measure suits, often paying between $1,800 and $5,000 apiece. His favorites were double-breasted Italian designs from Brioni, tailored with broad, rounded shoulders, cinched waists, and wide peak lapels. His wardrobe was just as lavish in detail — $400 hand-painted silk ties with bold, oversized patterns, dark dress shirts with long softened collars, and accessories that demanded attention. He often finished the look with heavy trench coats and low-brimmed fedoras that concealed his eyes. The style was more than vanity: it reflected the Southern Italian tradition of signaling wealth and power through striking clothing and flashy jewelry, like oversized rings. Even in death, Gotti’s family ensured that he was dressed in the finest garments, true to the persona that made him famous. (2)

CHARACTER Gotti’s personality was marked by sharp contrasts between how he presented himself in public and how he behaved in private. To the cameras, he came across as charming and approachable, but behind closed doors he was domineering, narcissistic, and quick-tempered. Former associate John Alite recalled that Gotti’s tough-guy bravado masked deep insecurity, noting, “he wasn’t well educated. He liked speaking like he was a tough guy. It was an insecurity thing with him.” 

He was known for refusing to conform to rules of any kind, challenging authority wherever he went. Sammy Gravano once observed that Gotti saw himself as a modern-day Robin Hood — admired, respected, and larger than life. Others remembered his striking self-confidence, with one associate remarking, “the first thing that struck me about Mr. Gotti was his self-assurance. He seemed very at ease with himself.” 

Psychologists later suggested his behavior fit the profile of antisocial personality disorder, with signs of conduct disorder evident from an early age.

SPEAKING VOICE Gotti’s voice carried the unmistakable sound of Brooklyn and Queens, shaped by his rough upbringing and lack of formal education. FBI wiretaps captured his blunt, profanity-laced speech, filled with street vernacular and tough-guy posturing.

Agents noted that unlike many mobsters who relied on code words or signals to avoid detection, Gotti and his associates often spoke openly and directly. This unguarded style — casual, confident, and laced with bravado — became a critical factor in the recordings that helped secure his conviction.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Gotti often displayed a brash sense of humor, sometimes making light of violent matters, reinforcing his reputation as both personable and dangerous. However, his humor appears to have often carried an edge of intimidation or sarcasm, fitting with his overall personality as someone who used charm as a tool of manipulation.

RELATIONSHIPS Gotti met Victoria DiGiorgio at a Brooklyn bar in 1958 when she was 16 and he was 18. They married in New York on March 6, 1962. They remained together for 40 years until his death in 2002 though the marriage endured significant strain due to Gotti's criminal lifestyle and frequent imprisonments.

Victoria already had one child from a previous relationship when they met. Together they had five children: Angel, Victoria, John Jr., Frank, and Peter. Tragically, their 12-year-old son Frank was killed in a motor vehicle accident in March 1980 when he was struck by neighbor John Favara while riding his motorbike. Favara disappeared four months later and was presumed murdered, though Gotti claimed no involvement. 

John A. Gotti initially followed in his father’s footsteps, reportedly stepping in as acting boss of the Gambino crime family after John Gotti Sr. was imprisoned in 1992. His mother is said to have threatened to leave her husband unless their son was allowed to walk away from the mob. By then, however, John Jr. was already entangled. He was indicted on racketeering charges in 1998 and the following year pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion, receiving a six-year, five-month prison sentence. In 2004, he faced another racketeering indictment that included an alleged plot to kidnap Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. But after three juries failed to reach a verdict, prosecutors declined to pursue a fourth trial.

John A Gotti in an FBI surveillance photograph

Victoria Gotti, by contrast, pursued a public career in media. She worked as a columnist for the New York Post, an executive editor for Star magazine, and an on-air correspondent for Extra!. She later became a reality TV personality, starring in Growing Up Gotti alongside her three sons, and making guest appearances on shows such as The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Mob Wives. 

As a writer, she has published several novels as well as a memoir, This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti. She also co-wrote and narrated the documentary Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter, which offered a personal view of life inside the Gotti household.

MONEY AND FAME At the height of his power, John Gotti’s fortune was estimated at around $30 million, with law enforcement believing he pulled in anywhere from $5 million to $20 million annually as head of the Gambino family. The organization itself generated an estimated $500 million a year, with Gotti and his underboss Sammy Gravano typically pocketing about $5 million each, and as much as $10–15 million in peak years. 

Unlike traditional mob bosses who shunned the spotlight, Gotti reveled in his notoriety, becoming New York’s most recognizable crime figure and cultivating the image of a celebrity gangster. He flaunted his wealth, unbothered by losing a quarter of a million dollars in a single dice game, and surrounded himself with the trappings of luxury. His high-profile lifestyle, coupled with his ability to beat early criminal charges, won him nationwide fame — and to many supporters, his courtroom battles came to symbolize defiance against “big government.”

FOOD AND DRINK Gotti had a taste for luxury when it came to food and drink. He was known to savor fine dining and top-shelf liquor, even indulging in rare brandy that cost as much as $1,000 a bottle. Though one account claimed he enjoyed meals at the down-to-earth chain Cracker Barrel — favoring chicken and biscuits — this sat oddly with his otherwise extravagant lifestyle. More often, he was spotted in elegant restaurants, sometimes dining alongside celebrities. His Italian heritage shaped much of his palate, and at home, the family’s Brooklyn Italian-American dialect colored the way they spoke about food: “capicola” became gabagool, and “mozzarella” was shortened to mutzadel. (3)

MUSIC AND ARTS Gotti’s musical tastes were surprisingly sentimental. Wiretaps and accounts from associates revealed that he favored songs like “Cara Mia” by Jay and the Americans and “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler. He even went so far as to hire Jay and the Americans to perform at one of his parties. His love of music also reflected his Italian heritage, with a fondness for traditional Italian songs and culture. Beyond his personal preferences, Gotti’s larger-than-life image inspired musicians as well — the band Fun Lovin’ Criminals referenced him in their track “King of New York”, which highlighted both his imprisonment and the way wannabe gangsters tried to emulate his style, while members of his community continued to defend his name. 

LITERATURE  Carlo Gambino, head of the Gambino crime family, introduced Gotti to Machiavelli’s 16th-century treatise on power, leadership, and political strategy, The Prince.

NATURE Gotti spent time at the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club, though this was primarily a social club and criminal headquarters rather than reflecting genuine hunting or fishing interests. His world was urban New York streets, clubs, and courtrooms.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Gotti’s social life revolved largely around the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club, where he spent time with associates and indulged in his love of gambling. He was famously unconcerned about high-stakes losses, reportedly shrugging off dice games where he could lose as much as $250,000. He also enjoyed horse racing, betting, and the nightlife, blending high-stakes entertainment with family-centered leisure. 

Image by Perplexity

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Raised Catholic, though Gotti's devotion was mixed with a life of crime. He believed in loyalty and a twisted sense of honor within the Mafia code.

POLITICS Gotti’s political outlook was shaped largely by his contentious relationship with federal authorities. He harbored a deep disdain for the U.S. government, exemplified during the Gulf War when he reportedly rooted for Iraq to win, regardless of American casualties, a stance that horrified his underboss Sammy Gravano, who remarked, “We hate the Government. But what do these kids got to do with it? I mean, like it or not, we belong to this country.” This anti-government sentiment ultimately influenced Gravano’s decision to testify against him. (4)

Gotti’s earlier draft evasion in 1963, ignoring his induction notice on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, also highlighted his anti-establishment streak. Yet, his relationship with American identity was complicated: he hosted annual Fourth of July fireworks in his neighborhood, demonstrating a uniquely personal form of patriotism.

CRIME BOSS John Gotti Sr. managed to achieve something of a peculiar distinction: he became one of the most notorious Mafia bosses in American history while also being, for want of a better term, oddly charismatic. As head of the Gambino crime family—the largest and most powerful organized crime syndicate in New York—he combined street smarts with a flair for the dramatic.

Gotti’s career began humbly, as one might expect, at the street level, running with local gangs and learning the ropes under the tutelage of Aniello Dellacroce. By the late 1970s, after a stint in prison that did little to dampen his ambition, he had worked his way up to caporegime of the Bergin crew. From there, he and his associates became reliable earners for the Gambinos, dabbling in everything from gambling and loansharking to, inevitably, narcotics.

Tensions simmered with boss Paul Castellano, who had the misfortune of being more of a corporate type than a streetwise tough guy. Fearing that Castellano might take action over drug-related allegations, Gotti orchestrated what could only be called a dramatic career move: the assassination of Castellano in December 1985. Within weeks, a meeting of twenty capos in January 1986 anointed Gotti as the new boss, and the Gambino family had a new, unmistakably colorful leader.

As boss, Gotti was impossible to ignore. He cultivated a flashy public image, earning the nickname “Dapper Don”, and seemed to enjoy every camera that captured his smiling, impeccably dressed self. He also earned the moniker “Teflon Don” after dodging multiple charges in the 1980s—though later investigations revealed that jury tampering played no small part in his courtroom victories. Under his rule, the Gambino family reportedly raked in $500 million annually, and Gotti extended his influence even into other Mafia families.

Of course, all this grandeur could not last forever. The cracks began to show when his underboss, Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, decided that cooperating with the government was a preferable career move. In 1992, Gotti was finally convicted on multiple counts, including murder, racketeering, and conspiracy, and sentenced to life in prison. He died in 2002, but his era endures in popular imagination as the flamboyant, last gasp of the classic New York Mafia boss—part criminal mastermind, part celebrity, and entirely unforgettable.

SCANDAL Beyond his criminal convictions, Gotti was involved in numerous scandals. The most significant was the disappearance of John Favara, the neighbor who accidentally killed Gotti's son Frank in 1980. Favara vanished four months after the accident while the Gotti family was vacationing in Florida. Victoria Gotti had attacked Favara with a baseball bat after the accident, "went crazy" and "began banging the bat against [his] car". Gotti was later publicly accused in 2001 of being involved in Favara's death, though never formally charged. (5)

Another scandal involved the discovery of FBI bugs in his headquarters, which captured him making disparaging remarks about associates and admitting to ordering murders. 

His flamboyant lifestyle and media attention also created controversy within traditional Mafia circles, as other families resented his high profile.

MILITARY RECORD John Gotti was a draft evader. In 1963, at age 23, he ignored his induction notice from the local draft board, becoming delinquent on November 22, 1963 - the same day President Kennedy was assassinated. When questioned by the FBI in 1966, "Gotti advised he did not realize he was delinquent with his draft board in as much as he is married and has two children. He further advised he felt because of this and the fact he has been previously arrested he was not eligible for the Armed Forces". Gotti claimed he was willing to serve but never did. By May 1966, he was in prison rather than military service. His avoidance of military service contrasted with some other mobsters who served with distinction. (6)

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Gotti maintained his physical appearance and health during his active years as a crime boss. However, his health declined dramatically in prison. In 1998, he was diagnosed with throat cancer after complaining of a sore throat for three months before receiving proper medical attention. He underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his neck. The cancer returned and spread aggressively, with "tests by prison doctors showed that the cancer was spreading". By 2001, Gotti was "in the advanced stages of throat cancer" and was being treated in intensive care. His final years were marked by significant physical deterioration, with "cancer resulted in lesions on his tongue, neck and cheeks". The last photograph showed him as "gaunt, nearly bald" and "looking much older than his 61 years". (7)

The last photo of John Gotti, age 60, taken by the Bureau of Prisons

HOMES Gotti’s main residence was a relatively modest home at 160-11 85th Street in Howard Beach, Queens, where he lived until his arrest in 1990. Contrary to popular myth, he did not reside in a sprawling mansion—the large Old Westbury estate often linked to him was actually built in 1996 by his daughter Victoria and her ex-husband Carmine Agnello, four years after Gotti had already gone to prison. 

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, reporters and camera crews frequently camped outside the Howard Beach house, waiting for the mob boss to step out to his car. The family’s later home retained touches of history and personal flair, including the original stone-slab floor laid over a century earlier and a space known as “The Indian Room”, where Gotti Sr. would spend his Sundays whenever he visited.

TRAVEL Gotti’s movements were largely confined to the New York metropolitan area, a consequence of both his criminal enterprises and, later, his imprisonment. Among his few notable excursions were family vacations to Florida, including the infamous trip during which his neighbor John Favara disappeared. 

After his 1992 conviction, travel was strictly limited to transfers between federal facilities, first to Marion Federal Penitentiary in Illinois, and later to the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, for treatment of cancer.

DEATH John Gotti died on June 10, 2002, at 12:45 p.m. at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. He was 61 years old and died from complications of throat cancer. Gotti had been battling cancer since 1998 and had been transferred to the prison hospital in January 2002 as his condition worsened. He had served 10 years of his life sentence. The cause of death was officially listed as throat cancer, which had "returned and was spreading aggressively". His death marked the end of what many considered the last of the old-school American Mafia bosses.

John Gotti’s funeral took place in June 2002 at a funeral home in Queens, as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn denied his family permission to hold a funeral Mass due to his criminal activities. A memorial Mass was permitted after his burial instead.

His funeral procession included a long cortege that passed significant haunts from his life, including his Bergin Hunt and Fish Club in Queens. Hundreds of mourners—along with an estimated 300 vehicles—followed the procession. However, representatives from other New York Mafia families were notably absent, marking an apparent repudiation of Gotti’s leadership.

Gotti was buried in the family mausoleum inside St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, next to his son Frank, who had died in a tragic accident as a child. St. John’s serves as the final resting place for numerous famous figures from organized crime, including Carlo Gambino and Charles “Lucky” Luciano

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA John Gotti has been a perennial figure in documentaries, films, and television, his life and crimes captivating audiences for decades. He has been featured in documentaries such as American Justice: Target – Mafia (1993), Inside the Mafia (2005), The Real Sopranos (2006), and Mugshots: John Gotti – End of the Sicilians (2013), while archival footage of him appeared in films like The Central Park Five (2012) and Where’s My Roy Cohn? (2019).

His story has also been dramatized on the big screen. In the 2018 biographical film Gotti, John Travolta portrayed the mob boss—a role the Gotti family personally requested him to play. Earlier, Armand Assante took on the role in Gotti (1996). 

Beyond traditional media, Gotti’s notoriety has crossed into popular culture; rappers like Lil Wayne have referenced him, drawing parallels to their own challenging backgrounds and “hustler” lifestyles. 

More recently, Netflix’s documentary series Get Gotti provided an in-depth look at his rise and fall. Through countless true crime specials, documentaries, and dramatizations, Gotti has become one of the most documented and enduring figures in organized crime history.

ACHIEVEMENTS Rose from poverty to head of the Gambino crime family.

Became a household name as the most famous Mafia boss of the late 20th century.

Earned the nickname “Teflon Don” after multiple high-profile acquittals before his final conviction.

Source (1) Crime Library (2) Peter Panos (3) The International Wine and Food Society (4) Grunge (5) People (6) CBS News (7) ABC News (8) Oddstops