Corleone family

Early Corleone history

The Corleone crime family traces its roots to 1920, when Vito Corleone assassinated Little Italy's padrone, Don Fanucci, and took over Fanucci's territory along with fellow hoodlums Genco Abbandando, Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio. Shortly afterward, he founded the Genco Pura Olive Oil Company as a front for his criminal activities. Around 1925, Vito formally organized the family, with Genco as his consigliere and Pete and Sal as caporegimes. They became the most powerful crime family in New York after defeating Salvatore Maranzano during the Olive Oil War in the early 1930s. It was during this time that Vito's eldest son, Santino, made his reputation and eventually became a capo himself. Upon becoming successful, the family moved to a compound in Long Beach.

Killing the Turk

In 1945, drug baron Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo's narcotics business proposal that Don Vito Corleone declines, nearly destroys the family. Sollozzo, believing Vito's eldest son Sonny Corleone wanted to accept the deal, has his men gun down Don Vito outside his office. He survives and is hospitalized. Sonny takes over as acting boss of the Corleone family. After a second assassination attempt on Don Vito, Sonny has Bruno Tattaglia assassinated. The situation further escalates when Don Vito's youngest son, Michael, murders both Sollozzo and corrupt police Captain McCluskey during a meeting in the Bronx, forcing Michael to flee to Sicily. This triggers the Five Families War, which claims Sonny's life. The still-recuperating Don Vito makes peace with the other families, realizing that his true enemy is Emilio Barzini, who wanted to crush the Corleones to become the most powerful Mafia don in New York.

Las Vegas

After Don Vito's retirement, followed by his fatal heart attack, the family business is taken over by his youngest son, Michael. He orders the assassinations of Moe Greene, Carlo Rizzi and Sal Tessio (although not in that order), along with the dons of the four other families, for conspiring against the Corleones. Following this, Michael moves the family to Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Michael attempts to legitimize the Corleone business, but is pulled back into crime after a failed attempt on his life by Miami gangster and Corleone business partner, Hyman Roth, attempting to halt the takeover of Las Vegas. Roth is eventually murdered. Michael's older brother, Fredo, was ensnared by Roth to conspire against the Corleones. At their mother's funeral, Michael sanctions the assassination of his surviving older brother.

Legitimization

By 1979, the activities of the Corleone family were nearly completely legitimate. Michael Corleone sold their interests in all casinos and hotels and invested only in businesses unconnected to Mafia activities. The underboss of the Corleone's criminal enterprise, Joey Zasa, resentful of the reforms, aligned with aging kingpin Don Altobello, and together orchestrated an assassination attempt on Michael Corleone during a meeting in Atlantic City.

Vincent Corleone

When in 1980, Michael appointed his nephew and Sonny's illegitimate son, Vincent Mancini, to be his successor – the Don of the Corleone family – he allowed him to change his name to Vincent Corleone. In return for this, Michael ordered him to end his relationship with Michael's daughter (and Vincent's cousin) Mary. Vincent assured him that he would.

Under the guidance of Michael, Vincent undergoes a significant transformation, emerging as a more astute, patient individual, cognizant of his role as the new Don. Despite these changes, Vincent maintains a propensity for violence, as demonstrated in his initial actions as Don. With an implicit approval from Michael, he orchestrates the simultaneous elimination of Gilday, Keinszig, and Lucchesi. An unintended consequence of these actions is the death of Mary, who falls victim to a botched assassination attempt aimed at Michael. Vincent responds to this tragedy by swiftly executing Mosca, the assassin behind the attempt. Michael is left profoundly affected by the loss of his daughter. This event marks the beginning of Vincent's leadership as The Godfather.

Historical leadership

Boss (official and acting)

Underboss

Consigliere

The Bronx/Long Island faction

Brooklyn faction

Manhattan faction

Las Vegas faction

Miami faction

Known soldiers