I have been reading about Michael Franzese and I was thinking about who compared to him during or before his time in organized crime. Franzese had some very profitable businesses running that made him tens or maybe even hundreds of millions of dollars within a short amount of time. In particular the gas scam. What other wealthy gangsters were sitting at the table with Franzese during or before his time and was there anyone in the Colombo family who was?

Anthony Peraino controlled the porn industry for the Colombos and made milion thanks to porn movie like Deep Throat and The Devi in Ms Jones.

Gaspipe Casso ran the gas scam for the Luchese's. And there were a few guys making a killing in porn.

I just read up on him. I think you’re right. I know that you’re very knowledgeable on the Italian mafia, do you think Camorra men like Zaza, Nuvoletta and Bardellino were making more than any American mafiosi during this time?

Casso made a lot of money from it too. Franzese made the lion’s share because he was early on it but others like Casso still made a lot of money directly from the gas scam. I do not know much about the big mobsters involved in the porn business except for DB. The guy who Furio just mentioned seems to have been an even bigger player. I’m not sure how much money was being made or if they were making money like Franzese or not but I can do more research.

Speaking from mid 1970s to all 1980s I say yes,they had the cigarettes smuggling and drug trafficking also with the reconstruction after 1980 earthquake that only this made hundred milions dollars for the clans.

I think Franzese was making something like that. Maybe peraino too. But there were probably only a select few in America who were really making hundreds of millions like the mafiosi in Naples and Sicily during this time. The ndrangheta was not wealthy during this time.

Was watching a vladtv interview with michael the new one i guess first time ive ever heard him talk about allie boy jr. Said he was gis goomba and godfather to his first son. Makes me think he was holding alot back. Hes never mentioned him before in any book or interview. That was interesting.

Allie boy didn’t seem like he was as smart as Michael. Do you think Franzese could have ran the family effectively? I really believe that he had the makings of a great boss with his high business acumen. Much like Paul but I think he had respect from the street level gangsters also.

Was Sammy Gravano someone who was making money like Franzese?

Gravano said he was kicking up $2m a year to Gotti. Franzese said he was kicking up $2m a week to Persico. Now we don't know for sure if that's what Franzese was really making, but I'd say whatever it was, it was more than Gravano.

That’s a good point. Sammy and Casso always seemed so similar in terms of how they operated but Casso was more ruthless to a fault. I think they are more comparable to each other. Do you know of anyone who you think may have been making money like Franzese in America?