based on the information that's out there who had the stronger family (more dangerous guys, better earners, status and territory) and better leadership style (for the sake of this, focus on their peak)
And who had more personal abilities to earn aside from being boss.
(These were randomly put together and you can tackle which ever you'd like)
1.) Joe Bonanno vs Joe Massino
2.) Joe Profaci vs Joe Colombo
3.) Joe Zerilli(Detroit) vs Santo Trafficante
4.) Frank Costello vs Paul Castellano
5.) Al Capone vs John Gotti
6.) Charles Luciano vs Carlo Gambino
7.) Angelo Bruno vs Nicky Scarfo
8.,) Tommy Lucchese vs Tony Accardo
9.) Russell Bufalino vs Ray Patriarca
10.) Sam Decavalcante vs. Frank Balistrieri
1.Bonanno by far
2.Profaci by a lot
3.Trafficante
4.Costello, had all the big political connections. Both were bosses who had assassination attempts against them.
5.Capone, this isn't close. Capone's street reign was longer then Gotti's too.
6.Luciano but Gambino is one of the few close to him
7.Angelo Bruno
8.Tough one, can't easily decide. Lucchese has a 5 family named after him but Accardo was a boss for multiple decades and also was the head guy behind scenes at times too ala Benny Squint and Chin using a front boss. Accardo also supposedly only spent 1 night in Jail over the last 70 years of his life. Both set up their families for generations (both crime and actual personal families) but I would give the edge to Accardo. Honestly the Outfit has always been in the top 5 ever since the Castellamarese war ended (meaning throughout the last 90 years the Chicago Outfit has been more powerful/more lucrative then at least 1 five family at all times)
9.Bufalino for sure
10.Another tough one, both were dons of the second rate families. Maybe Balistrieri since Decavalcante said while being recorded at one point his borgata had only 45 buttonmen and not all were active.Also Balistrieri was involved with Vegas casinos which made them and the other midwest bosses tens and maybe hundreds of millions, probably Balistrieri.
