Like many others, I used to think the Gambinos were #1. I had read all the same books on that family, of which there are many, while there isn't much on the Genovese. I've read many of the same claims back in the 70's and 80's about the Gambinos being the top family. And I think during that time frame, they certainly rivaled the Genovese in many ways. But once you start to dig deeper, you get a different picture. You see that Carlo Gambino being the top boss in his time didn't automatically make the Gambinos the strongest family. Just like Massino being the top boss for a time didn't make the Bonannos the strongest family. Likewise, you see that the Genovese were not suffering from a lack of leadership at all like many thought. They just couldn't identify who was leading the family for many years, which of course, was by design.

The Genovese have always had an edge since the beginning. From its early stages in the Morello gang to the Masseria family later on. To Luciano and Costello after that. Then onto guys like Funzi Tieri, Tony Salerno, and the Chin. They've always had the most competent leadership. They've always been said to be the richest family. Even when the Gambinos were slightly larger in size, the Genovese were always considered wealthier and more sophisticated. It's the Genovese that are called the "Ivy League or the Underworld" and "Rolls Royce of Organized Crime." Not the Gambinos. Or the Outfit.