Who could’ve been the real life Michael Corleone?

In godfather 3, we see that Michael Corleone is now accepted as a legitimate businessman and he has successfully legitimized his business. He is immensely wealthy. I have always said that this was probably the goal of the early godfathers(Luciano, Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese etc.). But we never really saw a boss successfully do it to the extent of Michael. Who do you think could have made the successful transition and became a business magnate like Michael in Godfather 3?

I always thought Roy Demeo could have ran a string of ligitimate car dealerships if he did not Turn Flatlands into a Human Chop Shop.

Also Wild Bill was a very good Teamster Business Agent and V.P., if he stayed out of the Street and remained only in Business levels playing Politics instead of taking up loyalties and being a Stand up Guy. He could have raised up well, rather than stand up and be put down for being such a threat to the Weak.

Barney Bellomo has been pretty successful at it making sure his blood family went legitimate and successful while widely believed to still be the boss of his other 'family'. He has made a lot of his fortune from real estate and his kids all have successful legitimate jobs. If he wanted to go strictly legitimate he would still be well off.

Never knew that about DeMeo. I knew he was a good earner but I never knew how exactly.

I don’t doubt it. I feel like if Costello, Luciano, Gambino and Lucchese all kept going then I think they could’ve been like Michael in 3 as far as power, influence and wealth.

Luciano not so much, look what he did after he was deported. He helps set up the heroin pipeline. But Costello on the other hand, any other boss would've had a full out war after an attempt on their life. If Anastasia would've survived, the blood bath that would've followed would probably be similar to the godfather. I believe Costello wanted to go legit more than any of them, but just couldn't shrug off his past. Look at Moe Dalitz, he did it right. In my mind he did what many sought out to do. The Italians didn't stand a chance. After Appalachian, no italian gangster was going legit if they had a past. I often wonder what would've become of Siegel of he wasn't killed. I don't think he had the brains like Dalitz.

Also, Demeo was on the board of directors at a credit union. He's noted for all of the murder but the guy was one of the biggest earners the Gambino's had.

Good point about Luciano but in his defense, by the time he was deported he may have lost the motivation to go legit. I think Gambino could have, and I think Castellano was going in that direction which is why Gambino chose him.

Michael had a fortune in Godfather 3 and he was giving away a fraction of it just because he could. The big thing, is that Michael eliminated his competition. If a single boss did that then maybe they would have gone down the same path.

Since Dalitz was in Vegas, I wonder if the mob pulled his strings