In my opinion I think many people think the Gambino family was the most powerful and biggest due to the Gotti TV era. Its that time when all the books came out on the Gambino crime family and Gotti. Not to much mention of the Genovese family which leaves me to believe do to the popularity of Gotti people recognize the Gambino name more. Dont get me wrong Carlo Gambino was an amazing boss in my opinion and had a powerful family but I feel the Genovese family edge out the Gambino's. If the question was who was the most popular family then I would say Gambino.