Despite their rapacious appetites for ill-gotten gains as well as for destruction, every Mafiosi (or their associates) have, to some degree, unique personalities. Paul Castellano's personality required that he live in a mansion on Staten Island. He probably did so in order to serve his need to represent himself as above it all. He knew that such a lavish abode would attract the attention of the Feds. However, as head of the Gambino family, he probably figured that he was (and he was) already very much in the Feds crosshairs. As some Board members have posted, Michael may have lived lavishly in Nevada and New York for the same reason.

Roth's personality trait didn't require any separation from the street people. He felt secure with who and what he was. If he was going to unseat Michael in the underworld hierarchy, then he would do it with guile. Maybe he too did not want to attract the attention of the Feds, but he certainly realized that he was on the Feds radar anyway, but lavish living didn't appeal to him.