PAUL CASTELLANO, known to everyone as “Big Paulie,” served as boss of New York’s Gambino crime family from 1976 to 1985. The most powerful mob figure in his day, Castellano held the title of “Boss of Bosses,” serving as the Godfather of the powerful Five Families that controlled organized crime in New York and much of the rest of the country. If the name “Big Paulie” sounds familiar, it’s probably because he was prominently featured in the movie Goodfellas.

Big Paulie had a reputation for being more of a businessman than a hoodlum, succeeding in transforming many illicit mob enterprises into legitimate businesses. This ambition and keen sense of industry earned him the nickname “The Howard Hughes of the Mob.”

He is shown here for his 1984 arrest for murder, racketeering, extortion, narcotics trafficking, theft, and prostitution at age 69, charges which he would never see trial for. While out on bail, he was assassinated in a brazen hit under the orders of John Gotti, who usurped Castellano’s role as boss of the Gambino crime family.