Quick question and then you can lend your opinion and insight on this question.

What is it that mob guys really aspire to be in the end? It always seems that they start out in illegal rackets but once they establish themselves and get some good $$$, they invest it and go legit pretty much in the business world. If you look at their lives later in life they all retire and live off income brought in by their legitimate business or businesses. Real Estate, restaurants, construction or a trucking logistics (freight) company are good examples.

So basically since many didn't have formal educations and grew up poor, well they used their criminal skills to eventually make something of themselves and not have to live a life of crime anymore to be successful. This would explain why they support and push their kids and grandchildren so hard about getting a good education because they didn't have the same opportunities growing up to "make it." Due to that they had to do things the hard way instead to become who they are and build a career. In my opinion many of the guys probably would have gone legit and never became involved in the mob to begin with if things were different way back when early in their lives. Imagine for a second if Tony Accardo never ran the Chicago mob since he instead was born into an affluent family?

Your thoughts?