So its 2023, and in todays day and age of the mob, if you were to say offer $50,000 to get a button do you think a button could be bought?

With websites, podcasts and everything, imagine how many guys who are mob enthusiasts would actually pay for one if it was offered. They would go through the entire making ceremony, be taken out for dinner with drinks and receive the total package. Then for the rest of their lives they can say they are a made guy and In my opinion its a no brainer if someone was willing to pay for it. You could have these take place in a city like Vegas which would even be more appealing to whomever was realistically able to afford it.

Maybe this could be a brand new racket for the mob, and its perfectly legal. You make 5 guys a week or even a month, thats $250,000 dollars minimum. This thing has the potential to bring in tens of millions per year and there is no risk of prison or getting fined over it.

Thoughts?

Its 2024.

You are right.

You may have stumbled on to a great idea for some sort of bachelor's weekend/scavenger hunt/experience type party where you have to do a job for a boss in Vegas and then get "made" there could be a market for that.

But you'd have to be certifiably nuts to want to pay $50,000 to a criminal enterprise to become putatively involved in that same criminal enterprise. Now the FBI knows your name even if they know you're made in name only, etc.

Plus if you're crazy enough to actually hand $50,000 over to known criminals aren't you just setting yourself up to have some guy show up and demand $1,000 a week just because they know you probably have it? Kind of reminds me of the two wannabes getting involved with Furio!

Theres plenty of dumb fucks out there that would pay it.

The mother of Joey D'Amico paid 50K for get the son inducted. So maybe in the DeCavalcantes and other families out NY or at worst in the Colombos.

And in this way the DeCavalcantes rebuilt the ranks.

See thank you Furio, thats a perfect example. There is a fucking profit to be made here if this was taken seriously.

But you're not really rebuilding the ranks if they're all just untested, paying customers who may or may not even be Italian.

The book was closed in 1957 for this reason and a Gambino capo was killed but I dont remember the name.

What does that book look like? Do you have your name written down in it once you are made? Do they really want a paper trail of names who are made members?

Books means the possibility to made new people.

You could use these new made guys as decoys to the real guys who do all the work. Throw off the feds with these new recruits using them to their full potential.

Come to Italy! There so many boys that are born dreaming of street life. For 80k you also sell the capitain position.

There are cases, but they do make earners, Colombos made four members that are earners that was kicking up a quarter million a year to the administration, so half a million to their capos who sent up a quart million a year, they have never done time or killed anyone. So yes they are paying for their buttons in that way, Bonannos under Joe Massino is anything good example, guys making huge money, never really tested getting made. Genovese also squeezed a guy in New Jersey for 500,000 k to a million and made him, and all he does is launder money for the bosses, however he did get caught and ended up doing half a decade with a plea deal and was finally tested, after a decade and a half. This was under Chins reign he was made. Those are some examples.

If i had so much disposable income that $50k meant nothing to me, sure, I would pay it.
Most likely only the capo who sponsored me would know I paid for it, or the boss if it was a deal with him. The street crews will have no idea I paid for it, they would most likely assume I was proposed for my earning.

But I will never look at $50k as disposable so it will be a no.

If you paid and everyone knew you paid I doubt you’d get the respect you were seeking by purchasing it in the first place

Agreed, that’s why I’m hoping only the person proposing me is in on it ???? who knows how that all really works, I’m sure someone has paid for their button before.

Frank Scalish and I’m Not sure but I Think Albert Anastasia were selling Memberships for 50.000 $ a piece in the 1950s

Apparently Jerry Angiulo bought his way in. I find it funny that people make fun of him for that yet neither Jerry or any of his other 6 or so brothers were rats or tried to cut any deals when the hammer came down. But you have guys who killed to get in flipping their asses off, you can't really judge off of that.

All the Anguilo’s were Tough Guys all got them Over 20 years and took all the HEAT in Boston from Rhode Island being that there was Always a Boston and Rhode Island Faction

Jerry was a moneynaker but was tired to be extorted by the inducted members so offered to Patriarca sr 100K a year (or 10k a month,don't well remmeber) and Ray sr inducted him.The other brothers was tought guys and feared killers.
He was arrested because the rat Bulger helped the feds to put the wire in Angiulo's office because was close to Jerry 'cause they was partners in some rackets.