Tribute to the boss, was in most cases a way of getting or keeping respect from the underlings. Most bosses were in their own right very wealthy from their own legitamite businesses and would have been better off not taking too much dirty money from their from their street people's scams. But then again what's the point of being in the mob if you have to earn all your money legit. Joe Profaci had extensive holdings in the olive oil and tomato sauce importing buisness but still demanded a heavey tax from his family and was much hated for it. Gaetano Luchese also had many legitamite businesses in the garment and trucking industries and is rumored to have taken little or no tribute from downstairs. It didn't seem to make much difference though since they both died of natural causes while still in office and not in jail.