Who was the most valuable member of the mafia if we go from era to era? Who were the guys that the mafia could not have succeeded financially or politically without? Some would say Lansky or Costello during their time. Gambino is another one, Catena and Franzese were all tremendously wealthy and were some of the most valuable members to the mafia because of their ability to generate so much money and they were able to make important connections in high places.

Interesting idea I would love to see some of the knowledgeable posters get involved and do a top 5 MVP list for each decade with little description why like a sports article!

I don’t think there was ever one guy the mob couldn’t have survived without though!

I think in each family there are really only a select amount of people who really made big time money. Without those guys I wonder how they would adapt.

20's Luciano
30's Costello
40's Lansky
50's Franzese
60's Gambino
70's Gigante
80's Gotti
90's Gigante
00's Ligambi
10's Merlino
When you look at how Pro sports leagues pick MVPs like players winning teams being picked coupled with time they could have been given in decades and what they did for respective familes id say that's a fair list

Great picks

Thanks if you go by what they did for family Massino would be in the talks but the fact he was first real boss to flip I feel like thats equal to a PED bust it would disqualify him from being mentioned in any of these decades.

Thanks if you go by what they did for family Massino would be in the talks but the fact he was first real boss to flip I feel like thats equal to a PED bust it would disqualify him from being mentioned in any of these decades.

Great contribution. Why did you pick Sonny Franzese for the 1950s?

He got arrested ealry 60s and moved up alot and got away with alot in 50s I considered thier advancements during respective decades as well

And if the feds had to play dirty on the bs bank robbery charge he must have really been doing something and getting away with it

10's, merlino??? Please explain

Evweyome swore philly would break out in war, they didn't, was rolling around in private jets, rolls royces and basically bled the stein dude out enough to be able to post a 5 mil bail. Then the "biggest bust" ever happens it comes out he was making big money with westside thru medical shit and fake cream and the rat was someone westside introduced to him. Imagine if I told u that was gonna happen 10 years ago everyone would laugh me off the site. Add all that to the fact fed were after him like he was gotti or capone and from 12 on and got a year and some change beinf the marquee name in so called biggest bust ever. And being head of major family thats growing and been thru what they have while living it up in Boca shit he may not deserve all credit but had I told u all this would play out like that in 90s would anyone believe it? No fucking way Give the credit to Uncle Joe or Mazzone if you wish but he took the lead in a solid tight crew and chose Uncle Joe to watch over everything which did wonders for the family. Ive mentioned this before but I started believing Sonny ( Chuckie Merlino) was running the family from behind bars thru him and Uncle Joe but thats pure speculation and may be 100 wrong

My pick would be mazzone, when ligambi was on trial he kept the family together, he kept the scarfo faction at bay, and he allowed merlino the luxury to stay in florida because he didn't have to worry about Philly. In my book, magazine is MVP for 10's

Mazzone

30s-60s i'd put Paul Ricca
He and Accardo (and Nitti I suppose) came up with a variety of money making schemes when they took controll and they had to find a substitute for bootlegging
They took over Hollywood and the music business

Not a boss but Johnny Dioguardi was incredibly valuable. He was a Lucchese but close to other families and he was the go-to guy for labor problems. In Joe Valachi's testimony he talks about how anytime he had problems with workers he would have Johnny Dio handle it. He was also close to and instrumental in getting Jimmy Hoffa to be president of the Teamsters.

Yea ima an east coast guy and tho ive read about Ricca and Accardo my knowledge of midwest is lacking compared to east coast families espicially NY and Philly

Paul Ricca & Tony Accardo were most important figures for Outfit, they brought whole Outfit on higher level.

What about Lombardozzi? Head of the Wall Street rackets and earned a lot of money. Anthony Scotto would be another one.