Al Capone was one of the most famous American gangsters who rose to infamy as the leader of the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era. Before being sent to Alcatraz Prison in 1934 for a tax evasion conviction, he had amassed a personal fortune estimated at $100 million as the head of the infamous crime syndicate. Al Capone, also known as “Scarface,” rose to infamy as the leader of the Chicago Outfit, an organized crime syndicate during the Prohibition era.
Al Capone Early Life
Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 17, 1899. Many New York gangsters in the early 20th Century came from impoverished backgrounds, but this was not the case for Capone. Capone was from a respectable, professional family. His father, Gabriele, was one of the thousands of Italians who arrived in New York in 1894.
He was 30 years old, educated, and from Naples, where he had earned a living as a barber. His wife Teresa was pregnant and already bringing up two sons: two-year-old son Vincenzo and infant son Raffaele.
He was raised in a rough neighborhood and became involved in crime at a young age. At the age of 14, he left school and joined the Five Points Gang. After relocating to Chicago in his early 20s, Capone became a bouncer and bodyguard for notorious mob boss Johnny Torrio.
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Al Capone Professional Life
Growing up in New York City, Capone was active in the Five Points gang, a criminal enterprise of mostly younger Italian-Americans in Manhattan that also graduated such well-known mobsters as Charlie “Lucky” Luciano and Johnny Torrio. It was in New York that Capone suffered a facial wound in a fight at a brothel, earning him the nickname “Scarface.”
From 1925 through 1929, Capone was the most-visible mobster in America. Capone worked with local media and friendly politicians to cultivate an image of a businessman concerned with the welfare of his fellow Chicagoans. But Capone’s tenure was also a period of rising rivalries with other Chicago gangsters, conflicts that frequently turned violent.
Capone essentially retired from the Mob after his imprisonment in 1931, but the Outfit he had built up through bootlegging and other rackets went on without him under the leadership of Capone disciples such as Frank Nitti, Paul Ricca, Tony Accardo, and Sam Giancana.
Al Capone Personal Life
Albert Francis Capone was the only child of Capone and Mae Coughlin. But throughout his life, Capone was known to have had several extramarital affairs. He was an extravagant spender who delighted in leading a life of luxury, owning a number of pricey vehicles and real estate.
| Full Name | Alphonse Gabriel Capone |
| Date of Birth | January 17, 1899 |
| Parents | Italian Immigrant |
| Siblings | 8 siblings, including James Vincenzo Capone, Ralph Capone, and Frank Capone |
| Spouse and Children | Mae Coughlin and one son(Albert Francis Capone). |
Al Capone Quotes
- “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me.”
- “Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.”
- “You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun.”
Al Capone Net Worth and Salary
As the leader of a criminal empire, Capone received a large salary. He was reported to make about $100,000 every week from his different illegal pursuits. It encompassed prostitution, racketeering, prostitution, gambling, running brothels, and extortion.
| Net Worth | Nearly $100 million in 1927 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Gangster, bootlegger, racketeer, boss of Chicago Outfit |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Years Active | The 1920s to 1930s. Mostly from 1925 to 1930 |
Illness and Death
In his early 20s, Capone received a sexually transmitted disease diagnosis: syphilis. He never had treatment for it, and for the remainder of his life, he struggled with its crippling effects. At the age of 48, he passed away from cardiac arrest on January 25, 1947. He was in poor health and experiencing complications from syphilis at the time of his death.
Facts
- Capone was in a street gang as a child.
- He hated his famous nickname.
- He was among the earliest federal prisoners at Alcatraz.
