Michael Franzese is a former mobster who once served as a caporegime (captain) in the notorious Colombo crime family in New York City. The son of the infamous crime lord John ‘Sonny’ Franzese, Sr., Michael was exposed to organized crime early on and quickly rose through the ranks. At the height of his criminal career, especially while running his imprisoned father’s rackets in the 1980s, Franzese reportedly earned up to eight million dollars a week from both legitimate and illegal ventures. He later renounced his life of crime, becoming a devoted Christian, author, and motivational speaker. He also established the ‘Breaking Out Foundation’ to guide young people away from crime and addiction.
Childhood, Family, and Initiation into Crime
Born on May 27, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Franzese is the son of Cristina Capobianco-Franzese and John ‘Sonny’ Franzese, Sr., a notorious crime lord. Although his father initially wanted him to be a doctor, Michael dropped out of his pre-med program at Hofstra University around 1974 to support his family after his father was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1970.
This familial obligation led him to get involved with the Colombo crime family. In 1975, Michael was formally initiated into the Mafia as a soldier in the Colombo family. By 1980, he was promoted to the rank of caporegime (captain), overseeing an associate crew of between 300 and 500 members. During this peak period, Franzese was one of the wealthiest mobsters, ranked 18th on Fortune magazine’s 1986 list of the ‘Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses.’ A federal report suggests his earnings were second only to Al Capone, with Michael claiming he made between $5–10 million per week.
The Gasoline Bootlegging Racket
Michael’s immense wealth was largely generated by a sophisticated gasoline bootlegging racket. This operation, conceived with Lawrence Salvatore Iorizzo, involved setting up 18 Panama-based shell companies to exploit Panamanian law, which allowed tax-free wholesale gasoline sales. By continuously shifting operations between these companies as authorities became suspicious, Franzese was able to sell gasoline below market price. He expanded the operation by partnering with Genovese soldier Joseph ‘Joe Glitz’ Galizia, which granted him access to the Russian Mafia in Brooklyn, allowing him to sell millions of gallons of tax-evaded gasoline.
His criminal activities led to his arrest in 1985 and indictment on 14 counts, including racketeering. In 1986, he pleaded guilty to two counts and received a 10-year prison sentence along with an order for $14 million in restitution.
Renouncement and Post-Mob Life
During his first term in prison, Michael decided in December 1987 to renounce the Colombo family. Despite being released on parole in 1989, he faced a four-year sentence again in 1991 for violating probation. Upon his release in 1994, he definitively quit the crime world the following year, moving to California with his family despite facing multiple death threats.
He has since become a devoted Christian and has leveraged his unique life experience to become a highly sought-after motivational speaker.
Speaking Engagements: He speaks at over 400 college campuses as an NCAA life skills speaker to student-athletes, and also addresses professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. He is a keynote speaker at corporate events, law and business seminars, Christian conferences, and prisons globally.
Literary Work: He has authored five books, including the sensational 1992 autobiography Quitting the Mob (co-written with Dary Matera) and the updated Blood Covenant (2003).
Activism: He founded the ‘Breaking Out Foundation’ to deter young people from pursuing lives of crime and addiction, and in 2016, he pledged to assist Christian refugees from the Middle East.
Personal Life and Media
Michael met his wife, Camille Garcia, a dancer from California, while producing the film Knights of the City in Florida. They married in 1985. Camille is credited with being instrumental in his decision to leave organized crime and his subsequent spiritual transformation.
His life has been documented in various media, including the 2013 National Geographic Channel series Inside the American Mob and the 2014 documentary God the Father, which focuses on his spiritual journey.
Net worth of Michael Franzese
The estimated net worth of Michael Franzese is about $20 million.