The Most Dangerous Mob and Cartel Members in History

Frank Costello, often called “The Prime Minister of the Underworld,” was a powerful New York mob boss who preferred influence over violence. Operating within the Luciano and Genovese crime families, he built power through politics, gambling, and his connections to Tammany Hall.

Costello was known for his calm demeanor and ability to blend crime with legitimate business. Unlike flashier mobsters, he avoided public attention. An assassination attempt in 1957 forced him to retire, but his political reach shaped organized crime’s structure for decades, showing that brains could rule as effectively as brutality.