John Gotti rose from poverty in East New York to lead the Gambino crime family, orchestrating the 1985 assassination of boss Paul Castellano outside Sparks Steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan. Unlike the silent traditions of the old mafia, Gotti embraced celebrity, wearing bespoke suits and courting the press as the Teflon Don after repeated acquittals.

His need for the spotlight became his undoing. Gotti forced weekly public meetings at the Ravenite Social Club, handing the FBI a roadmap of his hierarchy. Bugs in an upstairs apartment captured him admitting to murders and betraying his loyal underboss, Sammy Gravano, who then turned state's evidence. Gotti was convicted in 1992 and died in prison in 2002.

• A childhood accident stealing a cement mixer left Gotti with a permanent limp.
• His acquittals came from jury tampering, i ...