Joe Masseria
Mafia boss who led the Genovese family and died in a hit.
Giuseppe Masseria, known as "Joe the Boss," was an Italian-American Mafia boss in New York City from 1922 until his murder in 1931. He led what is now called the Genovese crime family and was a central figure in the Castellammarese War, a violent conflict for control of organized crime in New York.
- born
- January 17, 1886, in Menfi, Province of Agrigento, Sicily
- died
- April 15, 1931, in Coney Island, New York City
- field
- Organized crime
- nationality
- Italian-American
- known_for
- Boss of the Genovese crime family; central figure in the Castellammarese War
Lore & Background
Giuseppe Masseria was born on January 17, 1886, in Menfi, Sicily, to a family of tailors. He moved to Marsala as a youth and arrived in the United States in 1902. He joined the Morello crime family in Harlem and Little Italy, becoming a contemporary of captains like Gaetano Reina. In 1909, he was convicted of burglary and received a suspended sentence; in 1913, he was sentenced to four to six years for third-degree burglary. By the early 1920s, Masseria vied for power with boss Salvatore D'Aquila, leading to a war. In 1920, he recruited Lucky Luciano as a gunman. On May 8, 1922, D'Aquila's gunman Umberto Valenti killed the Morello/Terranova boss Vincenzo Terranova and his underboss. That night, Valenti attacked Masseria on Grand Street; Masseria escaped but was arrested after tossing his pistol. On August 9, 1922, Masseria survived another assassination attempt, gaining the reputation as "the man who can dodge bullets." Two days later, Valenti was murdered, allegedly by Luciano. After this, Masseria became known as "Joe the Boss."
Reader's Guide
Masseria became head of the Morello family and, after D'Aquila's death in 1928, was selected as capo dei capi. He pressured other gangs for tribute and was accused of orchestrating murders in 1930. This sparked the Castellammarese War against Salvatore Maranzano. Masseria's consigliere Giuseppe Morello was killed in August 1930. The war ended when Luciano, in a secret deal with Maranzano, lured Masseria to a Coney Island restaurant on April 15, 1931, where he was murdered by gunmen including Albert Anastasia, Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis, and Bugsy Siegel. No one was convicted. Masseria's death marked the end of the Castellammarese War and the rise of Luciano, who restructured the Mafia. His legacy is as a transitional figure whose violent reign and murder helped shape the modern American Mafia.
Did You Know?
- Masseria survived an assassination attempt on August 9, 1922, with two bullet holes through his straw hat, earning him the nickname 'the man who can dodge bullets.'
- His murder was orchestrated by his own lieutenant, Lucky Luciano, in a deal with rival Salvatore Maranzano.
- Masseria's autopsy report shows he died on an empty stomach.
- He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joe Masseria?
Joe Masseria, nicknamed "Joe the Boss," was an Italian-American Mafia leader who ran operations out of New York City. He headed what later became known as the Genovese crime family during the 1920s.
What was Joe Masseria's role in organized crime?
He served as the top boss of a New York crime family and functioned as a central power broker in the city's underworld. His position made him a primary target during the Castellammarese War, a bloody struggle over who would control organized crime in New York.
How does Joe Masseria's story end?
Masseria was killed on April 15, 1931, in a drive-by shooting at a restaurant in Coney Island, New York City. His murder marked a turning point in the Castellammarese War and the reshaping of New York's Mafia landscape.
Why is Joe Masseria important to Mafia history?
As the head of the Genovese crime family and a central figure in the Castellammarese War, he shaped the landscape of New York organized crime in the late 1920s and early 1930s. His violent death in 1931 effectively ended one era of the city's underworld and set the stage for new power structures.
Where and when was Joe Masseria born?
Giuseppe Masseria was born on January 17, 1886, in Menfi, a town in the Province of Agrigento on the island of Sicily. He later emigrated to the United States, where he built his criminal empire in New York City.
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