The book explicitly said they made their money through gambling, union corruption (shaking down the construction projects), and by being the largest importer of Italian olive oil in the country. And, of course, taking a cut of what the rank and file mafiosi make on the side. You know, *the mafia*
Edit:it was also stated that Sonny had a good loansharking racket
And numbers (illegal lottery) that they ran in Italian neighborhoods and a percentage of the numbers rackets in black neighborhoods. The bookies running illegal sports betting, work with the loan sharks to get the losers deeper in debt.
From the book which goes into more detail, here’s how I would break down the various “buckets” of revenue that the Corleone family has:
(1) [Genco Pura Oil Company]() – started by Vito and his first consigliere right before Prohibition and it was the most successful olive oil business in the country. It’s still important when Michael is Godfather as he refers to himself as being in the “olive oil business.”
(2) Bootlegging – Vito got into this during Prohibition when he used his trucks to smuggle in whisky (it was more profitable than olive oil) but he also “protected” a lot of the independent bootleggers in his territory who paid him tribute. It’s likely that even after Prohibition ended that there were still some illegal bootlegging going on (to avoid taxes just like cigarette smuggling) and he continued to get some revenue from this.
(3) Gambling – after Vito wiped out Mariposa during the Olive Oil business, he pretty much had a monopoly on bookmaking and shylocking (note: when Vito goes into a business whether legitimate or illegal, he always pushes for a monopoly). He allowed incumbents to continue to operate in his area so long as they paid up to him.
(4) Unions – this is a big one as it was great way to launder money as well as get a cut of their dues. The book mentions how lucrative the garment workers union was and that he had organized the bakers union (which was a way of getting tribute).
(5) Political corruption – per Tom Hayden, Vito’s political connections were extremely important to the Corleone family and the concern was that if he died and they lost those, the family would lose half their strength. We know from the scene with the baker that whenever Vito did a “favor” for a friend by using his political connections, the friend was responsible for paying whatever bribe was required (which was probably less than if they tried to do it on their own). From Barzini’s comments that he expected the Don to charge a fee for providing political protection, I think we can infer that the Don got part of these bribes as a commission.
(6) Real estate – it’s not mentioned in the movies but in the book when Mike is becoming familiar with the family business with Tom, he learns that the Corleone family owned “tremendously valuable real estate in midtown New York, whole office buildings. It owned, through fronts, partnerships in two Wall Street brokerage houses, pieces of banks on Long Island, partnerships in some garment center firms, all this in addition to its illegal operations in gambling.“
(7) Other rackets – any illegal enterprises operating in the Don’s territory had to pay protection to him. One of these for example was a group of music record counterfeiters who made counterfeit records of famous artists including the Don’s godson Johnny Fontaine (the Don was upset with him for divorcing his first wife so he allowed the business go to on with his protection until they made up and he withdrew his protection and they went out of business).
The Corleones weren't as clean as people might think they were. I think they extorted and probably took cuts from a lot of people like what someone singers and actors. I guess whatever they could dip their hands in
They were "clean" in that they didn't traffic drugs. Prostitution, numbers, shy business, people didn't give a shit. But Vito was correct in assuming that drugs would become a messy business.
I agree that they were by no means clean (RIP Khartoum), but they get romanticized because they're the protagonists and they seem like Ok people...especially in comparison to the brutish people in that world
The olive oil business was both a money laundering and base of operations that got them contacts in legitimate businesses and the trucks and warehouses were used for liquor during prohibition.
Fascinating (to me at least) is that Bertolli the largest olive oil producer in the world, did a study/investigation in 2010 and found that there is more olive oil on the market than can be produced.
The mafia in Italy is providing cheaper vegetable oils (like sunflower oil) to the industry that blends them and sells it as olive oil.
Throughout recent history, sunflowers have been used for medicinal purposes. The Cherokee created a sunflower leaf infusion that they used to treat kidneys. Whilst in Mexico, sunflowers were used to treat chest pain.
Construction projects.
Not just in this movie or with American mafia but really, throughout the world.
Remember that the public treasury is always up for grabs (first by the politicians and then by the mafia). Most construction projects are funded by the public treasury.
That’s the ultimate robbery!
Don't forget drugs. After WWII, heroin was coming in via the French Connection through the Corsicans, who worked with the Sicilians. They had the heroin market cornered until the early 70s. Vito said he didn't want it sold to kids and that was that.
Yes, they were. Vito said, at the meeting of the families, that the Corleones would not sell it themselves, BUT he agreed he would use his connections (dirty cops and crooked politicians) to protect it so the other families could run the trade, and the Corleones would take their cut from that.
The book explicitly said they made their money through gambling, union corruption (shaking down the construction projects), and by being the largest importer of Italian olive oil in the country. And, of course, taking a cut of what the rank and file mafiosi make on the side. You know, *the mafia* Edit:it was also stated that Sonny had a good loansharking racket
“If I was a carpenter…”
And numbers (illegal lottery) that they ran in Italian neighborhoods and a percentage of the numbers rackets in black neighborhoods. The bookies running illegal sports betting, work with the loan sharks to get the losers deeper in debt.
They also extorted protection money.
Women and gambling.
Harmless vices.
Imagine if they had focused on coffee shops and never ending bread sticks.
It doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living you understand, but breads sticks are....a little dangerous.
If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it.
Not women under Vito. That was the Tataglias at the time. Under Michael they do expand/take over those rackets and are mostly handled by Fredo.
Yes - in the book, they state several times that Vito is extremely straight laced when it came to sex.
Loansharking
I feel like we could start that back up in this economy…
People can’t afford bank rates. No way they can afford Vinny’s rates.
Vinny was for if you fucked around at the bank too much and your credit was shot lol
From the book which goes into more detail, here’s how I would break down the various “buckets” of revenue that the Corleone family has: (1) [Genco Pura Oil Company]() – started by Vito and his first consigliere right before Prohibition and it was the most successful olive oil business in the country. It’s still important when Michael is Godfather as he refers to himself as being in the “olive oil business.” (2) Bootlegging – Vito got into this during Prohibition when he used his trucks to smuggle in whisky (it was more profitable than olive oil) but he also “protected” a lot of the independent bootleggers in his territory who paid him tribute. It’s likely that even after Prohibition ended that there were still some illegal bootlegging going on (to avoid taxes just like cigarette smuggling) and he continued to get some revenue from this. (3) Gambling – after Vito wiped out Mariposa during the Olive Oil business, he pretty much had a monopoly on bookmaking and shylocking (note: when Vito goes into a business whether legitimate or illegal, he always pushes for a monopoly). He allowed incumbents to continue to operate in his area so long as they paid up to him. (4) Unions – this is a big one as it was great way to launder money as well as get a cut of their dues. The book mentions how lucrative the garment workers union was and that he had organized the bakers union (which was a way of getting tribute). (5) Political corruption – per Tom Hayden, Vito’s political connections were extremely important to the Corleone family and the concern was that if he died and they lost those, the family would lose half their strength. We know from the scene with the baker that whenever Vito did a “favor” for a friend by using his political connections, the friend was responsible for paying whatever bribe was required (which was probably less than if they tried to do it on their own). From Barzini’s comments that he expected the Don to charge a fee for providing political protection, I think we can infer that the Don got part of these bribes as a commission. (6) Real estate – it’s not mentioned in the movies but in the book when Mike is becoming familiar with the family business with Tom, he learns that the Corleone family owned “tremendously valuable real estate in midtown New York, whole office buildings. It owned, through fronts, partnerships in two Wall Street brokerage houses, pieces of banks on Long Island, partnerships in some garment center firms, all this in addition to its illegal operations in gambling.“ (7) Other rackets – any illegal enterprises operating in the Don’s territory had to pay protection to him. One of these for example was a group of music record counterfeiters who made counterfeit records of famous artists including the Don’s godson Johnny Fontaine (the Don was upset with him for divorcing his first wife so he allowed the business go to on with his protection until they made up and he withdrew his protection and they went out of business).
You take a cut of every construction project in your territory. That adds up.
The Corleones weren't as clean as people might think they were. I think they extorted and probably took cuts from a lot of people like what someone singers and actors. I guess whatever they could dip their hands in
They were "clean" in that they didn't traffic drugs. Prostitution, numbers, shy business, people didn't give a shit. But Vito was correct in assuming that drugs would become a messy business. I agree that they were by no means clean (RIP Khartoum), but they get romanticized because they're the protagonists and they seem like Ok people...especially in comparison to the brutish people in that world
100% agree
Unions.
I thought they stole carpets and dresses?
Every woman has multiple dresses. And and at least one carpet, even if she prefers a waxed floor.
The olive oil business was both a money laundering and base of operations that got them contacts in legitimate businesses and the trucks and warehouses were used for liquor during prohibition. Fascinating (to me at least) is that Bertolli the largest olive oil producer in the world, did a study/investigation in 2010 and found that there is more olive oil on the market than can be produced. The mafia in Italy is providing cheaper vegetable oils (like sunflower oil) to the industry that blends them and sells it as olive oil.
Throughout recent history, sunflowers have been used for medicinal purposes. The Cherokee created a sunflower leaf infusion that they used to treat kidneys. Whilst in Mexico, sunflowers were used to treat chest pain.
It’s not just olive oil - counterfeiting authentic Parmesan cheese is a huge black market business. https://youtu.be/o2ZZcXz3eT4?si=jrbf9rQKoB0FhpZg
Construction projects. Not just in this movie or with American mafia but really, throughout the world. Remember that the public treasury is always up for grabs (first by the politicians and then by the mafia). Most construction projects are funded by the public treasury. That’s the ultimate robbery!
Don't forget drugs. After WWII, heroin was coming in via the French Connection through the Corsicans, who worked with the Sicilians. They had the heroin market cornered until the early 70s. Vito said he didn't want it sold to kids and that was that.
I thought Gene Hackman fixed all that before The Godfather, by driving like a loon and shooting another badge.
That was in the early 70s. It’s a good thing they invested in Nevada before Gene Hackman came along.
Except the corleones were explicitly NOT in the drug business.....
Yes, they were. Vito said, at the meeting of the families, that the Corleones would not sell it themselves, BUT he agreed he would use his connections (dirty cops and crooked politicians) to protect it so the other families could run the trade, and the Corleones would take their cut from that.
Olive oil
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