Former Mafia Boss: "I Was Running The Biggest Scam In The World! $1.4 Million A Day!" - Michael Franzese

About this episode

He was made an offer he couldn't refuse. From medical student to the most profitable mobster since Al Capone, this is the real story of the hidden mafia life. Michael Franzese is an American former mafia member who served as a caporegime in the Colombo crime family. He is the best-selling author of books such as, ‘Blood Covenant’ and ‘I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse: Insider Business Tips from a Former Mob Boss’. In this conversation, Michael and Steven discuss topics such as, how Michael ran the world’s biggest scam, how his father got him into the mafia, the reason Michael left a life of crime, and his experience of 21 months and 7 days in solitary confinement. (00:00) Intro (01:25) Who is Michael Franzese? (03:27) Inside a Mafia Family (05:32) My Dad Was A Mafia UnderBoss (09:35) How the Mafia Family is Structured (10:10) The History of the Colombo Family (16:33) Mafia Family Wars (17:50) What Happens at a Mafia Sitdown? (19:51) How the Mafia Decides Who Lives and Who Dies (20:20) Franzese’s Dad In Prison (22:30) Joining the Mafia: How Michael Franzese Became a Made Man (29:34) My Dad Was Involved in 35 Murders (32:56) How Does The Mafia Kill People? (35:15) Is There Mafia Training? What It Takes to Join (38:49) Choosing The Mafia Over My Loved Ones (39:56) The Mafia’s Manipulation Tactics (42:15) Business Lessons from the Mafia (43:58) How I Made Millions with the Gas Station Scam (51:02) Swearing the Mafia Oath (52:43) Why I Joined the Mafia (54:18) Mafia Members: Killers vs Rule Followers (56:52) Do We All Have the Instinct to Kill? (58:51) How Seeing a Dead Body Changed My Life Forever (01:04:20) “He Had To Kill His Father” (01:08:31) The Moment My Dad Betrayed Me (01:13:25) Was All the Money Illegal? (01:14:33) How Mafia Life Helped My Business Success (01:15:56) When Does Everything Come Crashing Down? (01:20:51) How Easy Is It to Order a Murder in the Mafia (01:22:53) Money Rules in the Mafia (01:28:24) How the FBI Tracked My Bank Accounts (01:29:31) Where I Hid My Mafia Money (01:32:48) What It’s Really Like Behind Bars (01:34:55) “I Was Kept in Solitary Confinement” (01:37:24) How I Survived Solitary Confinement Without Losing My Mind (01:41:46) How Power Is Maintained in the Mob (01:43:36) My Dad Didn’t Stand Up for Me (01:48:10) Reconnecting with My Father After Betrayal (01:51:42) The Mafia Stories I Can’t Tell (01:53:31) What I Struggle with (01:54:51) What Do People Want To Know About You? (01:58:24) Micromanaging (02:02:08) The Last Guest Question (02:04:30) Michael Franzese’s Closing Message to the Audience Follow Michael:  YouTube - https://g2ul0.app.link/iOcSgJkX4Lb  Twitter - https://g2ul0.app.link/dXbcRafX4Lb  Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/pRuoUtiX4Lb  Website - https://g2ul0.app.link/toKs7zS9cMb You can buy Michael’s book, ‘I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse’, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/JDOamnFm5Lb  You can learn more about Franzese Wines, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/HaBZW6W9cMb Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACEpisodes  My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' is out now - https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACBook  You can purchase the The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: Second Edition, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb  Follow me: https://beacons.ai/diaryofaceo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices