John Joseph Gotti Jr. (October 27, 1940 – June 10, 2002) was an American mafioso and boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. He ordered and helped to orchestrate the murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter, leading what was described as the most powerful crime syndicate in the United States.
At his peak, he was one of the most powerful and dangerous crime bosses in the United States. While his peers generally avoided attracting attention, especially from the media, he became known as "the Dapper Don" for his expensive clothes and outspoken personality in front of news cameras. He was later given the nickname "the Teflon Don" after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in acquittals, though it was later revealed that the trials had been tainted by jury tampering, juror misconduct, and witness intimidation. Law enforcement continued gathering evidence against him, who reportedly earned between $5 million and $20 million per year as Gambino boss.
His underboss, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, aided the FBI in convicting Gotti's. In 1991, Gravano agreed to turn state's evidence and testify against Gotti after hearing the boss make disparaging remarks about him on a wiretap that implicated them both in several murders. In 1992, Gotti was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, illegal gambling, extortion, and loansharking. He received life in prison without parole and was transferred to United States Penitentiary, Marion, in Illinois.
He died of throat cancer on June 10, 2002, at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.
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