Why Did Joseph Valachi Betray the Mafia?

He’s the man movies turned into a king—the “boss of bosses” who supposedly built America’s Mafia from scratch. But how much of Lucky Luciano’s legend is true? From the Lower East Side to the Commission, from the murder of Maranzano to Thomas Dewey’s crushing case, from a secret WWII dockside deal to exile in Italy and the Havana conference—this is the story that separates the myth from the man. Buckle up. 👑🦑 What you’ll learn Origins: How a Sicilian immigrant named Salvatore became “Charles” and learned to profit in a city of gangs Prohibition Playbook: The bootleg pivots, Rothstein’s backing, and why Luciano scaled faster than rivals Masseria vs. Maranzano: The war that ended the “boss of bosses” era—and the truth behind the famous beating story The Commission: What Luciano actually built (and what he didn’t), plus how power really worked Vice Empire: Inside the prostitution syndicate that made millions—and the human cost prosecutors exposed Dewey vs. Luciano: The raids, the witnesses, and the 30–50 year sentence that made headlines Operation Underworld: The alleged Navy deal, the Normandie fire controversy, and how Sicily intel changed the war Havana & Exile: Cuba’s casino dream, Siegel’s downfall, U.S. pressure, and the long goodbye in Naples Myth vs. Reality: Was he “boss of bosses”—or the smartest man at the table in a world without a throne? Chapters 0:00 Hook — The King Without a Throne 2:10 Lower East Side Origins (Salvatore to Charles) 6:25 Prohibition: From Robberies to Supply Chains 10:40 Rothstein, Legs Diamond & Cross‑Ethnic Alliances 14:50 Masseria, Maranzano & The End of “Boss of Bosses” 20:35 The Commission: Reform, Not a Crown