Paul Castellano's Mansion on Staten Island Up for Sale at $16.8 Million
The Staten Island mansion previously owned by Gambino boss "Big Paul" Castellano is now available for purchase at a price of $16.8 million, according to The Staten Island Advance. Potential buyers interested in acquiring a piece of criminal history may want to contact the listing agent, Connie Profaci Realty, and submit an offer. However, the website doesn't disclose any details about the notorious former owner.
This lavish baroque mansion is situated on two and a half acres of land on Todt Hill in Staten Island. It features eight ensuite bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, an Olympic-sized pool, a home cinema, a gym, a sauna, and a 13-car garage. Locals have nicknamed the property "The White House" due to its extravagant Palladian portico. Castellano had the house built for himself in 1980, during a time when the Gambino family was experiencing peak criminal activity.
Before entering the world of organized crime, Castellano started his life of lawlessness in his hometown of Brooklyn. He helped his father run a numbers game racket. Eventually, he rose to become one of the most influential Mob leaders in the United States, overseeing labor and construction racketeering, gambling, loansharking, extortion, money laundering, and prostitution in New York and beyond.
Castellano became Carlo Gambino's brother-in-law after Gambino led the family from 1959 till his death from a heart attack in 1976. Gambino chose Castellano to take over the family, but this decision upset several authorities, including John Gotti, an ambitious capo. Nevertheless, Castellano exhibited practical leadership, managing the family like a corporation, moving money from illegal enterprises to legitimate businesses. He also upheld Gambino's prohibition on the crime syndicate dabbling in the drug trade, earning him Gotti's scorn.
In 1983, while Castellano was on a vacation in Florida, the FBI managed to install a secret recording device in the White House. This was achieved by drugging Castellano's guard dogs and disabling his security system. The tapes recorded inside the White House provided the FBI with crucial evidence incriminating Castellano and many of his Gambino associates. Shortly after, in 1984, Castellano was indicted on federal racketeering charges, followed by loan sharking charges a year later. He was murdered before he could stand trial. Castellano and his underboss, Thomas Bilotti, were assassinated outside the Sparks Steakhouse in Manhattan in December 1985. Gotti succeeded Castellano as the leader of the family.
The White House has been sold three times since Castellano's passing. It was last sold in 2000 for $3.1 million. If you're unable to afford the $16.8 million asking price, there's an alternative: a 30-year fixed mortgage with a $3.36 million down payment, which would cost you around $124K per month, as per the agent's website.
