Famous Gangsters - List of Famous Gangsters

Gangsters might be criminals in the eyes of law, but when it comes to their mass appeal they are no less than celebrities! The aura of mystery that shrouds gangsters imparts a tinge of glamour to them and whets our interest to learn more about these elusive figures. Jesse Woodson James, probably one of the most notorious gangsters of the later part of the 19th century, continues to be one of the most iconic American outlaw, bank and train robber, and gang leader. He not only enjoyed celebrity status in life, but also became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death. Chinese mobster Du Yuesheng was another gangster who was elevated to celebrity status and is often depicted in popular culture despite media on Du and his exploits being officially banned in China. Gangsters have been operating all over the world from the past several centuries. Paul Carbone, Auguste Ricord, and Lucien Sarti are among the most notorious gangsters of European origins. Even though most of the gangsters are men, female mobsters like Sandra Ávila Beltrán, Claudia Ochoa Felix, and Rosetta Cutolo prove that women should not be underestimated! Read on to know about the most famous and notorious gangsters of all time!

The Most Famous Gangsters

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Danny GreeneNovember 14, 1933AmericanDanny Greene was an infamous Irish American gangster who rose to dominate the criminal underbelly of the city of Cleveland during the 1970s
Frank CostelloJanuary 26, 1891AmericanFrank Costello was an Italian-American gangster and crime boss
Roy DeMeoSeptember 7, 1942AmericanRoy DeMeo was a New York mobster
Dawood IbrahimDecember 27, 1955IndianDawood Ibrahim is a notorious Indian gangster and a designated terrorist
Lucky LucianoNovember 11, 1897AmericanLucky Luciano was a Sicilian-born American mobster considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States
Alvin KarpisAugust 10, 1907Canadian, SpanishAlvin Karpis, better known as “Creepy,” was a notorious gangster and a founder member of the infamous ‘Barker–Karpis Gang.’ Find more about the childhood, personal life, and criminal activities of the gangster.
Paul CastellanoJune 26, 1915AmericanPaul Castellano was an American gangster
Joe MasseriaJanuary 17, 1887Italian, AmericanGiuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria was a Mafia boss in New York City who led one of the five major New York City organized crime families.
Haji MastanMarch 1, 1926IndianHaji Mastan was an Indian gangster and smuggler, who later also dealt in film financing and real estate
Carmine PersicoAugust 8, 1933AmericanCarmine John Persico is the boss of the Colombo Crime Family, one of the five families that run organized crime across New York City
Frank Costello

Frank Costello

Frank Costello was an Italian-American gangster and crime boss

AmericanJanuary 26, 18911,178 views

Meyer Lansky

Meyer Lansky was one of America’s most powerful gangsters of the 19th century

PolishJuly 4, 1902198 views

Bugsy Siegel

Benjamin Siegel, or Bugsy, was an infamous American gangster

AmericanFebruary 28, 1906229 views

Pablo Escobar

Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a notorious Colombian drug lord

Lucky Luciano

Lucky Luciano was a Sicilian-born American mobster considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States

AmericanNovember 11, 1897423 views

Al Capone

Al Capone was a notorious American gangster

AmericanJanuary 17, 1899233 views

Alvin Karpis

Alvin Karpis, better known as “Creepy,” was a notorious gangster and a founder member of the infamous ‘Barker–Karpis Gang.’ Find more about the childhood, personal life, and criminal activities of the gangster.

CanadianAugust 10, 1907385 views

Johnny Torrio

Johnny Torrio was an Italian-American gangster, who is widely acknowledged as the founder of organized crime in America

AmericanJanuary 20, 1882260 views

Dawood Ibrahim

Dawood Ibrahim is a notorious Indian gangster and a designated terrorist

IndianDecember 27, 1955541 views

Salvatore Maranzano

Salvatore Maranzano was an American mafia boss from the town of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily

AmericanJuly 31, 1886126 views