PAUL 'BIG PAULIE' CASTELLANO T-SHIRT

A true crime gangster t-shirt available in black or white cotton.

Pay tribute to one of the most notorious figures in organized crime history with our Paul 'Big Paulie' Castellano T-Shirt. Castellano, known as the "Howard Hughes of the Mafia," was the boss of the powerful Gambino crime family in New York during the 1970s and early 1980s. This t-shirt captures the intrigue and mystique of Big Paulie, whose rise to power, wealth, and eventual fall made him one of the most infamous mobsters in American history.

Born in Brooklyn in 1915, Castellano was deeply involved in the Mafia from a young age, taking over as head of the Gambino family after the death of Carlo Gambino. His reign was marked by attempts to modernize the family’s operations, moving away from violent street crime and focusing on white-collar crimes like racketeering, construction, and unions. However, Castellano’s leadership was divisive, especially due to his distance from the “old ways” of Mafia life, and his opulent lifestyle earned him both admiration and resentment.

Castellano's downfall came in 1985 when he was assassinated outside a Manhattan steakhouse, orchestrated by his ambitious underboss John Gotti. The hit on Big Paulie marked the beginning of the end of the old-school Mafia era, forever cementing his name in crime history. This tee is perfect for fans of mobster history, crime dramas, and anyone fascinated by the rise and fall of America’s most infamous crime bosses.