The Genovese family is widely considered the most powerful Mafia organization in the United States, topping the ranks with an estimated 225 made members. The family operates predominantly in New York and New Jersey, where it holds significant influence over unions and the construction industry. Its current acting boss is Liborio “Barney” Bellomo, and the family is noted for its dominance within the Commission, the governing body of the American Mafia. Ranking behind the Genovese family is the Gambino family, which holds the second position.
With roughly 175 members, the Gambinos operate across New York, Long Island, and Florida. Their criminal activities focus on extortion and illegal betting, and they are currently led by acting boss Lorenzo Mannino, who maintains connections to Chicago. The Lucchese family secures the third spot on the list. Numbering about 125 members, this family runs illegal operations in waste management, airports, and trucking across New York and New Jersey.
The organization is currently led by acting boss Michael “Mikey Flowers” DeSantis, who has maintained an alliance with the Genovese family. In fourth place is the Bonanno family, which also has approximately 125 members. The Bonannos are involved in drug trafficking and gambling, with territories extending from New York to Arizona and Canada. The family is led by acting boss Ernest Aiello and has been actively recruiting new members to maintain its strength.
The fifth and smallest of the five New York families is the Colombo family, which counts about 90 members. Based primarily in Brooklyn and Long Island, the Colombo family is involved in loan sharking and construction rackets. It has been led by acting boss “Skinny” Teddy Persico Jr.
since 2025, and despite its smaller size, the family still maintains a seat on the Commission.