Who Is Matteo Messina Denaro? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Matteo Messina Denaro was born on April 26, 1962. He became the head of the Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra) and notorious for his violent crimes and evasion from law enforcement. As of 2025, he would be 63 years old. Denaro gained international notoriety for being one of the most wanted fugitives in Italy until his arrest on January 16, 2023, after evading capture for over 30 years. His life story and criminal activities have been covered extensively in the media and have had a lasting impact on the fight against organized crime in Italy.
| Occupation | Other |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 26, 1962 |
| Age | 61 Years |
| Birth Place | Castelvetrano, Sicily, Italy |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | Italy |
| Date of death | 25 September, 2023 |
| Died Place | L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy |
Popularity
Matteo Messina Denaro's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Matteo Messina Denaro's physical measurements are limited, he was often described as having a medium build. As of his last known public appearances prior to his arrest in 2023, he was approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall and weighed around 160 lbs (72 kg). These stats, combined with his prominent public image, contributed to the aura of intimidation that surrounded him.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Details about Denaro's family life have often remained private, in line with the secretive nature of organized crime. However, it is known that he comes from a family with deep mafia connections. His personal relationships, especially regarding romantic partners, are relatively unknown. As of 2025, it is presumed that he does not have a publicly acknowledged boyfriend or girlfriend, as relationships in his line of work remain shrouded in secrecy.
His father, Francesco Messina Denaro, known as Don Ciccio, was the capo mandamento of Castelvetrano. Matteo learned to use a gun at 14. He once bragged: "I filled a cemetery all by myself." He made a reputation by murdering rival boss Vincenzo Milazzo from Alcamo and strangling Milazzo's three-month pregnant girlfriend.
Net Worth and Salary
Before his arrest in 2023, Matteo Messina Denaro was believed to have amassed a significant fortune through illegal enterprises, including extortion and drug trafficking. Estimates of his net worth at his peak ranged from $10 million to $15 million. As of 2025, his financial status is likely under scrutiny from law enforcement and government agencies, though specific figures are challenging to ascertain due to the clandestine nature of his operations.
Messina Denaro got his money through an extensive extortion racket forcing businesses to pay a pizzo (protection money) and through skimming off public construction contracts (the family owns substantial sand quarries).
He was also active in the international drug trade, allegedly with the Cuntrera-Caruana clan, which attracted the attention of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He also made money through legitimate business; he had stakes in a Sicilian supermarket chain and owned vast olive groves.
He was involved in olive oil production in a corrupt business, which used cheap African labour.
Career, Business and Investments
Denaro's criminal career spanned several decades, with deep involvement in the Sicilian Mafia’s various operations, including drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering. His rise to power began in the 1990s, and he became known for orchestrating brutal attacks against rivals. After assuming control following the killings of prominent mafia leaders, Denaro worked to expand the organization’s influence.
Despite efforts to dismantle mafia operations in Italy, Denaro managed to build a vast network of criminal enterprises, operating largely from the shadows until his capture. Following his arrest in January 2023, he faced numerous charges and a trial process that would determine the extent of his operations.
Messina Denaro became a fugitive on the most wanted list of the Italian Ministry of the Interior in 1993; according to Forbes in 2010, he was one of the ten most wanted and powerful criminals in the world.
With the deaths of Bernardo Provenzano in 2016 and Salvatore Riina in 2017, Messina Denaro was seen as the unchallenged boss of all bosses within the Mafia. After 30 years on the run, he was arrested on 16 January 2023 near a private clinic in Sicily's capital, Palermo, where he was reportedly undergoing chemotherapy under a false name.
Messina Denaro died in a prison hospital on 25 September 2023 after falling into an irreversible coma at the age of 61, after receiving treatment for colon cancer.
Social Network
As a significant historical figure in organized crime, Matteo Messina Denaro’s social network largely consisted of members of the Sicilian Mafia and affiliated criminal organizations. His relationships were characterized by loyalty and secrecy, integral to maintaining power in the criminal underworld. Following his arrest, it remains unclear how these connections will evolve, especially given the ongoing investigation into his activities.
According to Ingroia, "in an organization like the Mafia, a boss has to be one step above the others, otherwise, it all falls apart. It all depends on whether he can manage consensus and whether the others agree or rebel." For Ingroia, Provenzano "guaranteed a measure of stability because he had the authority to quash internal disputes".
According to Sergio Lari, deputy chief prosecutor of Palermo, "Either the directorate can choose a successor or we could again be in for a fiery time". Ingroia said that it was unlikely that there would be an all-out war over who would fill Provenzano's shoes.
He said: "Right now I don't think that's probable." Of the two possible successors, Ingroia thought Lo Piccolo was the more likely heir to the Mafia throne, saying: "He's from Palermo and that's still the most powerful Mafia stronghold."
Education
Details about Denaro’s education are scarce. Given his background and the nature of his life choices, it is presumed that he did not pursue formal education in the traditional sense. Instead, he is believed to have gained knowledge about organized crime and its operations through familial ties and his involvement with the mafia from a young age.
