Who Is Tony Accardo? Age, Biography and Wiki
Tony Accardo was born on April 28, 1906, making him 119 years old in 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he became a prominent figure in the American Mafia, rising through the ranks to become a powerful mob boss. Known for his strategic thinking and calm demeanor, Accardo earned the nickname "Joe Batters" for his ruthless nature. His life is documented in various biographies, but the most comprehensive account can be found on Wikipedia.
| Occupation | Gangsters |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 28, 1906 |
| Age | 86 Years |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 22 May, 1992 |
| Died Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Popularity
Tony Accardo's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Tony Accardo's height and weight remain largely undocumented, he was known to have an imposing figure typical of a mob boss during his time. Estimates suggest he stood around 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed approximately 170 pounds, though this can vary based on archival descriptions. His physical presence complemented his reputation for wielding power and influence within organized crime.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Tony Accardo was married to his long-time partner, Karen Accardo, and the couple had a family that remained private for the most part. His relationship with his wife was characterized by loyalty and commitment, attributes that were pivotal in his tumultuous life. Accardo did not have any widely known public relationships outside of his marriage, which speaks to his family's desire for privacy amidst the chaos of his criminal life.
However, this working relationship eventually broke down. Unlike Accardo, the widowed Giancana lived an ostentatious lifestyle, frequenting posh nightclubs and dating high-profile singer Phyllis McGuire. Giancana also refused to distribute some of the lavish profits from Outfit casinos in Iran and Central America to the rank-and-file members.
Many in the Outfit also felt that Giancana was attracting too much attention from the FBI, which was forever tailing his car around the Chicago metropolitan area. Around 1966, after Giancana began a year in jail on federal contempt of court charges, Accardo and Ricca replaced him with Aiuppa.
In June 1975, after spending most of his Outfit-exile years in Mexico and unceremoniously being booted from that country, Giancana was murdered in the basement apartment of his home, in Oak Park, Illinois, while cooking Italian sausages and escarole.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 1992, Tony Accardo's net worth was estimated to be in the range of millions, with many sources suggesting figures between $60 million to $100 million, accumulated through various illicit activities and legitimate businesses. If he were alive in 2025, his net worth would likely have increased due to the ongoing monetary gains from the businesses he invested in during his lifetime.
Anthony Joseph Accardo (born Antonino Leonardo Accardo, ; April 28, 1906 – May 22, 1992), also known as "Joe Batters" and "Big Tuna", was an American longtime mobster.
In a criminal career that spanned eight decades, he rose from small-time hoodlum to the position of day-to-day boss of the Chicago Outfit in 1947, to ultimately becoming the power behind the throne in the Outfit by 1972.
Accardo moved the Outfit into new operations and territories, significantly increasing its power and wealth during his tenure as boss.
Career, Business and Investments
Tony Accardo's career in the mob began in the 1920s, and he rapidly ascended the ranks of the Chicago Outfit. Known for his involvement in various illegal activities such as extortion, gambling, and racketeering, Accardo was also savvy in business investments, owning and managing several legitimate enterprises, including construction companies and restaurants. His shrewd business acumen enabled him to maintain power and authority within the organized crime world.
Under Accardo's leadership in the late 1940s, the Outfit moved into slot and vending machines, counterfeiting cigarette and liquor tax stamps, and expanding narcotics smuggling. Accardo placed slot machines in gas stations, restaurants, and bars throughout the Outfit's territory.
Outside of Chicago, the Outfit expanded into Las Vegas and took influence over gaming away from the Five Families of New York City. Accardo ensured all the legal Las Vegas casinos used his slot machines. In Kansas and Oklahoma, he took advantage of the official ban on alcohol sales to introduce bootlegged alcohol.
The Outfit eventually dominated organized crime in most of the western United States. Accardo phased out some traditional activities, such as labor racketeering and extortion, to reduce the Outfit's exposure to legal prosecution. He also converted the Outfit's brothel business into call girl services.
These changes resulted in a golden era of profitability and influence for the Outfit.
Social Network
Tony Accardo was known for his extensive social network, which included high-profile figures from politics, law enforcement, and legitimate businesses. He expertly navigated relationships that provided him cover and protection from law enforcement, ensuring the stability of his operations. His affiliation with other mobsters, such as Sam Giancana and Al Capone, further solidified his standing within the Chicago Outfit.
Accardo and Ricca emphasized keeping a low profile and let flashier figures, such as Sam Giancana, attract attention instead.
For example, when professional wrestlers Lou Albano and Tony Altomare, wrestling as a Mafia-inspired tag team called "The Sicilians", came to Chicago in 1961, Accardo persuaded the men to drop the gimmick to avoid any mob-related publicity. By using tactics such as these, Accardo and Ricca were able to run the Outfit much longer than Capone.
Ricca once said, "Accardo had more brains for breakfast than Capone had in a lifetime".
Education
Though not formally educated, Accardo was astute and learned in the ways of the world through his experiences in organized crime. His street smarts and ability to adapt to changing circumstances were crucial to his success. His "education" came from years of navigating the complexities of crime, alliances, and power dynamics in a dangerous environment.
One year before his birth, the Accardos had emigrated from Castelvetrano, in the Province of Trapani, Sicily, Italy to the United States. At age 14, Accardo left school and started loitering around neighborhood pool halls.
He soon joined the Circus Cafe Gang, run by Claude Maddox and Tony Capezio, one of many street gangs in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago. These gangs served as talent pools (similar to the concept of farm teams) for the city's adult criminal organizations.
Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn, one of the toughest hitmen of Chicago Outfit boss Al Capone, recruited Accardo into his crew, along with long time associate Tony Mazlack of Gary, Indiana.
