Advertisement

The richest criminals in history

A dishonest day's work

(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Being bad paid off pretty well for this cast of criminal minds. From infamous mob bosses to cartel leaders, each Public Enemy No. 1 on this list amassed a fortune that soared into the millions and, in some cases, billions.

Of course, the accuracy of total wealth with such an element is a complicated process—no surprise there; honesty isn’t a strong suit of the criminal world. But there are monetary paper trails that give us an idea of the estimated net worths.

We begin one of the most reviled cult leaders in American history…

Dishonorable mention: Charles Manson

(USA TODAY)
(USA TODAY)

Estimated net worth: $400,000 to $1 million.

*We were curious to see how much Manson’s long run in the spotlight had helped his earnings. While it had been reported that he was worth approximately $400,000, the recent numbers from estate battles show it could be closer to $1 million.

Lucky Luciano

(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $1.4 million

Sammy Gravano

(Michael Ging-USA TODAY NETWORK)
(Michael Ging-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Estimated net worth: $2 million

Meyer Lansky

(Meyer Lansky’s bow-tie collection, estimated between $3,000-$5,000. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
(Meyer Lansky’s bow-tie collection, estimated between $3,000-$5,000. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $20 million

John Gotti

(MARK CARDWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
(MARK CARDWELL/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $30 million

Rayful Edmond III

(YouTube)
(YouTube)

Estimated net worth: $50 million

Harvey Weistein

Estimated net worth: $50 million

Viktor Bout

NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)
NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $50 million

Frank Lucas

(File)
(File)

Estimated net worth: $52 million

Carlo Gambino

Estimated net worth: $86.3 million

Jose Figueroa Agosto

(Twitter)
(Twitter)

Estimated net worth: $100 million

Big Meech (Demetrius Flenory)

(AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
(AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Estimated net worth: $100 million

Bugsy Siegel

(A camera person views an empty safe that belonged to 1940”s gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and was left unopened for 53 years. Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Online USA)
(A camera person views an empty safe that belonged to 1940”s gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and was left unopened for 53 years. Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Online USA)

Estimated net worth: $100 million

Al Capone

(AP, file)
(AP, file)

Estimated net worth: $150 million

Salvatore Riina

(Photo by Fotogramma/ANDBZ/Sipa USA)
(Photo by Fotogramma/ANDBZ/Sipa USA)

Estimated net worth: $125 million

Jho Low

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)

Estimated net worth: $150 million

Kenneth Lay

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $400 million

Dennis Kozlowski

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $600 million

Bernie Madoff

(Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $823 million

Frank Costello

(File)
(File)

Estimated net worth: $1 billion

Griselda Blanco

 

(File)
(File)

Estimated net worth: $2 billion

Allen Stanford

(Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $2.2 billion

Carlos Lehder

(File)
(File)

Estimated net worth: $3 billion

Adnan Khashoggi

(VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
(VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $4 billion

Elizabeth Holmes

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $4.5 billion

El Chapo Guzman

(Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $5 billion (peak of over $12 billion)

Leona Helmsley

(Photo by Keith Bedford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Keith Bedford/Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $5 billion

Dawood Ibrahim

Estimated net worth: $6.7 billion

Semion Mogilevich

(File)
(File)

Estimated net worth: $10 billion

Amado Carrillo Fuentes

(View of a house that belonged to Mexican drug dealer Amado Carrillo Fuentes aka “El Senor de los Cielos” in Alvaro Obregon municipality, in Mexico City. Photo by XAVIER MARTINEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
(View of a house that belonged to Mexican drug dealer Amado Carrillo Fuentes aka “El Senor de los Cielos” in Alvaro Obregon municipality, in Mexico City. Photo by XAVIER MARTINEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Estimated net worth: $25 billion

Story originally appeared on List Wire