Meyer Lansky

Meyer Lansky
Lansky in 1958
Born
Maier Suchowljansky

(1902-07-04)July 4, 1902
Grodno, Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire
DiedJanuary 15, 1983(1983-01-15) (aged 80)
Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeMount Nebo Cemetery, Miami, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Known forMafia associate, Mafia financier
Signature

Meyer Lansky (born Maier Suchowljansky;[1] July 4, 1902 – January 15, 1983), known as the "Mob's Accountant", was an American organized crime figure who, along with his associate Charles "Lucky" Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States.[2][3]

A member of the Jewish mob, Lansky developed a gambling empire that stretched around the world. He was said to own points (percentages) in casinos in Las Vegas, Cuba, Miami, and New Orleans. Lansky had a strong influence with the Italian-American Mafia. He played a large role in the consolidation of the criminal underworld by introducing money laundering and offshore banking in 1932, used in the 1950s for cash from the heroin trade. The full extent of this role has been the subject of some debate, as Lansky himself denied many of the accusations against him.

Despite nearly 50 years as a member/participant in organized crime,[4] Lansky was never found guilty of anything more serious than illegal gambling. He has a legacy of being one of the most financially successful gangsters in American history. Before he fled Cuba, Lansky was said to be worth an estimated US$20 million (equivalent to $184 million in 2023).[5] When he died in 1983, his family learned that his estate was worth only around $57,000 (equivalent to $174,371 in 2023).[6]

  1. ^ Mafia encyclopedia, Carl Sifakis, 2005, pp. 250–253
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference obit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Meyer Lansky | Biography, Criminal Activities, Net Worth, Cause of Death, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. June 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Meyer Lansky". FBI.
  5. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  6. ^ Cohen, Gary (January 2006). "The Lost Journals of Meyer Lansky". Ocean Drive. Retrieved May 26, 2018 – via americanmafia.com.