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Bugsy SiegelAmerican gangster
Date of Birth: 28.02.1906
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Bugsy Siegel
- Life of Crime
- Move to California
- The Flamingo Project
- Death of Bugsy Siegel
- Legacy
Biography of Bugsy Siegel
American GangsterBugsy Siegel, whose real name was Benjamin Siegelbaum, was born in 1906 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. He was one of five children of Russian Jewish immigrants living in a poor neighborhood populated by immigrants. From a young age, Bugsy associated himself with a street gang that openly engaged in theft, much to the disregard of his father, Max Siegel, and mother, Jennie Goldstein.
Life of Crime
Bugsy later partnered with Mo Sedway and together they established a racket extorting street vendors who failed to pay their dues. They would burn their goods if they didn't comply with the one dollar tax. Bugsy earned his nickname due to his wild nature and explosive temper. Although he disliked being called "Bugsy," everyone knew him by that name. Bugsy eventually teamed up with Meyer Lansky, and their criminal activities became more serious, including extortion, gambling, and car theft. It was rumored that they had previously worked as hired assassins, although there was no direct evidence of this.
Move to California
In 1930, Bugsy and Lansky joined forces with Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello, future bosses of the Genovese crime family. In 1937, Bugsy was sent to California, officially to earn a living through legal gambling. He was accompanied by his friend Mo Sedway and his family, who were unaware of Bugsy's true occupation. Bugsy's wife, Esta Krakower, whom he had loved since childhood, had given birth to two daughters, Millicent and Barbara, by that time. Bugsy's time in California was known to be extravagant, as he lived a lavish lifestyle, mingled with Hollywood stars, and had affairs with starlets and actresses. His charm captivated women of all ages and social statuses.
The Flamingo Project
Bugsy's dream in the 1940s was to turn Las Vegas into the gambling capital while operating within the bounds of the law. Through various means, Bugsy acquired land in Las Vegas to build a luxurious casino called the Flamingo. Lansky, Luciano, and other colleagues, including mafia bosses, invested heavily in this ambitious project. However, the casino struggled to generate profits from the start, which led to dissatisfaction among the investors. They believed Bugsy was embezzling their money. This dissatisfaction eventually turned against Bugsy, and it became an unofficial death sentence for him. Bugsy was given one last chance to turn the project around and repay his dangerous investors if the casino became successful. Unfortunately, the casino's initial failure required Bugsy to invest more money, which exhausted his bosses' patience.
Death of Bugsy Siegel
On June 20, 1947, Bugsy Siegel was killed in Beverly Hills, where he often met his longtime mistress, Virginia Hill. The unknown assassin fired several bullets from an M1 carbine, giving Bugsy no chance of survival. Naturally, the murder remained unsolved. Only his family attended Bugsy's burial, as none of his former colleagues or friends wanted to be associated with the ceremony.
Legacy
Bugsy Siegel's biography served as the basis for the film "Bugsy," directed by Barry Levinson. Warren Beatty portrayed the gangster in the film. Bugsy's notorious personality became popular in the film industry, inspiring several other gangster characters in projects such as "The Godfather," "The Sopranos," "Once Upon a Time in America," and others.
