MovieChat Forums > The Sopranos (1999) Discussion > how did Tony live so large?

how did Tony live so large?

posted 3 months ago by elmacho (872)
3 replies | jump to latest

Sorry if this has previously been discussed. When the series starts Tony is living in his huge house, etc. But he is only a capo. All the other capos are living in regular houses in Belleville and the surrounding areas. Even Jackie Aprile who was the acting boss lived in a modest home. His father was never more than a capo so it's not like he inherited money. Perhaps they all could have been living like that, but didn't want to draw attention to themselves. I can only assume that Carmela pushed him into that lifestyle.

[–] strntz (11060) 3 months ago

..how did Tony live so large?

Tony was living off the boxes of ziti buried in his back yard..

In Godfather II, Hyman Roth was a multi-multi-multi millionaire, yet when Michael went to visit him at home, he was living in a modest one level post-war box ranch - something like the Wonders Years house.

The other goombahs probably just didn't want a big house.

[–] Callahan7 (948) 3 months ago

I wouldn't say Tony lived in a "huge house". It was spacious and nice with a swimming pool. Not a mansion.

Tony had numerous sources of income. Including the legitimate garbage business.

Likewise with his 2 boats. He sold the first one and upgraded to a larger one but it was by no means a yacht.

He was a boss with a few good earners in his crew.

[–] elmacho (872) 3 months ago

true, but compared to all the capos at the time it was a much better lifestyle. They all lived in typical 1,500 square foot homes in Belleville, Nutley and surrounding areas. I am re-watching the whole series and yes it looks like Tony had better legitimate sources of income to justify his lifestyle. Some of the others complain about it from time to time.