Vito Corleone

A Journey for Survival: From Sicily to New York

Vito Corleone's life begins in 1891 in the village of Corleone, in the Kingdom of Italy's Sicily. His early survival story already begins in an environment dominated by violence and oppression, which forms the foundation of his strong survival instinct. When Vito came to America around the age of ten, he formed a connection with the Abbandando family who had come on the same ship, spending his childhood alongside them. In this process, he became close friends with Genco Abbandando, who would later become a core member of the Corleone family—its consigliere. Thus, Vito's early network of relationships functioned beyond mere friendship as essential alliances for survival.

How to Build 'Reputation': The Confrontation with Fanucci

Settling in New York, Vito soon confronts the dark reality of the neighborhood where Italian immigrants are gathered. When a man named Don Fanucci establishes his dominance and extorts tribute from people, Vito faces the crisis of losing his job as a clerk. This experience taught Vito a sobering lesson about the 'source of power.'

Witnessing Fanucci demand tribute payments, Vito displays the family's innate refusal to submit to the strong. He shows meticulous planning in eliminating Fanucci, demonstrating thoroughness in destroying all evidence in the process.

The most important outcome of this event was not the violence itself. Thanks to the Sicilian spirit of omertà, Vito was not reported to the police, and instead received spontaneous requests for protection from neighborhood residents—obtaining the intangible power of 'rumor and reputation.' Through this experience, Vito begins his true journey toward becoming a Don, establishing his reputation as someone who possesses not only violence but 'rispetto (respect)' and 'ragione (reason).'

Business Expansion: Legitimization Through the Olive Oil Trade

Vito's accumulation of power did not rest with violence alone. He demonstrated an outstanding sense for spotting business opportunities. Together with Pete Clemenza and Sal Tessio, Vito establishes an olive oil trading company called the 'Genco Trading Company,' taking the first steps as a Mafia family that looks after Italian immigrants.

Furthermore, he joined forces with Don Tommasino to secure an exclusive supply of Italian olive oil from his homeland Sicily. Through this alliance, the Genco olive oil import business flourished to the extent of becoming America's largest Italian olive oil brand, and this became the decisive opportunity to upgrade the Mafia's business domain from simple criminal activity to the level of a nationwide syndicate-scale economic system.

This process proves that Vito was not merely a revenge-driven thug but a great entrepreneur and leader who utilized sophisticated financial maneuvers and strategic alliances. He ultimately returned in triumph to his home village of Corleone and completed all his revenge by personally killing Don Ciccio—the man who had slaughtered his father, brother, and mother.