John Gotti murders his way to the top of New York's most powerful Mafia family; indictments come and go, but nothing sticks; rich, powerful and in love with himself, Gotti becomes enthralled with the glare of the media lights.

Carmine "the Snake" Persico, a master of deceit, commits one of the biggest murders in Mafia history; while behind bars he rules a crime family, conducts three wars and orders murders.