In a newly released podcast interview, former Gambino crime family underboss Sammy “The Bull” Gravano provided fresh details about the 1985 murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano, including John Gotti’s alleged direct involvement in orchestrating the hit.
Gravano, who served as Gotti’s second-in-command before turning government witness, recounted on The Sean Hannity Show how he was asked to participate in the assassination of Castellano, then the Gambino family’s boss. Gravano described the request as unprecedented, noting that killing a boss—let alone the “boss of bosses”—carried severe risks within organized crime circles.
The 1985 assassination and its immediate aftermath
Castellano and his underboss, Thomas Bilotti, were fatally shot outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan on December 16, 1985. The brazen daylight attack marked a turning point in Gotti’s rise to power, as he was formally recognized as Gambino boss weeks later. Gravano, who was present nearby during the shooting, confirmed Gotti’s role in the plot, stating that Gotti’s associates had explicitly sought his help to carry out the killing.
Gravano’s testimony later became a cornerstone of the federal case against Gotti. In 1992, Gotti was convicted of murder, racketeering, and other crimes, largely based on Gravano’s cooperation with prosecutors. Gravano admitted to participating in 19 murders as part of his agreement with law enforcement, a decision he described as pragmatic rather than ideological.
Gravano’s motivations and the fallout
During the interview, Gravano framed his decision to cooperate as a response to Gotti’s alleged plan to make him the scapegoat in the Castellano case. He recounted telling Gotti’s legal team, “I said, ‘F** the Mafia, f*** the oath, and f*** John Gotti. I’m switching sides.’”* Gravano also discussed the personal toll of his cooperation, including the label of “rat” within mob circles and the challenges of living under witness protection.
The podcast episode, titled “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” aired on August 16, 2026, and is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Gravano’s remarks revisit decades-old events but offer new insights into the internal dynamics of the Gambino crime family during one of its most volatile periods.
Background: The Gambino family power struggle
The murder of Castellano was not merely a personal vendetta but a strategic move within the broader Mafia Commission, which governed New York’s five major crime families. Castellano’s influence extended beyond the Gambino family, making his death a destabilizing event. Gravano’s account underscores the high-stakes nature of the decision, as well as the risks taken by those who defied the Mafia’s code of silence.
Gravano’s revelations come amid renewed public interest in organized crime history, fueled by documentaries, podcasts, and retrospective coverage of high-profile mob cases. His interview adds to a body of firsthand accounts from former mobsters who have since become cooperating witnesses, providing historians and law enforcement with critical perspectives on the inner workings of the American Mafia.