5 Surprising Facts About Al Capone's Granddaughters Today: Inside The Private Lives Of The Last Living Relatives
The legacy of Al Capone, the notorious Chicago mob boss nicknamed "Scarface," continues to fascinate the public nearly 80 years after his death, but the lives of his direct descendants have remained largely private until recently. As of late 2025, the most prominent living relatives are his granddaughters, who have stepped into the spotlight to share a deeply personal, often contradictory, view of the man behind the myth. Their current lives, centered mostly in California, are a world away from the Prohibition-era violence, but they are still inextricably linked to the Capone name, a connection they have chosen to embrace through books, public appearances, and the controversial sale of family heirlooms.
This article provides the most current and updated look at Al Capone's surviving family members, detailing their careers, their efforts to humanize the infamous gangster, and the recent, dramatic loss of one of the family's most significant historical properties, his Miami Beach estate. The story of the Capone family today is one of reconciling a brutal, public past with a quiet, modern life, a balancing act that culminated in a high-profile auction and an ongoing effort to reshape the narrative for a new generation.
The Direct Line: Al Capone's Biography and Family Profile
Al Capone's direct lineage is surprisingly short, stemming from his only legitimate child, a son who largely shunned the spotlight. The current living relatives are the great-grandchildren, but the most public face of the family remains the granddaughters.
- Full Name: Alphonse Gabriel Capone
- Born: January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York
- Died: January 25, 1947, in Miami Beach, Florida (at age 48)
- Spouse: Mary Josephine "Mae" Coughlin (1899–1986)
- Only Child: Albert Francis "Sonny" Capone Jr. (1918–2004)
- Grandchildren (Daughters of Sonny Capone): Veronica Capone, Teresa Capone (Pate), Barbara Capone (Pate), and Diane Patricia Capone (Pette).
- Current Status of Granddaughters: Three of the four granddaughters are still alive today and reside in California. Diane Capone Pette is the most vocal and public-facing of the siblings.
- Key Entities: Mae Capone, Sonny Capone, Chicago Outfit, Alcatraz, Palm Island, tax evasion, St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Prohibition.
The Granddaughters Today: Reconciling the Scarface Legacy
The four granddaughters of Al Capone—Veronica, Teresa, Barbara, and Diane—grew up in Florida and later moved to California, maintaining a quiet life that was deliberately shielded from the media frenzy surrounding their grandfather. For decades, they rarely spoke publicly about the "Scarface" legacy, a silence broken only in recent years by Diane Patricia Capone Pette, the eldest of the siblings.
Diane Capone Pette has become the primary voice for the family, offering a unique and deeply personal perspective on the mobster. She is the author of the 2019 book, Al Capone: Stories My Grandmother Told Me.
The book and her subsequent public appearances paint a picture of a devoted, loving family man—a side of Al Capone rarely seen by the public. She recounts stories told to her by her grandmother, Mae Capone, emphasizing that while he may have been ruthless in his public life, he was a loyal and affectionate grandfather and father. Diane’s goal is to humanize the man and provide context for the "unfortunate path" his life took.
As of 2025, Diane Capone remains an active public speaker, often appearing at historical societies and events, including a highlight as a speaker for Mensa, where she shares her family's narrative of the notorious gangster.
The Controversial 2021 Auction of Capone's Estate
One of the most significant and recent events involving Al Capone's direct descendants was the 2021 auction of over 174 personal items from his estate, titled "A Century of Notoriety: The Estate of Al Capone." The auction, held in Sacramento, California, was initiated by the three surviving granddaughters.
The decision to sell was driven by a desire to finally part with the material remnants of a complicated past and to ensure the items were protected from the increasing threat of California wildfires.
The sale garnered international attention, fetching over $3.1 million. The most prized item was Capone’s favorite .45-caliber pistol, a "sweetheart" gun, which sold for $860,000. Other items included diamond-studded jewelry, family photographs, and a letter written by Capone to his son, Sonny, from Alcatraz. The auction provided a definitive, public closure for the granddaughters, allowing them to monetize the legacy while simultaneously sharing intimate family details that had been hidden for decades.
The Demolition of Capone's Miami Beach Mansion (2023)
A major, non-family event that dramatically impacted the physical legacy of Al Capone occurred in August 2023: the demolition of his former Miami Beach estate at 93 Palm Avenue. This property was not only the gangster's final residence but also the place where he lived after his release from Alcatraz and where he ultimately died in 1947.
Capone purchased the sprawling Palm Island villa in 1928, and it served as his primary home during the height of his power and notoriety. After his death, his wife, Mae Capone, and son, Sonny Capone, continued to live there until Mae sold it in 1952.
Despite efforts by local preservationists to save the century-old mansion, a new Florida law regarding historic buildings paved the way for its leveling. The owner, a wealthy developer, successfully argued that the property was beyond repair due to water damage. The demolition was a final, physical severing of one of the most tangible links between the infamous mob boss and the modern world.
The loss of the 93 Palm Avenue villa is a significant development in the Capone narrative. While the granddaughters have successfully preserved the private, personal memories through their books and public speaking, the public, historical landmark associated with the gangster is now gone. This leaves the personal accounts and the auctioned artifacts as the only remaining, tangible connections to Al Capone's life outside of historical records and the Alcatraz prison.
Living with the Name: The Enduring Capone Brand
The descendants of Al Capone today are navigating a complicated relationship with one of the most infamous names in American history. They are not merely living with a historical figure; they are managing a global brand. The emergence of Diane Capone Pette as a public figure, along with her sisters' decision to auction the estate, signifies a shift from decades of strict privacy to a calculated engagement with the public.
The family's narrative focuses heavily on the theme of redemption and the complexity of the human spirit. Diane, in particular, emphasizes that her grandfather was a product of his time and circumstances, a man who had "few options in life" that may have led him down an "unfortunate path." This approach seeks to separate the family's personal memories from the sensationalized media image of "Scarface," the ruthless gangster responsible for the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and countless other crimes.
Beyond the direct line, other relatives, such as grand-niece Deirdre Marie Capone (daughter of Al's brother, Ralph Capone), have also published books, further illustrating the family's collective effort to control and shape the enduring legacy. Deirdre's book, Uncle Al Capone – The Untold Story From Inside His Family, provides an additional layer of intimate detail.
Ultimately, the story of Al Capone's relatives today is one of legacy management. They are the keepers of personal history, using their unique position to offer a final, intimate portrait of the man who was both a loving family patriarch and one of the most feared criminals in American history. Their current lives, centered in California, are dedicated to ensuring that the family's version of Al Capone survives alongside the historical record, a process that continues to unfold through public speaking, writing, and the occasional sale of a priceless family artifact.
Detail Author:
- Name : Vito Anderson
- Username : zwhite
- Email : alaina47@hotmail.com
- Birthdate : 2007-02-20
- Address : 6127 Gutmann Wells New Jarret, RI 79381
- Phone : +19706958177
- Company : Wilkinson-Trantow
- Job : Office Machine Operator
- Bio : Quaerat ut laborum at quia. Rerum omnis repellendus eveniet nemo. Officiis impedit quos ut sunt consequatur qui.
Socials
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/murrays
- username : murrays
- bio : Voluptatibus dolor quo omnis sed.
- followers : 1664
- following : 1424
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/smurray
- username : smurray
- bio : Quis voluptatem deserunt temporibus assumenda. Omnis sed minus sequi quaerat.
- followers : 3832
- following : 804
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@sylvia.murray
- username : sylvia.murray
- bio : Illo blanditiis qui veritatis ipsum cumque quo.
- followers : 3924
- following : 2613
