The Bonanno Family was founded and named after Joseph Bonanno. It was one of the most powerful families in the mafia until the early 1960's when Bonanno was forced to retire.

In 1981, it was learned that an FBI agent known as Donny Brasco had gone unercover and infiltrated their ranks. And in 2004, after many convictions and defections, then mob boss, Joseph Massino became a government informant.

Currently, Michael Mancuso is the official boss of the Bonanno Family.