Don't Call him Bugsy. He Doesn't Like it.

Born Benjamin Siegel, in 1906, Brooklyn, NYC. Ben was a no-nonsense kind of man, hard-hitting, quick-tempered, handsome, cool and he didn’t take any crap from anyone. Ben played by his own rules. Known as “Bugsy” because of his short fuse. People suggested he was crazier than a bedbug. However, most dared call him that name. He hated it and if you slipped up, you paid the price. “My friends call me Ben,” he once said, “Strangers call me Mr. Siegel, and guys I don’t like call me Bugsy, but not to my face.”

“Bugsy never hesitated when danger threatened. While we tried to figure out what the best move was, Bugsy was already shooting. When it came to action, there was no one better. I’ve never known a man who had more guts.” Joseph Stacher told writer Uri Dan. Stacher was another associate of the Meyer and Ben gang.

A Big Money Maker

Benjamin made plenty during prohibition with his long-time friend, Meyer Lansky. Arnold Rothstein, aka “The Big Bankroll” supplied the cash needed to assist Ben and Meyer in their bootlegging organization. Rothstein told them they would need dependable transportation to deliver the goods, so Ben and Lansky opened a truck rental company. They hired Ben as a driver and his job was to transport the alcohol from a warehouse to bars and speakeasies. They also had a fleet of speedboats that were used to bring the products from Cuba to Miami. Illegal booze was a dangerous venture. There were constant shootouts and murders which plagued the operations. The Volstad Act ended in 1933 and many of the families spent their profits to sell drugs and opening brothels. Siegel and Lansky invested in gambling.

And the Hits Kept Coming

Siegel, known to have a volatile temper and he wouldn’t hesitate to beat someone for stealing or skimming their organization. Siegel and others formed what the media dubbed as Murder Inc. A business which would kill anyone for a price. Ben was one of the companies’ henchmen. He had several hits to his list, Salvatore Maranzano, the boss of NYC, the Fabrizzo brothers. Loan sharks Louis and Joseph Amberg and many more. Albert Anastasia took over Murder Inc. and Ben went onto other ventures.  

The Flamingo

Ben started Las Vegas by building a casino in the desert. The bosses allowed him to start the project until the cost got out of control and money disappeared. He spent millions more than authorized. Even though the casino finally starting turning a profit, the powers to be including his longtime pal Meyer felt they waited long enough. Benjamin (Bugsy) Siegel was shot to death while relaxing on a sofa in Virginia Hill’s mansion. Today Vegas brings in billions of dollars a year thanks to Ben Siegel.

Benjamin (Bugsy) Siegel Quotes

“Everybody deserves a fresh start every once in a while.”

“Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.”

“That Meyer. Can you believe it? He’s even a member of the book of the month club.”

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