Where Is Joey Merlino Now?
Mobsters DailyJoey Merlino lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where he promotes a cheesesteak brand and hosts a sports-handicapping podcast — openly, under his own name.
From South Philly to South Florida
Merlino grew up in the Philadelphia mob world that exploded after Angelo Bruno's murder, survived its wars, and did his prison time. On release he did what old bosses rarely do: he left. Florida gave him distance from Philadelphia's streets and its surveillance.
Retirement looks different when your face is famous, which is why this time of year belongs to the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater — Tony in a black-and-white stencil, gabagool energy included, built for Christmas parties, family photos and long Sopranos rewatch nights.
The public retirement
His cheesesteak venture trades on the Skinny Joey name, and his betting show discusses odds, not omertà. It is a strange mirror of fiction — fans compare it to the question of who the real Tony Soprano was — except Merlino insists there is nothing left to hide because there is nothing left at all.
Frequently asked questions
Does Joey Merlino still live in Philadelphia? No. He is based in Boca Raton, Florida.
What does Merlino do now? He promotes a cheesesteak brand and hosts a sports-betting podcast.
Is Merlino in witness protection? No. He lives publicly under his real name.
Keep reading: Why the Mafia fell · The Oddfather · The Five Families · Is Joey Merlino Still a Mobster? 'Skinny Joey' in the Podcast Era
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — the real-mafia history behind the names in this story, in one gripping read.
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