'' Maier Suchowljansky, the Russian-born immigrant better known as Meyer Lansky, always called himself a lucky gambler. But, according to law-enforcement officials, he was for decades a kingpin of organized crime in the United States, a ruthless onetime ''director'' of Murder Inc.

What was Meyer Lansky net worth at death?

Before he fled Cuba, he was said to be worth an estimated $20 million (equivalent to $158 million in 2019). However, when he died in 1983, his family was shocked to learn that his estate was worth around $57,000, or $125,000 in 2019 terms.

What happened to Lansky?

Though convicted of grand jury contempt charges, the decision was overturned and other charges were dropped because of his poor health after an examination revealed that he was suffering from a range of serious ailments. Meyer Lansky died from lung cancer on January 15, 1983, in Miami Beach at the age of 80.