Al Capone's son escaped the mob legacy by changing his name to Brown
Albert Francis Capone, the only child of notorious gangster Al Capone, lived a life far removed from his father's criminal legacy. Born in 1918, he later changed his surname to Brown, seeking distance from the notoriety tied to the Capone name. His journey included education at an elite school, various jobs, and a quiet later life in California.
Albert Francis Capone was born on December 4, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York, to Alphonse Gabriel Capone and Mae Josephine Coughlin. His father, already a rising figure in organised crime, reportedly adored him. When young Albert—nicknamed Sonny—developed a severe mastoid infection, Al Capone offered a doctor $100,000 for treatment. The physician charged just $1,000 but successfully preserved the boy's hearing.
Despite his father's imprisonment for tax evasion, Albert attended the prestigious St. Patrick School in Miami Beach, Florida. There, he befriended Desi Arnaz, who later co-created I Love Lucy. When applying to college, he listed his father's occupation simply as 'retired'.
As an adult, Albert worked a series of ordinary jobs: used car salesman, apprentice printer, restaurant worker alongside his mother, and later a tire distributor. In 1965, after a petty crime arrest, he legally changed his name to Albert Francis Brown. He told reporters he was 'sick and tired of fighting the name.'
His father, meanwhile, had struggled with untreated syphilis contracted in his youth. From Alcatraz, Al Capone wrote Albert a heartfelt letter, expressing love and longing to reunite. Albert died on July 8, 2004, in Auburn Lake Trails, California.
Albert Francis Brown left behind a large family, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His decision to abandon the Capone name marked a deliberate break from the past. Though his father's shadow loomed large, he carved out a life defined by quiet work and relative anonymity.
