‘Sopranos’ Characters’ Finances, Analyzed by a Money Expert | WSJ As Spent on TV

HBO’s The Sopranos revolves around Tony Soprano, an Italian-American mob boss who constantly juggles his family, his affairs and his dangerous but lucrative job. A financial planner discusses if life insurance is worth it, breaks down the cost of Patek Philippe watches, and analyzes if the Soprano family made sound financial decisions and investments.
A money expert discusses the financial planning of Tony, Carmela and Livia.
0:00 Meet AJ Ayers, a financial planner
0:17 Tony Soprano
3:06 Carmela Soprano
6:51 Livia Soprano
#Sopranos #PersonalFinance #WSJ

[@masterprattu]

WSJ, Sopranos clips are Borko's territory since the big bang. You have to kick up 10 points to the boss from now on. You've been warned.

[@ryanyoung9202]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@f.boogaloospook2318]

Can we segue into something more pressing

[@case_0223]

@@f.boogaloospook2318the floor is yours senator

[@LightsOutLow]

Borko has been south with the geese recently

[@f.boogaloospook2318]

@@case_0223 the split with borko and hbo is way out of whack

[@russsnyder2026]

She’s supposed to push Webistics

[@jigafox]

Hahaha! Underrated comment!! 😂😂

[@javtimestwo]

"Aw Tony, Chip and Dale beat up a stockbroker and put him in the hospital"

[@shirihotep3741]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@speedsonic292]

More like pokey man cards lol

[@ExitTheMatrixVR]

😂

[@mr.patriotjol]

Borko wants his cut. Hes the boss after all

[@I-Know-Best]

I think she missed the point on the first one. It wasn’t only she was scared that they would run out of money, she was scared Tony would get himself killed and THEN she should have to work at a grocery store.

[@psycictree27]

This.

[@hez859]

​@@psycictree27makes it all so sweet when big pussy's wife manages to become a self made woman

[@steverogers7601]

Yep!

[@loganerb3952]

Exactly! And to go a step further it’s proven over and over in the show that Carmella will literally do ANYTHING to avoid having to work a regular 9-5 job let alone work in a grocery store where all her friends go

[@sethzimm9678]

yep and nobody’s mentioning how tony, sal and sil killed her husband lol. that’s the reason she’s in the store

[@viceverse11]

You don't want a criminal lawyer. You want a "criminal" lawyer.

[@gregnixon1296]

Brilliant.

[@douglasgeiger7591]

😂😂

[@heroedeleyenda05]

I love that the limit on unreported gifts is 16k and tony got him a 15k watch. the amount of thought put into this is superb. Tony probably went to the jewelry store with a wad of cash with 16k on it. asked the jeweler what's the most expensive watch he could afford with 16k, and after taxes, that 15k watch was it. It makes me wonder if luxury watch manufacturers have a specific tier at this price point, just for this particular reason. i wouldnt put it past them.

[@Akeem_768]

Back then it wasn't $16k though

[@heroedeleyenda05]

@@Akeem_768 are you sure about that? Like you actually did the research before commenting? Or youre just trying to be a contrarian? I havent done the research, im just speculating based on what was said on the video. And i would nt be surprised if the amount was still the same 20 years later. 15 years later the most cash you could take to mexico unreported was 10k, and today it is still the same. But anyways, if i was contradicting someone, i would first do the research

[@Akeem_768]

@@heroedeleyenda05 dude you can easily look up historical annual gift tax exclusion amounts, it trends in a upward motion just like you said $16k in 2022, it's $17k in 2023. Between 1997-2001 it was $10k & 2002-2005 it was $11k

[@calmax11]

Man the watch was stolen ;)

[@CashisKingtrucking]

LoL Tony buying a watch, seriously.

[@drumyogi9281]

What ever happened to Borko? The strong, silent type?

[@Jagiellonian]

borko, whatever happened there

[@hugonongbri8100]

The guy's a guest of the guhvuhmint

[@odeleon24]

Lou Gerig’s or AIDS?

[@Otmani.i]

It’s not a nursing home! It’s a retirement community

[@Kromsmitesyou]

I know some seniors that are inspired!

[@t.a6159]

I dont like dat kinda tawk...

[@mufasaiam7794]

Now that, was gold. We need more videos like this WSJ

[@CatatonicImperfect]

School teacher/city council person/union guy analyzes The Wire scenes!

[@jpongothics]

Speaking of gold, whatever happened to the Krugerrand Meadow found? Sounds like a nice parachute.

[@01seb83]

@@CatatonicImperfect Yes. Just yes.

[@forever_golfer1981]

“Top level Enron connections” The Enron executives were stealing too.😂😂😂😂

[@SeenaAbedi]

“Financial advisers want nothing to do with nefarious business activities” 🙃🙃🙃

[@glebkotov1528]

BS as I think) In real life it is a struggle for the fat client

[@bigdog1002]

Marty Byrde disagrees

[@blucolife]

@@bigdog1002 Look at all the stress he experienced for lying with dogs. He got more than fleas.

[@dariog36th]

Lol yeah right. That’s why banks told trump he couldn’t classify Mexican Cartels as terrorist groups. Because they launder their money.

[@xdguy2569]

Charles Schwab ova here.

[@baris3985]

Loved this video. She is super charismatic and it's obvious that she loves the series!

[@steverogers7601]

Suburban dudes have a soft spot for the April Ludgate or LeanBeefPatty look. The whole “she’s attractive enough to be attainable but not too hot where she makes me feel inadequate”

[@LilTempo25]

I went on a limb to watch the video based on your comment. I'm glad to report you were correct in your assessment. She's great! Very charismatic and actual fan of The Sopranos.

[@shinrapresident7010]

@@steverogers7601 Speaking for yourself, I take it?

[@Ben.N]

​@@steverogers7601true

[@BroodingPeeps]

​@@steverogers7601Your whole world view on women is a fitness TikToker, that says more about you than anyone

[@johansmallberries9874]

My biggest financial issue with the Sopranos: where was uncle Juniors money? Capo since the 60’s. No wife, no kids, no addictions. No long prison stay. Ran a successful crew. Became underboss of North Jersey. Where’s his mansion?

[@MayorSom]

Great point.

[@johansmallberries9874]

@@MayorSom He didn’t even waste money on a gumare, he just banged his nurse. That’s just fiscally responsible. He seemingly had zero vices, and was rather cheap. And he had a rep for being too greedy with the kick ups. He should’ve had a fortune saved up. Juniors a big plot hole for me. Not even mentioning how his entire crew disappeared and just became Mikey.

[@rockwild737]

​@johansmallberries9874 the crew just disappearing into thin air always bothered me. Some of those guys would have been real big hitters.

[@zealcake]

​@@johansmallberries9874His crew disappearing was odd, but for the mansion, Junior is very old school. At that time, the older made guys didn't believe on buying mansions like Tony's. He saved his money and remember as soon as he goes into the nursing home in season 6, his money is being used for the home. That's roughly a year and a half of monthly payments for a high dollar nursing home until the last episode. His money was drained over that period

[@gregnixon1296]

Old bosses lived below the radar to blend in with the community.

[@EmperorMingg]

It’s always a pleasure to see someone critique the series from a professional standpoint when they’re a fan of the show

[@rks5457]

Angie Bonpenseiro is the real shrewd and talented businesswoman.

[@TalibanHatesme13]

Absolutely. Im actually a little upset she didnt say that about her.

[@stillcovalent]

Tony was the owner of one of the biggest garbage disposal companies in North Jersey, so of course he could afford all the luxuries for his wife and kids..

[@spencer9093]

Partial owner, second highest salary in the company

[@northernking2604]

Don't forget his no show job at barone sanitation

[@stillcovalent]

@@northernking2604and honoree of the year Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri

[@help4343]

And the Bing and the butcher shop

[@spencer9093]

@@northernking2604 that's what we are talkin about lol they are the same thing

[@haydenhaydo]

Oh my Borko, he was a saint!

[@Kromsmitesyou]

I wish the lord would take me now.

[@Greenfields-px5cs]

Correction - Tony didn’t pay for dinners, the newest made guy did

[@marcosmos7478]

that's my money paulie!

[@jaspdx63]

On Social Security: there were numerous references to "no-show" and "no-work" jobs gained via control of unions and businesses (construction, waste management, finance, etc.). I would think that in addition to having health insurance and "legitimate" pay through those jobs, the jobs helped the fellas build enough work credits with SSA to have healthy PIA's if they survived into their 60's-70's. In fact, even if they did not survive I think the spouses would be eligible for spousal benefits down the road.

[@blinkfan305]

7:40 Livia is the master at baiting people. Look at how Janice reacts when she learns she might actually have money she could siphon away. It's the subtle nuances of how these characters interact that make this show such a legend

[@stanleyconnor6898]

Actually, Janice wasn't very smart as she should be 😂

[@amazingabby25]

@@stanleyconnor6898the oldest sibilant was the smartest

[@kenm.2793]

the master baiter

[@samhearin8487]

SHE WAS ABUSIVE TO THE STAFF 🤌

[@ibrahimnura8758]

Don't forget about the 40k from the bird feeder😂

[@RockAndGrohlMe]

BIRD FEEDUH?!!!? You sound demented!

[@hanklesacks]

@@RockAndGrohlMe40k dumped into the stock market, I'd ask for my cut, but wait there's notn!!

[@mrbond9882]

Put $9900 on docking station.

[@Pyrrhic537]

If Tony met this financial woman, he would definitely try his luck with her lol.

[@JudgeDredd_]

Angie got her car windows smashed out for blabbing to Carmela about her problems. Plus, her dog was ok, even though she said “it comes and goes.” And then the Phil thing with the car.. whatever happened there.

[@madhavyu]

"Whatever happened there?" I'll tell you what happened, he was murdered without any provocation, what so ever. Now go home and get your shinebox.

[@javtimestwo]

@@madhavyu Tony, "yeah, it's said when they go so young" Johnny Sack, "WHEN THEY GO"

[@mattoutfield7313]

You know, Quazimodo predicted all of this

[@highfuturamic]

Carmela never had the makings of a varsity investor

[@johannabonana5306]

I like how invested she is. Her confidence too. She seems like an expert at her job.

[@Crozbozy]

Not long ago you used to wait in the car, and as far as I'm concerned YOU SHOULD STILL BE THERE

[@i_know_youre_right_but]

She’s the definition of #GirlBoss. I love seeing someone who identifies as a woman with such confidence😍

[@kresimirpleic]

@@i_know_youre_right_but She doesn't have to or need to identify as a woman, she IS a woman.

[@Teez_Omak]

@@i_know_youre_right_butdid u just assume their gender 🧐😏

[@Jagiellonian]

​@@Teez_Omakwhat are you gonna do they're part of a whole generation

[@enriquereboyras4381]

Tony paid for livias bills for green grove it was $4k a month.

[@jalenr.6542]

That was in 2000s money. It’s way higher now

[@BroodingPeeps]

It was 8000. Later Paulie puts his Ma in too and can't keep up with the cost.

[@armenstaubach9276]

I can’t believe this lady is a Sopranos fan 😂 please make more videos like this with her

[@occamsrazor1285]

3:10 I have (and had) family in banking. I asked my mom once about this and what she told me was though this is true, it's only partially true. Large deposits happen so often that the IRS would be inundated with data, so what actually happens is a form is filed and stored at the local branch. It doesn't get sent to the IRS unless the IRS asks for it. And apparently it doesn't have to be at least $10,000. If this banker suspected the money was from ill-gotten gains, he can file a report on it and make it available to the IRS should they ask. I asked her this back in like 2004 though, so could be different now.

[@aakksshhaayy]

It's all electronic now.. it takes a few bytes per transaction and the IRS has literally petabytes of storage. Actually they recently discussed reducing the number to $600.

[@catloverx9217]

​@@aakksshhaayy600 $ ????? How disgusting IT is !!!! It's not the Little people the problem with taxe évasion. The problem is from the riche whom Hide lot of cash

[@ytcensorhack1876]

Charles schwab over here

[@occamsrazor1285]

@@ytcensorhack1876 I'm a pretty low bar to measure your ego against. You must be desperate.

[@moderndaygrinch]

​@@catloverx9217do as I say, not as I do 😉

[@bomboy7]

She would still get reported depositing 9,900. I used to work at a bank, and we were trained to look out of people intentionally depositing just under 10k. Can still fill a report if under 10k.

[@AcMrPro]

Yeah you're right. I work in anti-money Laundering for different financial institutions and not reporting simply because it was 5% under the threshold is not a valid reason. However, it's that little bit of plausible deniability that allows many people to try to get away with it anyways.

[@chadwells7562]

Structuring a transaction to avoid reporting requirements is in itself a crime

[@uncleandy2412]

Yeah, its called structuring and what Carmella was doing is illegal.

[@whatskrakalaken1940]

My favorite show of all time!

[@afcassidy302]

She understands that the Enron line was an intentional joke... right?

[@MrShaunG]

I caught that too, she's simply misremembering the timeline. In her defenses Sopranos started while Enron "ended".

[@Sernival]

Props for doing a Sopranos vid, very fun.

[@varunchoudary7312]

7:12 all due respect ,ITS A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY!!!!

[@doowi1182]

This was a phenomenal video

[@hovac1987]

Most mobsters are broke

[@killerfrank8974]

Indeed, there's a lot more of what they call brokesters than earners in that life. Always has been, even during their glory days.

[@rockwild737]

The bosses will be making plenty tho.

[@kenm.2793]

it's ovah for the little guy

[@carguy3910]

In addition to the Chevrolet Suburban, Tony also owned a Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

[@Honovi007]

The mob didn't take care of Pus’s family because Pus did the unforgivable

[@HamanKarn567]

3:50 Charles Schwab ova here.

[@RoganBits]

Had Tony invested; he may have been able to get out of that life before Phil became a house.

[@t.c.4321]

There is no getting out of our thing

[@kcdiazWTV]

Do Ozark next.

[@makhangel]

I LOVE this! The SUCCESSION one was fascinating as well. More please!!!!

[@joshmakovsky1420]

7:11 Nursing home? It’s a RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

[@jsldj]

One of the few experts I would trust!

[@jaspdx63]

Remember, there is always money in the banana stand.

[@a004]

Wow this was a great video

[@waldo1967]

He never had the makings of a varsity athlete.😉

[@Letsplay222]

It's over for the little guy.

[@jasonmoran5]

Ohhh! Aye lady, it's a retirement community. But it's even MORE like a hotel at Captain Teebs

[@Hobiexoxo]

Who’s he?

[@Georgieastra]

​@@Hobiexoxo He's a prominent Tory in the south of France.

[@MrWbrennan]

Finished the Sopranos earlier this year and love WSJ videos. This is a match made in heaven :)

[@milowong4635]

best WSJ video so far

[@michaelcasalta7679]

Nicely Done!!!

[@patrickzadd5215]

great video!

[@MarkGallo-tt8pt]

this is good content, ty

[@johnnyend2479]

But what about Phil? 20 years in the can, how many money got?

[@kenm.2793]

He wanted money got, but he compromised, ate grilled cheese off the radiator

[@Chessxx1]

Video was exquisite

[@RUdigitized]

Great analysis AJ, very allegorical!

[@MaLiCioUs420xD]

This is so interesting 😂 she’s making this so funny too

[@travupc]

Funny Carmela didn’t mention the spec house. Wonder if it caved in yet..

[@MarcoSilesio]

great vid

[@davisthegamelord]

Tony does have legitimate forms of income so he does pay taxes he just doesn't include everything

[@habbyhouse]

I like sopranos, glad you did a video on it. Can you guys help me with my texas though?

[@craig42069]

LOVE IT

[@stancurry6265]

Love that high up in the corporate structure Enron quote, total game recognize game there. Just happens to pick out the corporation with all the executives committing crimes

[@Kemoclout]

tony would make a move on her

[@colorfulpaper6057]

Charles Schwab over here

[@dbzfan4evermj233]

god I miss the sopranos just other day I bought the dvd box set I wish they made more mafia tv shows today

[@tommy2tuggz]

This was a fun video! Haha stuff I never thought about

[@ajitkirpekar4251]

Id be curious how much the life insurance policy is valued at plus what the net worth of his assets once you exclude the house. All of that has to be declared as legitimate income and the only sources for that are Satriales, his co-ownership of the Bada Bing club, and his salary and part ownership of Barone Sanitation. That's a hefty sum, I'm sure, but dwarfed in size by his illegal sources of funds.

[@johnmunro4952]

Great video. Really interesting. USA finance is really weird

[@uzumaki2689]

"And you act like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth"🔥🔥🔥

[@ilikethiskindatube]

Actually working is Carmella's worst nightmare

[@devanman7920]

Just me or is this lady (A.J Ayers) incredibly charismatic and easy to listen to.

[@IronDiva]

It’s just you.

[@kartikprasad4359]

It’s NOT just you.

[@spartan114m]

Crazy how intrusive the gov is in our lives and we allow it.

[@AMGBVG1369]

I like this series

[@bluedale6563]

Excellent video Thank you.....Dave in lreland Europe

[@chunkymilk]

Webistics is our pick o' the week.

[@ouroboros6125]

Business idea: We need banks who respect personal privacy and keep their accounts on number based anonymity. That would fix a lot of issues with modern society. Criminals or not criminals, why does no one question the insanity behind institutions and governments being able to attain that information? It's none of anyone's business. The fact that your bank account is not fully protected information by law borders dystopian nightmare.

[@chadwells7562]

If your business idea is to be shut down instantly and go to Federal prison, sure. We had this 50 years ago and the government passed the Bank Secrecy Act to stop it

[@voisindo]

@@bushman6964 they aren't as secret as you think unfortunately. When the Truckers' Convoy happened here in Canada, the feds seized a handful of crypto wallets.

[@the_expidition427]

The appropriate steps were not followed

[@Nicebitoftucka]

​@@voisindocrypto exchanges aren't cold storage wallets

[@voisindo]

@@the_expidition427 the federal government also threatened bitcoin, etc.

[@matthewfreeman2]

What savings bank account is making 6 percent?

[@mellow-jello]

FYI Basic Patek Philipe were going for $10-12K, so fits below the $15K threshold, in 2003. Easily been a quartz.

[@paulbonaventura4969]

The pause on Tony's eyes... every man does that

[@Abuqital2000]

If you're rich you can have an offshore account but if your poor it's illegal and you'll go to jail.

[@cjdayne3033]

I thought Kino would do a video like this eventually

[@jackstraw3934]

Chrissie: “Hey T, there’s a lot of money in that garbage”.

[@Y_hass]

Tony had a high ranked position in Barone sanitation so he can always explain how he got his money.

[@jaygasper4853]

They LITERALLY tell 5 seconds after she pays the guy in the Sopranos episode about why it's under 10 grand.

[@JMoruzzi]

3:40 Charles Schneer might also be a movie in-joke. Charles H Schneer was the producer of many Ray Harryhausen films. Not sure what, if anything, links Harryhausen to the Sopranos, but it's difficult to imagine no-one involved recognised the name and that its usage is pure coincidence. His films still have lots of fans.

[@kbram7363]

pretty cool of wsj

[@billybob-os5um]

I love how she had to add at the end of the video that she’d never finically advise someone who Is in organised crime, just in case someone got the wrong idea from the video 😂

[@tjschoenlein5189]

Actually there are quite a few financial advisors out who would jump at the opportunity to handle “manipulate funds,” and receive compensation for their expertise. Most sophisticated criminal enterprises have accountants/financial advisors to put their money back into the main ’ Financial stream,’ etc. 🤔

[@samk-ez7st]

Jr. was one of the old school dons he was not flashy lived in a regular home and led modest lifestyle fitting right in with the neighbors but word gets out when your facing a rico.Even after he led a quiet life until old age took him.

[@CaraMarie13]

Never saw this show but is this where the cousin who gives you financial advice comes from? 😂

[@bngr_bngr]

AJ sounds like the life of a party.

[@stuckie3916]

That’s why you hire Bendini, Lambert and Locke. Small firm out of Memphis, you may have heard of them.

[@timpatrick2109]

Interesting

[@turdferguson2839]

Tony would buy this girl a fur coat, take her to dinner and boom... she's laundering his money

[@adrianqx]

"Like classic cars "