Al Capone Wife
Introduction
Al Capone’s wife is Mae Josephine Capone, an Irish-American woman born on April 11, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York. Al Capone was one of the most notorious gangsters in American history, running a massive bootlegging and crime empire in Chicago during the Prohibition era. While Al Capone’s name became a symbol of organized crime, his wife Mae lived mostly out of the public eye, standing by him through his rise to power, his years in prison, and his final decline in health. This article covers everything known about Mae Capone — her early life, her marriage to Al Capone, their family, and what happened to her after his death.
Who Is Mae Capone?
Mae Capone, born Mae Josephine Coughlin, came into the world on April 11, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of Irish Catholic immigrants, John and Bridget Coughlin, and she grew up in a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood not far from where Al Capone was raised. Details about her childhood and formal education are limited, since Mae avoided public attention for almost her entire life and rarely spoke to reporters.
By her late teens, Mae had met Al Capone, who was then a young man working odd jobs and running with local Brooklyn gangs, including ties to the Five Points Gang. Some accounts describe Mae as a stenographer or working a modest job before her marriage, though detailed employment records from that era are scarce. What is well documented is her devout Catholic upbringing, which shaped her lifelong loyalty to family and her preference for staying out of the spotlight, even as her husband became one of the most infamous men in America.
Mae Capone’s Life & Role in the Family
Mae Capone was never a public professional in the modern sense — her life’s work was holding her family together during one of the most turbulent chapters in American criminal history. As Al Capone’s power grew through the 1920s in Chicago, Mae managed the household and raised their only child while her husband built a bootlegging and racketeering empire under Johnny Torrio and later on his own.
Mae’s most defining role came during Al Capone’s decline. After his 1931 conviction for tax evasion, he served time in federal prisons, including Alcatraz, where his health deteriorated due to neurosyphilis. When he was released in 1939, Mae took on the role of full-time caregiver at the family’s Palm Island estate in Florida, managing his medical care until his death in 1947. There is no documented net worth specifically tied to Mae herself; the Capone family’s wealth diminished significantly due to legal fees and government seizures during and after Al’s imprisonment.
How Did Al Capone and Mae Meet?
Al Capone and Mae Coughlin both grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and most historical accounts suggest they met sometime around 1917 through their shared neighborhood social circles. Brooklyn at the time had a tight-knit community of Irish and Italian immigrant families, and it’s likely the two crossed paths at local social events or through mutual acquaintances.
Their relationship moved quickly. On December 4, 1918, Mae gave birth to their son, Albert “Sonny” Francis Capone. Shortly after, on December 30, 1918, Al Capone and Mae married in a ceremony at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Brooklyn. Unlike many modern celebrity relationships with well-documented dating timelines, there’s no detailed public record of a formal engagement story — their courtship happened quietly, away from any media attention, since Al Capone had not yet risen to national infamy.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Al Capone and Mae Coughlin were married on December 30, 1918, at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Brooklyn, New York, a Catholic parish reflecting Mae’s devout upbringing. The wedding took place shortly after the birth of their son, Sonny, in a modest ceremony typical of working-class Brooklyn families at the time.
At the time of the wedding, Al Capone was not yet the powerful Chicago crime boss he would later become. The couple’s early married life was relatively low-key before the family relocated to Chicago in the early 1920s, where Al’s criminal career expanded rapidly under mentor Johnny Torrio. Mae remained married to Al Capone until his death in 1947, making their union last nearly three decades despite enormous public scrutiny and personal hardship.
Children & Family Life
Al Capone and Mae had one child together: a son named Albert “Sonny” Francis Capone, born on December 4, 1918. Sonny was born with a hearing impairment, reportedly linked to congenital syphilis passed from his father, and the family sought various medical treatments for him throughout his childhood.
As an adult, Sonny largely tried to distance himself from his father’s notorious legacy. He later legally changed his surname to “Brown” to escape the weight of the Capone name and lived a quiet life running a restaurant supply business in Florida. Mae was known for being fiercely protective of her son and, later, her grandchildren, shielding them from media attention as much as possible. The family’s approach to privacy was consistent throughout Mae’s life — she gave very few interviews and avoided the public spotlight entirely after Al’s death.
Mae Capone’s Legacy Today
Since Mae Capone passed away in 1986, well before the era of social media, she has no online presence, Instagram account, or public following in the modern sense. Unlike today’s celebrity spouses, Mae’s story survives through historical records, biographies about Al Capone, newspaper archives, and family accounts rather than personal social media posts. Her legacy today is discussed mainly by history enthusiasts, true crime writers, and documentary filmmakers exploring the Prohibition era and the Capone family’s private life away from the headlines.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mae Josephine Capone (née Coughlin) |
| Date of Birth | April 11, 1897 |
| Place of Birth | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American (Irish descent) |
| Married to | Al Capone |
| Marriage Date | December 30, 1918 |
| Children | 1 son — Albert “Sonny” Francis Capone |
| Date of Death | April 16, 1986 (Hollywood, Florida) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Al Capone’s wife’s name? A: Al Capone’s wife was named Mae Josephine Capone, born Mae Coughlin. She married Al Capone in 1918 and remained married to him until his death in 1947.
Q: How old was Mae Capone when she died? A: Mae Capone was 89 years old when she died on April 16, 1986, in Hollywood, Florida. She was born on April 11, 1897.
Q: What did Mae Capone do for a living? A: Mae Capone did not have a well-documented public career. She focused on raising the couple’s son and later became her husband’s caregiver during his declining health.
Q: When did Al Capone and Mae get married? A: Al Capone and Mae Coughlin got married on December 30, 1918, at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Q: How many kids did Al Capone and Mae have? A: Al Capone and Mae had one child together, a son named Albert “Sonny” Francis Capone, born on December 4, 1918.
Conclusion
Mae Capone remains one of the more overlooked figures connected to one of America’s most infamous criminals. As Al Capone’s wife, she lived through his violent rise to power in Chicago, his federal conviction, and his painful physical decline — all while trying to protect their son from the family’s dark reputation. Her story is one of quiet loyalty rather than public fame. Even decades after her death, Mae Capone’s life offers a human counterpoint to the legend of Al Capone, reminding readers that behind even the most notorious names in history were families trying to hold on to some sense of normal life.
