Joey Merlino: What Happened, Where He Is Now, Net Worth & Family

He’s been called a mob boss, a convicted racketeer, and now, a cheesesteak restaurateur. But Joey Merlino’s latest move — opening a shop in South Philadelphia — is just one chapter in a story that’s still unfolding.

Born: 1962 ·
Convicted: 2001 (RICO) ·
Prison release: 2011 ·
Cheesesteak restaurant opened: 2025 ·
Net worth estimate: $30 million (unverified) ·
Podcast: The Skinny with Joey Merlino

Below is a quick reference of Merlino’s key personal and legal details.

What happened with Joey Merlino?

RICO conviction and prison sentence

• Merlino was convicted in 2001 on federal RICO charges including racketeering, illegal gambling, and extortion. He was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
• Prosecutors built the case partly on testimony from Ralph Natale, a former Philadelphia crime family boss who became an informant (Philadelphia Magazine (city lifestyle magazine)).

Role of informant Ralph Natale

• Natale’s cooperation was a key factor in Merlino’s conviction. The trial revealed extensive details about mob operations in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Magazine).

Release and parole violations

• Merlino was released from federal prison in 2011. He later returned to prison for a parole violation between 2014 and 2015 (People magazine).

The implication: Merlino’s criminal record is a permanent shadow, but the legal system has allowed him to operate openly since 2015 without further convictions.

Where is Joey Merlino living now?

Move to Boca Raton, Florida

• After his release, Merlino reportedly relocated to Boca Raton, Florida, moving away from Philadelphia (People magazine).
• The exact address of his residence has not been publicly confirmed, but sources indicate he maintains a low-profile lifestyle in South Florida.

Property and lifestyle

• Merlino has been photographed at local events and continues to travel between Florida and Philadelphia for his restaurant and podcast. Property records are not publicly linked to his name.

What is Joey Merlino doing now?

Cheesesteak restaurant in Philadelphia

• Merlino opened “Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks” in South Philadelphia in late March 2025. The restaurant is located at 3020 South Broad Street, near Citizens Bank Park (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
• A second location was listed in Wildwood, New Jersey, at 2812 Boardwalk, according to a March 2025 podcast episode description (YouTube).
• The restaurant opened three days ahead of its originally scheduled April 1, 2025 date, according to local radio station WPG Talk Radio (WPG Talk Radio (local talk radio)).

Podcast “The Skinny with Joey Merlino”

• Merlino launched the podcast in September 2023, co-hosted with Joe Perri (also known as Lil Snuff) (People magazine).
• The show covers stories from Merlino’s life, sports, politics, criminal justice, true crime, and guest interviews. New episodes drop every Thursday at 1 PM (wavePod).
• The podcast is monetized through Patreon and has built a loyal following.

Social media and media appearances

• Merlino is active on Instagram under the handle @skinny_joey_merlino_, where he posts about the restaurant, podcast, and his daily life.
• He gave a lengthy interview to Philadelphia Magazine in May 2025, discussing his image and the cheesesteak business (Philadelphia Magazine).

How much is Joey Merlino worth?

Estimated net worth

• Net worth figures for Merlino are widely speculated but unverified. Reddit discussions and celebrity net worth sites estimate around $30 million (People magazine).
• No publicly available financial records or tax filings confirm this number.

Sources of income

• Income streams include restaurant revenue, podcast subscriptions and ads, social media monetization, and potentially unidentified sources from his past.
• The restaurant’s performance is not publicly disclosed, but the Philadelphia location has generated significant media attention.

Reddit speculation

• Reddit threads on r/Mafia and r/Philadelphia often discuss Merlino’s wealth, but these are anecdotal and lack documentation.

The pattern: Without financial disclosure, any net worth figure is guesswork. The $30 million figure reflects not proven wealth but the public’s fascination with his notoriety.

Who is Joey Merlino married to now?

Wife Deborah Merlino

• Merlino is married to Deborah Merlino. The couple has been together for decades, though the exact wedding date is not widely reported (People magazine).
• Deborah is of Italian descent, according to publicly available information.

Children (daughters)

• The Merlino family includes two daughters, whose ages are not publicly confirmed. They have largely stayed out of the media spotlight.

Extended family (father, sister)

• Merlino’s father, Salvatore Merlino, was a mobster in the Philadelphia crime family. He died in 2019. His sister’s name is not widely publicized.
• Merlino’s family background is deeply tied to organized crime, which influenced his rise.

Timeline of Joey Merlino’s life

• 1962 – Born in Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
• 2001 – Convicted on RICO charges; sentenced to 14 years (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
• 2011 – Released from federal prison (People magazine).
• 2014–2015 – Parole violation leads to brief return to prison (People magazine).
• 2025 – Opens Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks in Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
• 2025 – Gives interview to Philadelphia Magazine (Philadelphia Magazine).

“I’m not going to Angelo’s. I’m not going to Pat’s. I’m not going to Geno’s. I’m not going to any of them. I’m going to my own place.”

— Joey Merlino, in a May 2025 interview with Philadelphia Magazine

“Merlino’s rebranding as a restaurant owner and podcaster is a classic American story of notoriety turning into a marketable asset.”

— The Mob Museum blog, as summarized in The Philadelphia Inquirer

For Merlino, the choice between mob legacy and legitimate business is clear: keep selling cheesesteaks and expanding the podcast, or risk returning to the headlines for the wrong reasons. The public’s appetite for his story shows no signs of fading.

Frequently asked questions