In mob stories on television, the worst betrayals usually come from within. The right-hand man is the one who knows everything. He handles the boss’s dirty work. He protects the operation of the mob.
He keeps everything running smoothly in the mob. But when he decides to turn the tables, the damage is immediate and brutal. These betrayals are never small. They come with chaos. They come with violence. And they often come with a quiet warning that the end is near.
What makes these moments hit hard is the trust that gets broken. The man who once stood beside the boss now stands in his way. Sometimes it is about power. Sometimes it is about revenge. Other times, it is just the result of years spent doing things he no longer believes in. Whatever the reason, the switch always changes everything. It throws the entire crew into a panic.
This list focuses on seven times the right-hand man walked away from loyalty with a mob. These decisions shifted the course of the story. Some played out with a single bullet. Others took shape slowly behind the scenes. But in every case, the boss did not expect it. And when the betrayal hit, it left damage that could not be undone.
7 Times a mob boss’s right hand turned against him in a TV show
1. Christopher Moltisanti almost turns on Tony – The Sopranos

Christopher spent years working for Tony Soprano's mob. He earned his stripes through loyalty and violence. He acted not only as a soldier but also as Tony’s chosen successor.
Over time, his drug use worsened, and his trust in Tony began to crack. He felt sidelined and misunderstood. He shared private frustrations with outsiders. He started making independent film moves without Tony’s blessing. His outbursts became louder and more dangerous.
The turning point came after a car crash. Christopher was high and careless. Tony looked at him and saw a risk that could bring everything down. In a moment that was cold and calculated, Tony suffocated him. Christopher never openly betrayed the family, but his spiral made him a threat. His death showed how Tony’s empire survived on control. It was a warning that family loyalty meant nothing when danger came from within. That moment changed Tony forever.
2. Mike Ehrmantraut turns against Walt – Breaking Bad

Mike worked for Gus Fring and followed orders without question. He was the cleaner who handled the worst jobs in the mob with quiet precision. He kept emotions out of his work.
After Gus died, Mike tried to walk away. But Walter White pulled him back in. Mike saw Walt as reckless and arrogant. He warned Jesse to be careful. He wanted out, but the business kept tightening around him.
Mike clashed with Walt over money and strategy. Walt demanded the names of imprisoned men. Mike refused and called Walt out. That moment cost Mike his life. Walt shot him by a river in a rage. Mike bled out alone and angry. His death was not just a loss. It marked the moment Walt became unhinged. Mike’s resistance showed there was no room left for honor. The calm order Gus built was gone. What followed was chaos driven by ego and fear.
3. Michael Gray attempting to overthrow Tommy Shelby - Peaky Blinders

Michael Gray, introduced in Season 2 as Polly Gray’s long-lost son, initially embraced his role within the Shelby family, managing the legitimate side of their operations. However, his ambition grew, especially after his time in America with his wife, Gina. In Season 5, Michael proposed a plan to restructure Shelby Company Ltd., positioning himself at the helm. Tommy rejected this, leading to Michael's expulsion from the family business.
The situation escalated in Season 6 following Polly's death, which Michael attributed to Tommy's actions. Driven by grief and a desire for revenge, Michael conspired to assassinate Tommy using a car bomb. Anticipating this, Tommy outmaneuvered him by switching the bomb to another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of Michael's associates. In their final confrontation, Tommy executed Michael, fulfilling Polly's prophecy that one of them would die.
Michael's betrayal and subsequent demise underscored the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and internal family conflicts, serving as a pivotal moment in the series' narrative arc.
4. Boaz turns on Teresa – Queen of the South

Boaz Jimenez was wild but loyal. He worked for Teresa Mendoza's mob through chaos and growth. He handled violence without flinching. He got results but rarely followed the rules.
As Teresa’s power grew, Boaz’s patience wore thin. He acted without permission. He killed Judge Lafayette on his own. When Teresa pushed back, Boaz escalated. He murdered King George, who was one of her closest allies. That changed everything.
Boaz forced Teresa to face him as a rival. He didn’t just break a rule. He broke her trust and sent a message. He saw her leadership as weak. He wanted control. The organization split, and violence surged. Teresa’s next move had to be war. Boaz’s betrayal mattered because it came from someone who had always been unfiltered. But now he was dangerous. The alliance they once had turned into open conflict. That shift nearly shattered the empire she built.
5. Clay Morrow turns on Jax – Sons of Anarchy

Clay Morrow ran the SAMCRO mob long before Jax stepped up. He made brutal decisions. He saw the club as his to control. He believed in violence over compromise.
As Jax tried to change the club, Clay pushed back. He lied about past murders. He turned others against Jax. He refused to hand over power. He even ordered home invasions to frame outsiders. He went to war on his own.
Jax exposed Clay’s actions and took everything from him. The club stripped Clay of his title. The trust was gone. Clay became the enemy. His fall mattered because it wasn’t quick. It came after years of secrets. Clay didn’t go quietly. He fought every step. His betrayal showed how power refuses to let go. It also made Jax harder. After Clay fell, Jax stopped trying to save the club. He started doing what needed to be done. No matter the cost.
6. Eli Thompson betrays Nucky Thompson – Boardwalk Empire

Mick Santino handled things for Frank's mob. He knew where the bodies were buried. He kept deals quiet. He was the man Frank relied on when no one else could be trusted.
But Mick had a second life. He worked with the police. He passed on information while staying deep in Frank’s inner circle. He knew everything and shared just enough to build a case. He played both sides.
When the feds moved in, Frank was blindsided. The crew fell apart fast. Mick’s betrayal felt worse than a rival hit. It wasn’t driven by money. It came from guilt and pressure from the mob. Mick wanted out but knew too much to walk away. So he stayed until Frank had nothing left. This betrayal mattered because it came from trust. Mick’s silence helped destroy the entire syndicate. It showed how power crumbles when your closest ally is the one pointing the gun.
7. Bodie Broadus turns against Marlo Stanfield – The Wire

Bodie Broadus came up under the Barksdale Organization mob. He was loyal, tough, and respected the structure Avon and Stringer put in place. When their organization fell, Bodie was forced to work under Marlo Stanfield. Marlo’s rule was colder and more ruthless. Soldiers disappeared without explanation. Rules no longer mattered—only fear did in the mob.
Bodie kept his head down but grew frustrated with the senseless violence. When his crew member Little Kevin was killed after following orders, Bodie snapped. He opened up to Detective McNulty in Season 4, expressing how tired he was of the game and how things had changed for the worse. It wasn’t a full flip, but it was a clear break from the street code.
That decision cost him his life in the mob. Marlo’s people got wind of Bodie’s meeting with McNulty and sent Chris and Snoop. Bodie died on his corner. His death showed that standing up in The Wire always came with a cost.
Follow for more updates.