Michael Corleone's share of the Corleone family empire is immense, both in terms of financial and symbolic power. The series, spanning The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), and The Godfather Part III (1990), chronicles Michael’s rise to power and the eventual consolidation of his family's criminal empire.
Breakdown of Michael's Power and Wealth at the End of The Godfather Trilogy:
The Family Business: By the end of The Godfather Part III, Michael has essentially taken control of the Corleone family's criminal activities, following the deaths of his father, Vito, and brother Fredo. While Michael initially tries to distance himself from the family’s criminal operations, he is ultimately pulled back in, and he ends up as the head of the Corleone family by the end of The Godfather Part II.
Expansion of the Empire: Over the course of the series, Michael tries to expand the Corleone family's legitimate business interests, including hotels, casinos, and other investments. This shift to "legitimate" business interests, especially through a partnership with the Vatican in The Godfather Part III, shows his attempt to create a more lawful empire and wash away the family's criminal past.
Symbol of Power: Michael’s control over both the family's criminal empire and the more legitimate businesses is substantial. However, by the end of The Godfather Part III, Michael is shown to be disillusioned and remorseful for the personal costs of his decisions, particularly the loss of family relationships and the toll his power has taken on his soul.
Financial Wealth: While the exact value of Michael's shares and assets is never stated in precise monetary terms, the Corleone family's empire is depicted as vast. The businesses they control are likely worth billions, given the various industries, including construction, shipping, casinos, and hotels. By the end of the trilogy, Michael's wealth would likely place him among the richest and most influential individuals in the world, though this is more implied than directly quantified in the films.
Personal Loss: While Michael’s wealth and influence are clear, it’s important to note that he ends the series with a significant sense of loss. The death of his brother Fredo, the alienation from his wife, Kay, and the overall dissolution of his family relationships make it clear that his power, despite its size, has come at a great personal cost. His final moments in The Godfather Part III show him sitting alone in a chair, a broken man, with no one left to pass his legacy on to, symbolizing the hollow nature of his empire.