On April 21, 1986 Geraldo Rivera Opened Al Capone’s Vault on Live TV to Find …

On April 21, 1986, over 30 million viewers gathered around their TV screens for what promised to be one of the biggest live events in television history — “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults.”

Hosted by Geraldo Rivera, the two-hour-long broadcast intrigued audiences eager to see what secrets, treasures, or even bodies might be uncovered inside a sealed vault beneath Chicago’s Lexington Hotel, once tied to the notorious mobster.

‘The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults’ Became Known as the Biggest Letdown of TV History

On April 21, 1986, millions of viewers were glued to their screens to see what could be inside a sealed vault said to have belonged to notorious American gangster and businessman Al Capone. “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” was a live event that took place inside Chicago’s Lexington Hotel, which was known to be Capone’s headquarters.

Geraldo Rivera hosted the highly anticipated broadcast, taking viewers down into an underground chamber where it was believed that Capone may have hidden everything from gold to guns, and even bodies. Alongside Rivera were FBI agents and even a medical examiner in case any bodies were found. As cameras followed, Rivera navigated dark, crumbling tunnels and abandoned rooms before explosives were set to blast through a concrete wall, the one that was believed to conceal Capone and his mob’s mysterious vaults.

Then came the moment of truth: what secrets lay waiting behind those walls?

All that was found was more dirt and rumble, and two empty bottles of what appeared to be prohibition hooch. It was a huge letdown for Rivera and the millions watching. “I’m disappointed about that, as I’m sure you are. This is the one time in my life that a pot of gold would have been a lot more fun than chasing the rainbows,” he shared with viewers.

The live program became known as the biggest television letdown in history. In 2023, the segment was named in Rolling Stone’s list of “The 50 Worst Decisions in TV History.”

Geraldo Rivera Believed His Reputation Was “Wrecked”

When the vault revealed absolutely nothing, no gold, treasures, or even bones, Geraldo Rivera admitted he feared his career might be finished right then and there.

Speaking on an interview about the live segment years later, Rivera said, “I was humiliated when the show ended. I went across the street with my wife, CC … so we went across to the Mexican restaurant and I got drunk on tequila.”

He added, “I knew that I had wrecked my reputation and had fallen into the trap. I was exactly the characture that everyone said I was, and I’d never work again in the business.” Rivera added that while he was down and out, he later received over 20 unexpected messages with job offers.

“You know what was the low point of my career, became the start of a whole new career,” he said.