April 21, 1986: What did Al Capone leave behind? (more) Today in History—April 21: Solved Mysteries: Al Capone’s Vault Is Opened Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 20, 2026 •History April 21, 1986: What did Al Capone leave behind?© Chicago History Museum—Archive Photos/Getty Images; Photo Illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. On this day in 1986, one of the most anticlimactic reveals in history happened: A vault that had belonged to gangster Al Capone was blasted open on live TV, only to reveal dirt and a few empty bottles. No liquor stash, no bodies, no loot, nothing. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica....

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