Carlo Tramonti is a fictional character in the novels The Godfather and The Godfather's Revenge. In the universe of the novels, he is the Don of the New Orleans syndicate from 1931 to 1964.
Tramonti emigrates from Sicily as a young boy and settles in Florida. He exterminates rivals who were backed by police and takes over their gambling operations. He then opens ties with Cuba and Batista, supplying the dictator with illegal casinos and whorehouses.
By the 1950s, he owns a very luxurious Miami beach hotel. He also owns every business in New Orleans. He gets his nickname, "The Whale," by swallowing up every business that came his way. He is also a reputed womanizer and has many children out of wedlock. Over time, he and his brother, Agostino, establish the Tramonti family as a force to be reckoned with.
By 1963, Tramonti is arrested by Immigrant agents at the behest of attorney general Danny Shea. He is publicly embarrassed by Shea, and wants revenge, even though The Commission forbids it. He conspires with Nick Geraci to kill President James Shea, the district attorney's brother. By 1964, he sends hitman Juan Carlos Santiago to assassinate President Shea, and pins the murder on Geraci. In 1968, he is called to an investigation committee about the president's assassination. Before he could testify, he is shot twice in the head in his car and stabbed with a meat cleaver.
Tramonti is largely based on Carlos Marcello and Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante.