Michael’s Father, Don Vito Degarrio, taught him at an early age to respect God, women, those of authority, those of greater age, honesty and integrity. The to receive respect it first had to be earned. That his word, once given, was the ultimate contract. That women and children were to be protected at all times.

His father often times told him “I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless. But not men. And remember son a man that does not spend time with his family, can never be a true man.”

Michael’s father guided with a loving yet firm hand. The use of language always preceded the use of the hand. That hand was firm when the language failed to be heard.

Friendship and alliances were things to be honored. He would say “A true friend is one walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Friends are God’s way of taking care of us.

While Michael was away at law school, his father was assassinated outside his New York City office building. Along with his brother and the families two body guards. A full New York City Police and FBI investigation was conducted, the assassin’s were never found. There were rumors of corrupt police and gangland ties, no evidence has ever been found to substantiate these rumors. However, a series of unsolved homicides of three New York City Patrolmen, a New York City Police Captain and four Mafia bosses followed shortly after the investigation ended. Michael was investigated and cleared of all involvement.

After his father’s death Michael’s mother insisted that he finish law school. Which he did and graduated with honors in the top five percentile of his class. Shortly after graduation, Michael was recruited by the CIA

Michael’s mother still lives in the Degarrio Mansion on the family estate in upstate New York, where Michael visits and stays often. As well as the Villas in Italy, Sicily, Spain, southern France, the hacienda in Brazil and the home in Tahiti. Michael has an apartment at The Dakota in New York City, overlooking Central Park and a home beach house in Key Largo, Florida

In a garage, on the estate in New York, is where Michaels extensive collection of classic sports and racing cars are housed. After his first Grand Prix victory, his mother had a trophy room constructed off his fathers library. Where she displays the trophies he has won and a large collection of photographs. She insists on embarrassing him often, when guest are at the estate, by taking them on a tour there.

Often telling them how he, at the age of nine, was caught racing the family Bentley around the estate’s lake. He swerved to miss the estate’s gardener and Michael and the Bentley ended up in the lake.