pezzonovante

an italian word, meaning “big shot.”

the term is commonly misunderstood to mean any man in power; however, it is usually used pejoratively. in the g-dfather, michael uses the term to console his father who is upset because he had hoped that his son would achieve legitimate success like that of a senator or president. michael uses the term to -ssure his father that such people just think they are important men but in reality are no better than him.
my wife tells me i should be a congressman instead of a gangster, but i know that a politician is just another pezzonovante.
2 more definitions
an italian word, meaning a man with power.
(from “the g-dfather”)

vito corleone: i never wanted this for you. … i thought that when it was your time that you would be the one to hold the strings. senator corleone. governor corleone. somethin’.

michael corleone: another pezzonovante.
in sicilian it derives from idiot or moron, but mostly used to show that someone is ignorant or misinformed, maybe even living a false life, not as themselves. taken as an insult by italians, especially by calabrians and sicilians.
secco gabban de madre, pezzonovante -translation- go dry hump your mother, dumb-ss.