FBI's Ten Most Wanted List Turns 60

Remember those scary, grainy, black and white headshots of fugitives in newspapers and post offices? The FBI's "Ten Most Wanted List" is still around. But it's come a long way since its inception in 1950, and today is more likely to be viewed on television, digital billboards, social media, and other Internet sites.

"We recognize the unique ability of the media to cast a wider net within communities here and abroad," said FBI Director Robert S. Mueller. "The FBI can send agents to visit a thousand homes to find a witness, but the media can visit a million homes in an instant."

March 14 marks the 60th anniversary of the famous list. And Mueller's comments show up on the bureau's Web site as the FBI "celebrates 60 years of success" of a program that started with an International News Service reporter's seemingly innocent inquiry of an agent: "Who are the toughest guys?"

The early list featured bank robbers and murder suspects on the run from state authorities. In 2010, it's a motley crew of international terrorists, cyber criminals, serial killers, and organized crime figures, ranging from Osama (the FBI calls him Usama) bin Laden to Boston mobster James J. "Whitey" Bulger.

Since it first appeared, the FBI said 463 of the 494 fugitives who made the list have been captured -- with 152 of them nabbed as a result of help from citizens.

Rewards of up to $100,000 -- in some cases even more -- are still available "for information leading directly to the arrest of a Top Ten fugitive."