$70 billion in forgotten U.S. funds await their owners

Millions of Americans may have money or financial assets registered in their names without being aware of their existence, ranging from unpaid salaries and dormant investment accounts to unclaimed life insurance proceeds and retirement benefits. The rediscovery of an old stock account by the fiancé of one American writer, without prior knowledge, raised a question that transcends personal experience: How much lost money and assets are still waiting for their rightful owners?

Data reveal that this is not a matter of isolated cases. According to figures from the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), the value of unclaimed property in the United States reached approximately $70 billion in 2023, including unpaid wages, forgotten deductions, dormant brokerage accounts, and unclaimed life insurance payouts.

Recovery efforts underscore the magnitude of these funds. During the fiscal year ending in June of last year, U.S. states returned more than $4 billion to their rightful owners, while billions of dollars remain unclaimed.

Where to look for your money?

Locating unclaimed assets requires some research, particularly when suspecting the existence of a specific financial asset that may have been lost over the years. For retirement benefits, experts recommend checking with the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, which holds unclaimed benefits for workers who participated in pension plans that closed before they could receive their payouts.

For broader searches, individuals can use MissingMoney.com, a website supported by NAUPA, which allows searches for assets in most U.S. states using a person’s or company’s name.