Unclaimed Money: $6.1 Million Payout in Missouri Could be Largest in U.S. History

Someone in Missouri will get very lucky today. That person will be the recipient of the largest unclaimed money award in U.S. history: $6.1 million.

The states estimate that one in every 10 people has unclaimed money waiting for them. Sometimes the amounts can be eye-popping. In dusty warehouses in states all across the country lie records detailing $32 billion worth of unclaimed money, just waiting for its rightful owners.

"Good Morning America" has been reuniting people with their forgotten funds. We've found them $418,598 so far.

And today, the state of Missouri will present the biggest known unclaimed money check in U.S. history.

The $6.1 million check will go to a Kansas City woman who wants to remain anonymous. Years ago, her ancestors invested in an obscure company. The stock got lost as it was passed down through the generations, growing to the sum it's worth today.

Click HERE for the top 10 tips to finding your money now.

There have been other extra-large single unclaimed money awards before. New York state previously held the record for the largest unclaimed money payout when it returned $4 million. Wisconsin has returned $1.5 million.

Missouri has issued other significant payouts. According to state treasurer Clint Zweifel, a man in St. Joseph, Mo., received $100,000, comprising unclaimed money from 15 different securities accounts.

"There is so much money that's out there waiting for Americans to claim," Zweifel told "GMA." "Just to give you an example, in Missouri alone I have more than 600 million dollars on hand waiting for Missourians."

Missouri has already returned $103 million in unclaimed funds to more than 303,000 people in the state since January 2009.

As far as "GMA" can tell, no state has ever presented as big a check as today's payout in Missouri.

Missouri residents may check for unclaimed property at any time at www.ShowMeMoney.com.

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4 comments

  • mary  •  Kingstree, South Carolina  •  3 months ago
    GMA proclaim to help you to locate the money. Its a maze with no way in or out to get started. I have had little sucess getting started. That SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Catherine  •  5 months ago
    Would really like to know how to claim money that we know is ours but can't prove to the state of Illinois. It belongs to my brother, it was a cd he bought when he was about 12 years old (and I was his legal guardian, he was living with me). Thing is the state wants proof of our address AT THAT TIME and it was more than 30 years ago. I don't have and can't get a copy of my tax return which is what they are requiring. Any brilliant ideas?
  • Dan Rather  •  5 months ago
    Hey grandma, let's get hitched, I'll eat that old thang.
  • love1  •  5 months ago
    This happened to me once. Turned out it was a paycheck I'd forgotten to pick up after I'd left one employer to work elsewhere. It was a little over $500. I don't know how I could have forgotten, but unexpected money is the best kind to get. :)