The wealthy might be even richer — in the event that they cease leaving cash on the desk.
The individuals owed a portion of the $20 billion in “unclaimed funds” from the New York comptroller’s workplace embody a Who’s Who of political, enterprise and leisure figures — from President Trump and first woman Melania to lefty metropolis Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, billionaires Jeff Bezos and Mike Bloomberg and music stars Jay-Z and Girl Gaga.
A claimant named Barack Obama can be owed cash.
Even Gov. Kathy Hochul is listed as being owed funds from a authorities company.
Beneath state regulation, after three years, a enterprise should report and ahead unclaimed funds to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s workplace for safekeeping.
“Individuals transfer, change jobs or neglect about outdated financial institution accounts. When cash will get left behind, my workplace protects that cash and helps the rightful homeowners declare it,” DiNapoli advised The Submit.
“We return over $2 million a day – greater than some other state.”
The fund entails greater than 55 million individuals and entities owed cash, together with:
- Donald Trump, previously of the TV present “The Apprentice,” is owed revenue from NBC Common Media and “miscellaneous tangible property” from TSG Interactive US Companies LTD, which gives on-line poker.
- Melania Trump has an unredeemed present certificates from Bergdorf Goodman and credit-account balances at Christian Dior and Richemont North America.
- Ivanka Trump has credit score balances at Tiffany & Firm and Neiman Marcus Group and is owed cash from Getty Photos, Google Inc. and from an overpayment from Baccarat Inc.
- Trump negotiator Steve Witkoff has authorities checks awaiting him in addition to dividends from Walt Disney Co. and revenue from NBC Common. In 2018, he performed a visitor function on “Regulation & Order,” one in every of his favourite TV exhibits.
- Billionaire Jeff Bezos has an outdated refund ready for him from the state Division of Taxation, first reported in 2018.
- Billionaire former Mayor Mike Bloomberg has unredeemed present certificates and vendor checks or balances with Federal Specific and Verizon.
- Jay-Z, whose authorized identify Shawn Carter, and his Marcy Productions are owed revenue from Leisure Companions.
- Materials Woman Madonna is owed cash from the state taxman and funds from Screenlife LLC
- Stefani Germanotta, a.ok.a. Girl Gaga,has a declare with Elevance Well being Inc.
- Alicia “Fallin” Keys is owed a verify from MTV, pre-2010.
- Mariah Carey is owed wages from Mirage Leisure and cash from the state of Michigan.
- Rapper Nasir “Nas” Jones is owed revenue from Forged & Crew Expertise Companies and Walt Disney Co.
- Actor Robert DeNiro has claims on wages and earnings from Walt Disney Co. and Amazon and a few funds from outdated checking and financial savings accounts.
- Hochul is owed funds from an unspecified state company.
- Former “Love Gov.” Eliot Spitzer reportedly overpaid American Specific and is due a reimbursement.
- Ocasio-Cortez is owed a refund or rebate from Con Edison.
- Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo is owed a verify from the state and cash from insurance coverage corporations.
- Chris Cuomo is owed wages from NBCUniversal.
- Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, rising from chapter, has a credit score steadiness with Dawn Financial institution and Financial institution of America.
- Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a surplus with Mass Normal Brigham hospital, and balances with Chubb & Son and Amex.
- There’s a Barack Obama who’s owed cash from Paypal and Yahoo. It’s unclear if it’s the previous president.
- The Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis is owed cash from Gross sales Pressure Inc. and Regence Blue Protect.
- Billionaire John Catsimatidis’ son John Jr. and daughter Andrea have checks awaiting from a authorities company in addition to refunds and dividends from monetary establishments.
People can verify to see in the event that they’re owed cash on the search engine of the comptroller’s unclaimed-funds web site.
Due to privateness protections, it’s unclear how a lot cash every individual is owed. The claimant can name the comptroller’s workplace to seek out out.
“Well-known or not, some huge cash or slightly cash, it’s common for individuals to lose monitor of outdated accounts, checks, present playing cards and refunds,” mentioned Jennifer Freeman, a DiNapoli rep.
“That’s the reason we’re ensuring that hardworking New Yorkers can simply declare their misplaced cash. These are powerful instances with fuel and grocery costs leaping, so each little bit helps.
“We routinely attain out to people, companies and non-profit organizations and host occasions everywhere in the state,” she mentioned.
“We use demographic and data-matching instruments to achieve out to individuals who might have misplaced cash. We’re legally required to confirm possession of unclaimed funds, however the instruments to help with the verification course of have vastly improved lately.”
The worth of unclaimed funds has elevated as a result of states together with New York have gotten extra aggressive about requiring banks, insurance coverage corporations, utilities and companies to report unclaimed funds, the comptroller’s workplace mentioned.
“New York has at all times had robust legal guidelines to guard individuals’s cash and assist them declare what’s rightfully theirs,” Freeman mentioned.
The overall worth of unclaimed funds in 2023 was $18.4 billion, $19 billion in 2024 and $20 billion in 2025.
“We’re auditing banks, insurers and companies to make sure compliance with the regulation and that they flip over funds that don’t belong to them,” the comptroller’s rep mentioned.
