States are holding $70+ billion in unclaimed money that belongs to Americans. Roughly 1 in 7 people have something to claim. In FY 2024, states returned $4.49 billion to rightful owners. Some states publish county-by-county totals—for example, New York City’s counties alone account for billions. 

Key stats at a glance

Total held nationwide (states): “Over $70 billion” in unclaimed property (cash, checks, deposits, dividends, etc.). 

How many people are affected: ~1 in 7 Americans (≈33 million) likely have unclaimed property. 

Paid out last year: States returned $4.49 billion in FY 2024, a record pace. 

Bonus: About $32 billion more sits in unclaimed U.S. Savings Bonds that advocates want to reunite with owners via federal action. 

What counts as “unclaimed money”?

“Unclaimed property” includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, refunds, utility deposits, insurance proceeds, stock dividends, and similar assets that businesses must turn over (“escheat”) to the state after a period of inactivity. States then hold the money until the owner claims it—there’s no cost to search or file a claim through the official programs. 

So…how much is out there right now?

Nationwide (state treasuries & unclaimed property offices)

The best current umbrella figure from unclaimed property administrators: “over $70 billion” held at the state level. This number is consistently cited by state treasurers and industry groups and aligns with recent reporting. 

In FY 2024, states returned $4.49B to owners—evidence that programs are actively paying claims each year. 

Bottom line: Americans’ money waiting at state programs ≈ $70+ billion, and billions flow back to owners annually.

What about counties?

Counties typically don’t run separate unclaimed property programs; states do. However, several states publish county-level breakdowns of the statewide pot so residents can see how much is owed in their area.

New York (statewide program, county rollups):

New York County (Manhattan): ~$2.78B

Kings (Brooklyn): ~$1.14B

Queens: ~$953M

Nassau: ~$617M

Westchester: ~$453M

These are within New York’s overall unclaimed funds pool and illustrate how large county tallies can be. 

Ohio (statewide program, county rollups):

Cuyahoga County: ~$477M

Franklin County: ~$$343.1M

Hamilton County: ~$267.3M

Together, Ohio’s top three counties account for ~$1.09B of the state’s multi-billion-dollar total. 

Important: These county figures are reporting slices of the state-held money—not separate county-held funds.

Why the totals keep changing

New dormant accounts are reported to states every year, adding to the total.

At the same time, more people are claiming their cash—e.g., $4.49B was returned in FY 2024—so the pool shrinks. The published nationwide number therefore moves but consistently remains tens of billions.

Is the $70B number real?

Yes—“over $70 billion” is the standing national estimate referenced by unclaimed property administrators and compliance advisories; individual state press and national explainers cite the same scale. The exact figure fluctuates as states add and pay out claims. 

Do counties hold separate pots of unclaimed cash?

In virtually all cases, no—the funds are custodial at the state level. Some states publish county-by-county dashboards so you can see your area’s slice (e.g., New York’s interactive county map, Ohio’s county lists/press). 

What about federal money?

Some unclaimed assets are federal (e.g., savings bonds, certain payments). NAUPA notes ~$32B in unclaimed savings bonds alone that advocates want to reunite with owners, separate from state totals.