The rich could be even richer — if they stop leaving money on the table.
The people owed a portion of the $20 billion in “unclaimed funds” from the New York comptroller’s office include a Who’s Who of political, business and entertainment figures — from President Trump and first lady Melania to lefty city Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, billionaires Jeff Bezos and Mike Bloomberg and music stars Jay-Z and Lady Gaga.
A claimant named Barack Obama is also owed money.
Even Gov. Kathy Hochul is listed as being owed funds from a government agency.
Under state law, after three years, a business must report and forward unclaimed funds to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office for safekeeping.
“People move, change jobs or forget about old bank accounts. When money gets left behind, my office protects that money and helps the rightful owners claim it,” DiNapoli told The Post.
“We return over $2 million a day – more than any other state.”
The fund involves more than 55 million people and entities owed money, including:
- Donald Trump, formerly of the TV show “The Apprentice,” is owed income from NBC Universal Media and “miscellaneous tangible property” from TSG Interactive US Services LTD, which provides online poker.
- Melania Trump has an unredeemed gift certificate from Bergdorf Goodman and credit-account balances at Christian Dior and Richemont North America.
- Ivanka Trump has credit balances at Tiffany & Company and Neiman Marcus Group and is owed money from Getty Images, Google Inc. and from an overpayment from Baccarat Inc.
- Trump negotiator Steve Witkoff has government checks awaiting him as well as dividends from Walt Disney Co. and income from NBC Universal. In 2018, he played a guest role on “Law & Order,” one of his favorite TV shows.
- Billionaire Jeff Bezos has an old refund waiting for him from the state Department of Taxation, first reported in 2018.
- Billionaire former Mayor Mike Bloomberg has unredeemed gift certificates and vendor checks or balances with Federal Express and Verizon.
- Jay-Z, whose legal name Shawn Carter, and his Marcy Productions are owed income from Entertainment Partners.
- Material Girl Madonna is owed money from the state taxman and payments from Screenlife LLC
- Stefani Germanotta, a.k.a. Lady Gaga,has a claim with Elevance Health Inc.
- Alicia “Fallin” Keys is owed a check from MTV, pre-2010.
- Mariah Carey is owed wages from Mirage Entertainment and money from the state of Michigan.
- Rapper Nasir “Nas” Jones is owed income from Cast & Crew Talent Services and Walt Disney Co.
- Actor Robert DeNiro has claims on wages and profits from Walt Disney Co. and Amazon and some funds from old checking and savings accounts.
- Hochul is owed funds from an unspecified state agency.
- Former “Love Gov.” Eliot Spitzer reportedly overpaid American Express and is due money back.
- Ocasio-Cortez is owed a refund or rebate from Con Edison.
- Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo is owed a check from the state and money from insurance companies.
- Chris Cuomo is owed wages from NBCUniversal.
- Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, emerging from bankruptcy, has a credit balance with Sunrise Bank and Bank of America.
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a surplus with Mass General Brigham hospital, and balances with Chubb & Son and Amex.
- There’s a Barack Obama who is owed money from Paypal and Yahoo. It’s unclear if it’s the former president.
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is owed money from Sales Force Inc. and Regence Blue Shield.
- Billionaire John Catsimatidis’ son John Jr. and daughter Andrea have checks awaiting from a government agency as well as refunds and dividends from financial institutions.
Individuals can check to see if they’re owed money on the search engineof the comptroller’s unclaimed-funds website.
Because of privacy protections, it’s unclear how much money each person is owed. The claimant can call the comptroller’s office to find out.
“Famous or not, a lot of money or a little money, it is common for people to lose track of old accounts, checks, gift cards and refunds,” said Jennifer Freeman, a DiNapoli rep.
“That is why we’re making sure that hardworking New Yorkers can easily claim their lost money. These are tough times with gas and grocery prices jumping, so every little bit helps.
“We routinely reach out to individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations and host events all over the state,” she said.
“We use demographic and data-matching tools to reach out to people who may have lost money. We’re legally required to verify ownership of unclaimed funds, but the tools to assist with the verification process have greatly improved in recent years.”
The value of unclaimed funds has increased because states including New York have gotten more aggressive about requiring banks, insurance companies, utilities and businesses to report unclaimed funds, the comptroller’s office said.
“New York has always had strong laws to protect people’s money and help them claim what is rightfully theirs,” Freeman said.
The total value of unclaimed funds in 2023 was $18.4 billion, $19 billion in 2024 and $20 billion in 2025.
“We’re auditing banks, insurers and businesses to ensure compliance with the law and that they turn over funds that do not belong to them,” the comptroller’s rep said.
The post Are you among the rich & famous owed $20B in unclaimed NY funds? appeared first on New York Post.
