Class action lawsuits have recovered hundreds of billions of dollars for consumers, investors, and communities. Some of these cases have reshaped entire industries, forced companies to change dangerous practices, and put real money in the pockets of millions of people.
Here are the 20 largest class action and mass litigation settlements in history, ranked by total value. For each one, we cover what happened, how much was paid, and — most importantly — how much individuals actually received.
The Top 20
1. Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement — $206 Billion (1998)
What happened: 46 U.S. states sued the four largest tobacco companies (Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, and Lorillard) for the public health costs of smoking-related illness. The companies had concealed research showing the addictive and deadly nature of cigarettes for decades.
The settlement: $206 billion paid over 25 years to state governments, plus restrictions on tobacco advertising, dissolution of industry trade groups, and public disclosure of industry documents.
What individuals received: This settlement went to state governments, not individual smokers. However, the money funded public health programs, smoking cessation services, and infrastructure projects across all 46 states.
2. BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill — $20.8 Billion (2016)
What happened: On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and causing the largest marine oil spill in history. Over 200 million gallons of oil poured into the Gulf over 87 days.
The settlement: BP agreed to pay $20.8 billion, including $5.5 billion in Clean Water Act penalties, $8.8 billion to coastal states, and billions more to affected businesses and individuals.
What individuals received: Fishermen, tourism workers, and Gulf Coast residents received varying amounts. Some business owners received six-figure payments, while individual residents typically received $5,000-$25,000.
3. Volkswagen Emissions Scandal — $14.7 Billion (2016)
What happened: Volkswagen installed "defeat device" software in 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide that cheated emissions tests. The cars passed lab tests but emitted up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides during real-world driving.
The settlement: $14.7 billion, including $10 billion to buy back or fix affected vehicles, $2.7 billion for environmental remediation, and $2 billion for clean vehicle technology.
What individuals received: Owners of affected VW and Audi vehicles received $5,100 to $10,000 each in addition to the buyback value of their car.
4. Enron Securities Fraud — $7.2 Billion (2006)
What happened: Enron executives systematically hid billions in debt through accounting fraud, inflating the company's apparent value. When the truth emerged in 2001, the stock collapsed from $90 to under $1, wiping out shareholders and employee retirement accounts.
The settlement: $7.2 billion from various defendants including banks that helped Enron carry out the fraud.
What individuals received: Shareholders received approximately $6.79 per share for proven losses.
5. WorldCom Securities Fraud — $6.1 Billion (2005)
What happened: WorldCom, then the second-largest telecom company in the U.S., inflated its assets by $11 billion through fraudulent accounting. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2002 in what was then the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
The settlement: $6.1 billion from various defendants including WorldCom's auditor, banks, and former executives.
What individuals received: Investors recovered roughly 36 cents on the dollar for their losses.
6. Credit Card Interchange Fees — $5.5 Billion (2019)
What happened: Merchants sued Visa and Mastercard for conspiring to fix the interchange fees (swipe fees) charged on credit card transactions. The case alleged that the card networks imposed artificially high fees that increased prices for consumers.
The settlement: $5.5 billion in cash payments to merchants, plus structural reforms to the fee system.
What individuals received: This went to businesses, not individual consumers. However, the structural reforms were intended to lower fees and, eventually, consumer prices.
7. Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder — $8.9 Billion (2025)
What happened: Thousands of women alleged that J&J's talc-based baby powder and body powder caused ovarian cancer. Internal documents showed J&J knew about potential asbestos contamination in its talc products for decades.
The settlement: After years of litigation and a controversial bankruptcy strategy, J&J agreed to pay $8.9 billion over 25 years to resolve the claims.
What individuals received: Individual payouts varied widely based on injury severity, with seriously ill claimants receiving significantly more than those with lesser claims.
8. 3M Earplugs — $6 Billion (2023)
What happened: Over 300,000 military service members alleged that 3M's Combat Arms earplugs were defectively designed, providing inadequate hearing protection and causing hearing loss and tinnitus.
The settlement: $6 billion to resolve claims from service members.
What individuals received: Individual payouts were based on the severity of hearing damage, with amounts varying from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
9. Visa/Mastercard Antitrust — $6.2 Billion (2024)
What happened: A second round of litigation against Visa and Mastercard over interchange fees, this time seeking additional damages and broader reforms.
The settlement: $6.2 billion, including fee reductions for merchants lasting five years.
What individuals received: Again, this primarily benefited merchants, but the fee reductions were intended to flow through to lower consumer prices.
10. 3M PFAS ("Forever Chemicals") — $10.3 Billion (2023)
What happened: PFAS chemicals manufactured by 3M contaminated drinking water systems across the United States. These "forever chemicals" do not break down in the environment and have been linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune system problems.
The settlement: $10.3 billion to help public water systems test for and filter out PFAS contamination.
What individuals received: This went to water utilities rather than individuals. However, it funds the cleanup that protects communities from ongoing contamination.
Claim Your Share of Open Settlements
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Download the App11. Tyco International Securities Fraud — $3.2 Billion (2007)
What happened: Tyco executives looted the company through unauthorized bonuses, fraudulent stock sales, and lavish personal spending using company funds.
The settlement: $3.2 billion to compensate shareholders who lost money due to the fraud.
12. Cephalon Modafinil Antitrust — $1.2 Billion (2015)
What happened: Cephalon paid generic drug manufacturers to delay producing cheaper versions of the sleep disorder drug Provigil (modafinil), keeping prices artificially high.
The settlement: $1.2 billion to compensate consumers and insurers who overpaid for the drug.
13. Fen-Phen Diet Drug — $3.75 Billion (2000)
What happened: The diet drug combination fen-phen caused heart valve disease and a rare lung condition in thousands of users. Manufacturer American Home Products (later Wyeth) had downplayed safety concerns.
The settlement: $3.75 billion to compensate users who suffered health damage.
What individuals received: Payouts ranged from a few thousand dollars for those without serious symptoms to over $1 million for those with severe heart damage.
14. Equifax Data Breach — $700 Million (2019)
What happened: In 2017, hackers exploited a vulnerability in Equifax's systems and stole the personal data of 147 million Americans, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses.
The settlement: Up to $700 million, including a $425 million fund for consumer claims.
What individuals received: Most claimants received $5-$10 for the basic claim. Those who documented specific losses (identity theft, time spent dealing with the breach) could claim up to $20,000.
15. NFL Concussion Settlement — $1 Billion+ (2017)
What happened: Former NFL players sued the league for concealing the dangers of repeated head injuries and the link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The settlement: Over $1 billion in payments, with the fund uncapped and expected to pay out over 65 years.
What individuals received: Players diagnosed with qualifying conditions receive $75,000 to $4 million, depending on the diagnosis and age at onset.
16. Toyota Unintended Acceleration — $1.6 Billion (2013)
What happened: Reports of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles led to crashes, injuries, and deaths. Toyota was found to have been slow to address the problem.
The settlement: $1.6 billion in economic loss payments to Toyota owners.
What individuals received: Owners received $37.5 to $500 in cash plus eligibility for a brake override system installation.
17. Roundup/Monsanto — $10+ Billion (2020-ongoing)
What happened: Tens of thousands of plaintiffs alleged that Monsanto's Roundup weed killer (containing glyphosate) caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, faced a wave of litigation.
The settlement: Over $10 billion earmarked to resolve current and future claims.
What individuals received: Individual payouts ranged from tens of thousands to millions, depending on the severity of illness and strength of evidence.
18. T-Mobile Data Breach — $350 Million (2022)
What happened: A 2021 data breach at T-Mobile exposed the personal information of over 76 million customers, including names, Social Security numbers, driver's license information, and phone numbers.
The settlement: $350 million in cash payments plus $150 million for data security upgrades.
What individuals received: Class members received approximately $25 each plus two years of identity protection services.
19. LCD Price-Fixing — $1.1 Billion (2012)
What happened: Major LCD manufacturers including LG, Sharp, Chunghwa, and Toshiba conspired to fix the prices of LCD flat panels used in TVs, computer monitors, and laptops from 1999 to 2006.
The settlement: $1.1 billion from multiple defendants.
What individuals received: Consumers who purchased LCD products during the price-fixing period could file for $25-$75 per product.
20. Wells Fargo Fake Accounts — $3 Billion+ (2020)
What happened: Wells Fargo employees opened millions of unauthorized bank accounts and credit cards in customers' names to meet aggressive sales targets, resulting in unauthorized fees and credit damage.
The settlement: Over $3 billion in total penalties and customer restitution across multiple settlements and regulatory actions.
What individuals received: Affected customers received refunds for unauthorized fees and payments for credit damage, averaging around $30-$100 per person.
What These Cases Teach Us
A few key patterns emerge from looking at the largest settlements:
- Big settlement does not always mean big individual payout. The $206 billion tobacco settlement went to state governments. The $700 million Equifax settlement paid most individuals less than $10. When millions of people are affected, the math works against large individual payouts.
- Filing matters. In nearly every case, people who actually filed claims received far more than those who did not. Even in the Equifax case, people who documented their losses received up to $20,000 while those who did not file got nothing.
- Small settlements can be more rewarding. Smaller consumer product settlements with fewer claimants often deliver better per-person payouts. A $2 million settlement split among 10,000 claimants pays $200 each — far more than many billion-dollar cases.
- Deadlines are non-negotiable. Every single settlement has a hard deadline. Miss it, and no amount of eligibility will help you.
Open Settlements You Can File Right Now
While the settlements above are historical, there are always new ones accepting claims. Current open settlements include consumer products like Tom's of Maine toothpaste (up to $7), Differin acne products (up to $27), G.Skill RAM (up to $50), and Cosequin dog supplements (up to $150).
Browse all active settlements or download Class Action Buddy to file claims in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest class action settlement in history?
The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement of 1998 is the largest at $206 billion, paid over 25 years by major tobacco companies to 46 U.S. states for healthcare costs related to smoking. The largest single-defendant corporate settlement is BP's $20.8 billion for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
How much money do individuals get from large class action settlements?
Individual payouts vary enormously depending on the settlement size and number of claimants. In the Volkswagen emissions case, car owners received $5,100 to $10,000 each. In the Equifax breach, most claimants received a few hundred dollars unless they documented specific losses. Smaller consumer settlements typically pay $5-$50 per person.
Are there any large class action settlements open right now?
Yes, multiple settlements are accepting claims right now. While they may not be as large as the billion-dollar cases on this list, many offer meaningful payouts of $7 to $420 per claim. Visit classactionbuddy.com/settlements to browse all currently open settlements.
Why do some class action settlements pay so little per person?
Even a multi-billion dollar settlement can result in small per-person payouts when millions of people are affected. A $500 million settlement divided among 10 million class members works out to $50 each. Consumer product settlements tend to have smaller funds but also smaller classes, so individual payouts can actually be proportionally better.