Ailing treasurer returns $11 million to late Chicagoan’s fortune: ‘This is a life-changing sum’
springfield, illinois — Illinois Treasury Secretary Michael Frericks returned $11 million to late Chicago man’s fortune — The largest unclaimed dollar amount in US history.
Mr. Stanchuk was born in Chicago in August 1929 and last lived in a house on South Troy Street that was discovered on December 23, 2016. He was 87 years old.
It’s unclear how Stanchuk amassed such wealth, but the estate was turned over to the Illinois Department of Treasury as unclaimed property, according to a press release from the Illinois Department of Treasury.
Such investments are typically abandoned when the owner has not been contacted for three years and the investment company cannot identify the owner.
Stanchuk and his siblings had no children, so the estate had to identify the family through their parents, and most of these heirs live in Poland and Slovakia.
“This is a life-changing amount of money,” Frericks said. “I wish I knew more about Mr. Stanchuk.”
Joseph R. Stancak died of natural causes just before Christmas 2016 and all 11 heirs live in Poland or Slovenia.
Prior to Mr. Stancak, the highest unclaimed property claim paid in Illinois in 2012 was $8.1 million against a suburban auto parts maker.
The largest claim paid to an individual was $5 million paid to a Cook County woman in 2013.
https://wgntv.com/news/ill-treasurer-returns-11m-to-late-chicagoans-estate-this-is-a-life-changing-amount-of-money/ Ailing treasurer returns $11 million to late Chicagoan’s fortune: ‘This is a life-changing sum’