Has Anyone Ever Really Inherited Millions from a Random Person They've Never Heard Of?

TL;DR

People have actually inherited large sums of money from strangers, but it is uncommon. Unclaimed estates are common due to the lack of wills and knowledge of potential heirs.

Transcript

If you’re like, well, pretty much everyone, at some point you’ve received an email claiming you’ve inherited a large sum of money from some person you’ve never heard of. All you have to do to get it is provide various bits of personal data to verify you are who they think you are and, of course, your bank account information so the deceased’s crack... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤑 People have inherited considerable sums of money from strangers, although it is rare.
• 🖤 Unclaimed estates are common due to the lack of wills and immediate heirs.
• 👂 Bona Vacantia in the UK and state governments in the US maintain lists of unclaimed estates and properties.
• 🧑‍🏭 Heir hunters may assist in finding potential heirs, usually acting on behalf of the government.
• 🥠 Unclaimed estates are often more modest in value, rather than massive fortunes.
• 🖤 Lack of awareness and procrastination in creating wills contribute to the prevalence of unclaimed estates.
• 💄 Different states in the US have varying statutes of limitations for making a claim on an estate.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is it possible for someone to inherit a large sum of money from a stranger they don't know?

Yes, there have been cases throughout history where individuals have inherited significant amounts of money from people they had no prior connection with, such as Dr. Meszaros leaving money to actress Corin Ward.

Q: How common are unclaimed estates?

Unclaimed estates are relatively common, mainly because many people do not create wills or have immediate heirs. This leaves their estates to be passed on to the government's authorities like Bona Vacantia in the UK or state governments in the US.

Q: How can individuals find out if they are entitled to an unclaimed estate?

Bona Vacantia in the UK and individual states in the US maintain lists of unclaimed estates and properties that can be easily searched by the public. Once a potential claimant is identified, they need to establish their status as a legitimate heir through genealogy records.

Q: What happens if an estate remains unclaimed after a certain period of time?

If an estate remains unclaimed for a specific period, it will be dissolved, and the funds will be added to the treasury in both the UK and the US.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Throughout history, there have been several cases of individuals inheriting large sums of money from people they did not know, such as Dr. Meszaros leaving $50,000 to actress Corin Ward in 1930.

• Unclaimed estates are not uncommon due to people not creating wills, with instances like Lillian Malrup receiving $700,000 from her uncle's former business partner.

• Ordinary individuals can also be entitled to unclaimed estates, but they need to check Bona Vacantia's list in the UK or the unclaimed property lists in the US and make a claim.