Some of the big corporate bailouts by taxpayers from 2008, which so angered many Americans, have actually ended in a profit for the federal government. But there is more than $200 billion still owed and outstanding.
The government will probably lose money on the bailouts of automakers General Motors and Chrysler, according to Treasury figures cited by CNNMoney.
GM received $51 billion in bailout funds and repaid about $24 billion so far.
Editor's Note: 'It’s Curtains for the US' — Hear Unapologetic Warning from Prophetic Economist.
But GM shares would need to rise to almost $57 a share from its current price of just over $23 for taxpayers to be made whole – a tall order.
Meanwhile, some of the government monies paid out to Chrysler Group has already been written off. Chrysler, now controlled by Italian automaker Fiat, left a tab of $1.3 billion for U.S. taxpayers to pay off from its total infusion of $12.4 billion.
Another auto-related recipient, auto and home finance firm Ally Financial (formerly GMAC), received $16.3 billion but has only paid $5.7 billion back to date. Ally may not be able to pay the difference without a successful IPO.
But not all is gloomy on the government bailout front. Treasury reported the American International Group (AIG) rescue has already turned a profit of $12.4 billion for taxpayers.
“To stabilize and then restructure the company with a very substantial positive gain for the American taxpayer is a significant accomplishment,” Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said in a prepared statement.
Treasury records show the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) for “too big to fail” institutions such as Citigroup, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs turned a $25 billion profit. But about $14.8 billion is still owed by nearly 400 smaller banks.
Finally, the biggest recipients of taxpayer largesse – mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – are still a large black cloud over taxpayers.
They received about $187.5 billion, but have only paid back $70.7 billion in dividends and profit.
Treasury estimated more than $10 billion is also yet to be prepaid from smaller TARP programs.
Editor's Note: 'It’s Curtains for the US' — Hear Unapologetic Warning from Prophetic Economist.
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