The Illinois State Treasurer’s office is making the largest unclaimed Property Return in the nation’s history.
Joseph Stancak of Chicago passed away of natural causes in 2016 at the age of 87. He had no children or spouse nor did any of his six deceased brothers and sisters but he left behind an estate estimated at 11 million dollars.
And little is known about how Mr. Stancak accumulated such wealth so quietly.
The Treasurers office says many of his 119 Heirs live in Poland or Slovakia although a few are in the United States.
Prior to Mr. Stancak, the highest paid unclaimed property claim in Illinois was $8.1 million to a suburban manufacturer of auto components in 2012. The largest claim paid to an individual was $5 million to a Cook County woman in 2013.