Facebook settlement payment sizes revealed: Here's the minimum (and maximum) you'll get
Share and Follow


(NEXSTAR) – Documents filed in a California court last week are finally giving us a better idea of how big individual payouts will be in the $725 million class action lawsuit over Facebook users’ privacy.

We’ve long known that big pot of money would get cut down substantially by legal fees and administrative costs, before being divvied up among a huge group of people. Because the class action lawsuit affected basically all U.S. Facebook users between 2007 and 2022, millions of people were eligible for a piece of the pie.

When lawyers gave an update in court two years ago, they were still parsing through about 28 million claims. “As far as we can tell that’s the largest number of claims ever filed in a class action in the United States,” said Lesley Weaver, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case.

After a long process of validating legitimate claims and tossing out the ones that were fraudulent or duplicative, Angeion, the company in charge of distributing the payments, has finished its calculations determining how much each individual will get as payments go out starting this month.

How big will your payment be?

The smallest possible payment is $4.89 and the maximum payment is $38.36, according to court documents filed on Friday. The average payment will be $29.43 (which is pretty close to the estimate we knew prior to this).

Whether your payment is closer to $5 or $40 depends on how long you had a Facebook account during the class period. There’s a point system in place, with one point awarded for every month you had a Facebook account between May 2007 and December 2022. The maximum number of points you can have is 188, which would give you the maximum payment of around $38.

If you have fewer points, because you weren’t on Facebook for that entire time, you’ll receive a smaller payment. The minimum payment of $4.89 “corresponds with the payment to Authorized Claimants who were Facebook Users with activated accounts for 24 months during the Class Period.”

Any amount smaller than that makes it more likely people will not redeem the payment at all, the court documents state.

What is the class action lawsuit about?

The social media company agreed to pay $725 million to settle claims it violated users’ privacy by sharing their data with third parties. The most famous third party was Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported.

While Meta agreed to the payout, it denies wrongdoing.

The distribution of payments has started, according to Angeion, and is expected to continue for 10 weeks.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Ladies & Luggage travel agency, Dacia Woods accused of taking thousands from Chicago-area women, abruptly closing before trips

Chicago Travel Scandal: Women Left Stranded After Agency Fraud Allegations Emerge

ELGIN, Ill. — In a developing investigation, the ABC7 I-Team is delving…
Assistant high school principal and brother allegedly planned violence against ICE agents: police

High School Assistant Principal and Sibling Accused of Plotting Against ICE Agents, Authorities Reveal

In Virginia, an assistant principal at a high school, along with his…
Jay Leno shares update on his wife's battle with advanced dementia

Jay Leno Opens Up About Wife’s Courageous Fight Against Advanced Dementia: A Personal Update

Despite the hurdles they face, Jay Leno shared that his wife Mavis,…
A local pond overflows into a residential neighborhood in Huntington Beach, Calif. following a storm on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Heavy Rains Reemerge in Southern California, Sparking Renewed Concerns Over Flash Floods and Mudslides

LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Friday, Southern California found itself grappling with…
Slick Mamdani charms Trump as president gushes over 'communist'

President Trump Praises Slick Mamdani: A Surprising Nod to a ‘Communist’ Ally

On Friday, Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Mayor of…
Chicago train attack suspect ordered by judge to remain in custody ahead of trial

Judge Orders Chicago Train Attack Suspect to Remain in Custody Pending Trial

A man accused of setting a young woman on fire aboard a…
'Special Forces' winners Gia Giudice, Shawn Johnson share behind-the-scenes tea with 'VRT'

Exclusive Insights: ‘Special Forces’ Champions Gia Giudice and Shawn Johnson Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Secrets on ‘VRT

Gia Giudice and Shawn Johnson recently swung by the Page Six studio…
FILE - La Catedral Arena horse race track in Wilder, Idaho is seen in Oct. 22, 2025, three days after the FBI and other law enforcement agencies raided the property as part of a gambling investigation. (AP Photo/Rebecca Boone, File)

Federal Judge Mandates Release of 16 Migrants in Idaho, Highlights Due Process Violations in Detention Raid

BOISE, Idaho — A federal judge has mandated the release of 16…