The Lehman Brothers bankruptcy is on a scale never before seen. Look over this list of the top 10 bankruptcy filings by US corporations, based on pre-bankruptcy assets (data is from BankruptcyData.com via a CNBC slide show).
10) United Airlines
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $25.2 billion
Date Filed: Dec. 9, 2002
9) Pacific Gas and Electric
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $29.8 billion
Date Filed: April 6, 2001
8) Global Crossing
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $30.2 billion
Date Filed: Jan. 28, 2002
7) Refco
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $33.3 billion
Date Filed: Oct. 17, 2005
6) Financial Corp. of America
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $33.9 billion
Date Filed: Sept. 9, 1988
5) Texaco
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $35.9 billion
Date Filed: April 12, 1987
4) Conseco
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $61.4 billion
Date Filed: Dec. 18, 2002
3) Enron
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $63.4 billion
Date Filed: Dec. 2, 2001
2) Worldcom
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $103.9 billion
Date Filed: July 21, 2002
1) Lehman Brothers
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $639 billion
Date Filed: Sept. 15, 2008
The numbers are staggering.
