Loss: $239 billion
Peak market cap: $242 billion (December 2000)
Recent market cap: $3 billion
Ticker: AIG
A list of losers would hardly be complete without a mention of AIG, the cratered insurer that has taken $180 billion of federal aid. Under former CEO Hank Greenberg, the company appeared placid from the outside, even as it was taking on more leverage to juice its earnings and building up some of the risks that later led to its derivatives-fueled downfall. AIG is now working to repay taxpayers, though no one expects to see a check in the mail soon.
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