CNBC has put together a quick slideshow list of the top 10 largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in US history based on the pre-bankruptcy assets of the companies in question. It really gives you a sense of the incredible scale of the Lehman Brothers filing — the next closest bankruptcy was Worldcom, which had $103.9 billion in assets before the filing — 535.1 BILLION DOLLARS less than Lehman Brothers. Damn.
10. United Airlines
Assets: $25.2 billion
Date Filed: Dec. 9, 2002
9. Pacific Gas and Electric
Assets: $29.8 billion
Date Filed: April 6, 2001
8. Global Crossing
Assets: $30.2 billion
Date Filed: Jan. 28, 2002
7. Refco
Assets: $33.3 billion
Date Filed: Oct. 17, 2005
6. Financial Corp. of America
Assets: $33.9 billion
Date Filed: Sept. 9, 1988
5. Texaco
Assets: $35.9 billion
Date Filed: April 12, 1987
4. Conseco
Assets: $61.4 billion
Date Filed: Dec. 18, 2002
3. Enron
Assets: $63.4 billion
Date Filed: Dec. 2, 2001
2. Worldcom
Assets: $103.9 billion
Date Filed: July 21, 2002
1. Lehman Brothers
Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $639 billion
Date Filed: Sept. 15, 2008
Biggest Chapter 11 Cases [CNBC]
(Photo: epak )