US Government vs. Tobacco Industry
$206 billion
Way before announcing the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) back in November 1998, the US government initiated a lawsuit against the tobacco industry based on an article that was published in the British Medical Journal. The article highlighted the connection between smoking, lung cancer, and heart disease.
Throughout 25 years, $206 billion were paid based on the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The amount of money paid by the United States tobacco companies was used on medical expenses and, of course, on anti-smoking campaigns.
This long lawsuit involved 5 territories and 46 U.S. states, and it probably comes as no surprise the amount of money spent over the course of 25 years.
