Stole someone's thoughts/ideas? $958 million
In 2006, Boeing paid $615m in fines for trade secret theft and the 2001 Air Force leasing tanker scandal. That’s worth more than $958m today. It was up to then the largest fine for a defense contractor.
Bribery/export violations? $620 million
In 2020, Airbus paid the Justice Department $527m in fines ($620m in today’s dollars) for violating bribery and US ITAR regulations. ITAR restricts technology transfers.
346 people killed? $539 million (spread across three years)
$487.2m in fines in two tranches ($539.2m adjusted for inflation).