11 Most Expensive Ransoms Ever Paid

1.Jorge and Juan Born, 1974

Nominal value of the ransom: $60 million

Value in 2015 USD: 290.5 million

The dubious honor of being number one on our list of most expensive ransoms ever paid goes to brothers Born, Jorge and Juan. The Born brothers ran very successful grain trading business and were considered one of the wealthiest families in Argentina. Montonerros snatched them in 1974, killing their driver in the process. After 9 months of negotiations, the family paid an unprecedented sum of $60 million dollars, equivalent to more than $290 million today. Shortly after the release, Borns relocated their business to Brazil. Mario Firmenich, Montonerros leader, was sentenced to life in prison for this crime in 1984.