When Can You Expect Some of Facebook’s $725 Million Settlement?

If you spend any duration of time on social media, particularly Facebook, you might've seen something about people receiving payouts as part of massive settlement involving the social media giant. Payouts from a December 2022 settlement are starting to hit the bank and Venmo accounts of affected recipients.

I just got my settlement payout on Monday, as did my girlfriend, Catherine. It got me thinking: more people in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin must be receiving these settlements or should be due to receive them very soon. I figured I'd compile a piece on the subject regarding "all you need to know" about your potential payout.

READ MORE: Illinois Facebook Users: Another Settlement Check is Coming

What Does the "Facebook Settlement" Concern?:

Back in December 2022, Facebook users were able to file claims in Meta's $725 million settlement related to a scandal involving Cambridge Analytica. The class-action lawsuit was put into motion after Facebook revealed in 2018 that as many as 87 million Facebook users' private information was obtained by Cambridge Analytica, which worked with President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, per CNN.

Meta was accused of allowing the data analytic firm, as well as other third parties, such as developers, advertisers, and data brokers, permission to access the private information of Facebook users. While Meta didn't admit any wrongdoing, they have since "restricted third-party access to user data and developed more robust tools to inform users about how data is collected and shared," per CNN and court documents.

When Were People Able to File a Claim to Receive Settlement Money?:

Any United States Facebook user who had an active account between May 24th, 2007 and December 22nd, 2022 was eligible to file a claim, even if they deleted their account. The deadline to file was August 25th, 2023. Nearly 29 million claims were filed, and roughly 18 million were validated.

Payouts — which have been going out over the last month — were determined by whether the claim was valid and the length of time an individual was a Facebook user. The settlement was finalized in May 2025 and, on August 27th, the court ordered the benefits be distributed to the affected parties.

How Much Money Will You Receive?:

Of the $725 million settlement fund, approximately $540 million will cover approved claims, per CNN. A system of "allocation points" determine payment amount.

Speaking for myself, I received $32.24. My girlfriend received a little over $21. Not exactly a barn-burning amount, but in years past, I've received settlement checks for as little as 50 cents. I'll take whatever I can get when I'm wronged.

How Are Payouts Received?:

How you receive the payout is determined by how you elected it to be sent when you initially filed a claim. Payments will either be sent directly to your bank account, or via PayPal, prepaid Mastercard, Venmo, or Zelle. If the payout fails to send, you'll receive a "second chance email" instructing you to update your payment method.

You should receive an email in the days prior to receiving your payout as well. Furthermore, if you're unsure about the status of your claim, you can contact the settlement administrator at info@facebookuserprivacysettlement.com. For more information about the ongoing payouts in the $725 million Facebook settlement, visit CNN's website.