During the 1960s and 1970s, law enforcement agencies around the world turned to increasingly large cash rewards to capture some of the most dangerous criminals of the era. From organized crime bosses and political extremists to hijackers and serial killers, these fugitives posed threats that stretched police resources to their limits. Bounties, sometimes reaching into the millions when adjusted for inflation, were offered to motivate informants, fracture criminal networks, and bring long-running manhunts to an end. These cases reveal not only the scale of the crimes involved, but also how desperate authorities were to restore public safety in chaotic eras.
1. Carlos the Jackal — Over $1 million combined
International terrorist Carlos the Jackal had bounties placed on him by multiple governments throughout the 1970s. When combined, rewards for information leading to his capture exceeded $1 million, reflecting the global threat he posed through bombings, assassinations, and hostage takings.
2. D. B. Cooper — $200,000 recovery-linked reward
While not a traditional bounty, the FBI and insurers focused on recovering the $200,000 ransom Cooper extorted during his plane hijacking, making it one of the most famous reward-linked cases ever.
3. Angela Davis — $100,000
When Angela Davis was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, rewards totaling up to $100,000 were offered for information leading to her arrest. Her case drew massive national attention before she was captured and later absolved of all charges.
4. Zodiac Killer — $50,000
As fear spread across Northern California, law enforcement agencies and private sources offered rewards totaling around $50,000 for information identifying the Zodiac Killer. Despite the significant sum and intense media coverage, the killer was never caught.
5. Patty Hearst — $100,000+ combined
Following the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, multiple rewards were offered for information on the Symbionese Liberation Army. Combined federal, state, and private offers exceeded $100,000 as authorities worked to dismantle the group.
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6. Donald DeFreeze— $100,000
As leader of the SLA, Donald DeFreeze had a six-figure reward offered for information leading to his capture. He was killed during a police standoff in Los Angeles before the bounty could be claimed.
7. Sirhan Sirhan — $25,000
In the immediate aftermath of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, rewards were offered for information about possible accomplices. While Sirhan Sirhan was captured at the scene, the bounty reflected fears of a broader conspiracy.
8. Paul John Knowles — $35,000
Known as the “Casanova Killer,” Knowles was responsible for a multistate killing spree. Authorities offered rewards totaling approximately $35,000 as police hurried to stop him before he killed again.
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9. Richard Speck — $15,000
After the brutal murder of eight student nurses in Chicago, police announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to Speck’s arrest. He was captured within days, but the bounty underscored the urgency of the case.
10. Joseph “The Animal” Barboza — $25,000
As a prolific mob hitman, Barboza was the subject of significant reward offers aimed at breaking organized crime networks in New England. Authorities hoped the bounty would encourage insiders to turn on him.
11. Arthur Bremer — $25,000
Following the shooting of Governor George Wallace, rewards were offered to determine whether Arthur Bremer had accomplices. The respectable sum reflected fears of a wider political assassination plot.
12. Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow — $100,000
A powerful figure in San Francisco’s Chinatown gangs during the 1970s, Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow was tied to multiple murders and extortion schemes. As violence escalated, authorities and rival groups reportedly put rewards totaling up to $100,000 on information leading to his capture.
13. Early Whitey Bulger Leads — $50,000
Although his largest bounties came later, early reward offers tied to Whitey Bulger’s crimes in the 1970s reached $50,000. These efforts failed to stop his rise, but laid the groundwork for his eventual status as one of America’s most wanted fugitives.
14. James Earl Ray — $50,000
After assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Earl Ray became the subject of one of the largest manhunts in U.S. history. Federal and state authorities offered up to $50,000 for information leading to his capture. Ray was eventually arrested in London after two months on the run.
15. Charles Manson — Up to $25,000
After the Tate-LaBianca murders, authorities offered large rewards for information about Charles Manson and his followers. Combined public and private rewards reportedly reached $25,000 as police sought to identify all members of the Manson Family and secure convictions.
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