ESOP Distributions Reach $141.8 Billion Since 2009
A national study finds employee stock ownership plans paid out $141.8 billion to workers from 2009 through 2024.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Jobs — General
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The Employee Ownership Expansion Network released a study measuring $141.8 billion in ESOP distributions paid to workers and beneficiaries from 2009 through 2024. The analysis identified 3,943 new ESOPs formed during that period against 3,839 entering termination.
Why it matters
The findings suggest employee ownership is building meaningful retirement wealth for workers across the country, with new formations outpacing terminations in every year from 2016 through 2024. The report's author argues that broader adoption would produce more worker wealth.
Terminating ESOPs accounted for about 20 percent of the $141.8 billion in distributions, based on a review of roughly 100,000 Form 5500 filings. The study does not report how those figures compare with distributions from other employer-sponsored retirement plans over the same period.
The players
Employee Ownership Expansion Network
A research and advocacy organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that promotes employee stock ownership plans as a means of building worker wealth.
Leidos
A large Reston, Virginia-based government services and technology contractor that acquired Dynetics in 2020.
The details
The report, authored by Steve Storkan, executive director of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network, uses case studies such as Dynetics, a Huntsville, Alabama company acquired by Leidos in 2020, whose ESOP paid about $977 million to roughly 2,260 participants across 2019 and 2020. Aaron Dean of Deanalytics built the software used to collect and analyze the filings.
Timeline
2009 through 2024: Study period covering distributions, formations and terminations of ESOPs.
2019 through 2020: Dynetics ESOP distributions paid to participants.
2020: Leidos acquires Dynetics.
Market Landscape
The study draws its national totals from Form 5500 annual filings, the standard federal disclosure that employee benefit plans submit under ERISA. Its findings place ESOP growth within the broader debate over how private employers can widen retirement wealth beyond traditional pension and 401(k) structures.
Workers at companies with employee stock ownership plans may accumulate retirement balances through company stock held in trust. The report's median household retirement savings figure of $78,000 offers a benchmark for comparing personal progress.
The takeaway
Employees who want to understand their retirement exposure can ask their employer whether an ESOP is offered and how plan distributions are paid out. Reviewing account statements for vesting schedules helps workers plan for distributions.
Further reading
Explore more on Jobs — General to see how workplace ownership structures are shaping employee earnings nationwide.
More information
Read the full ESOP wealth report and executive summary from the Employee Ownership Expansion Network.
Source note: This article includes information reported by InvestmentNews.
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