Some of the world ’s biggest bank robberies have involved not just organised criminals, but wars, political instability and highly coordinated insider operations, with losses ranging from tens of millions to nearly $1 billion.

According to records documented by Guinness World Records and financial reporting archives, including World Finance, the largest known bank robbery in history remains the 2003 theft from the Central Bank of Iraq, where more than $920 million was stolen in the chaotic days surrounding the Iraq War.

Iraq Heist Remains the Largest on Record

The Central Bank of Iraq robbery unfolded shortly before the United States-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

According to reports widely cited by Guinness World Records, Saddam Hussein allegedly sent his son Qusay Hussein to withdraw approximately $920 million in cash from the central bank using handwritten notes shortly before coalition forces entered Baghdad.

Much of the money was later recovered by U.S. troops hidden inside palace walls, although large sums remain unaccounted for.

The robbery continues to be regarded as the largest bank theft ever recorded.

Dar es Salaam Heist Shocked East Africa

Among the largest modern commercial bank robberies was the Dar es Salaam Bank heist in Iraq, estimated at roughly $282 million.

The case highlighted growing concerns over corruption, weak institutional oversight and the vulnerability of financial systems in conflict-affected regions.

Financial crime experts say some of the largest robberies in history succeeded not through sophisticated hacking, but through insider access and political instability.

Britain’s Most Famous Vault Robberies

Several of the world’s most notorious heists took place in the United Kingdom.

The 1987 Knightsbridge Security Deposit robbery in London saw Italian criminal Valerio Viccei and accomplices steal an estimated $97 million worth of cash, jewellery and valuables after gaining access to safety deposit vaults by posing as customers.

Meanwhile, the 2006 Securitas depot robbery in Kent became Britain’s largest cash theft, with armed criminals stealing approximately £53 million, equivalent to around $83 million at the time. Many of those involved were later arrested, though part of the money was never recovered.

Brazil’s Underground Bank Burglary

In Brazil, the 2005 Banco Central burglary became famous for the method used rather than sheer violence.

A criminal gang spent months digging a tunnel beneath the city of Fortaleza before stealing roughly $71.6 million from the Central Bank of Brazil.

Authorities later described the operation as one of the most technically elaborate bank robberies ever conducted.

Northern Ireland’s Political Shadow

The 2004 Northern Bank robbery in Belfast resulted in the theft of around £26.5 million, equivalent to roughly $41 million at the time.

The robbery drew international attention amid allegations of involvement by paramilitary groups linked to the Irish republican movement, claims that were politically sensitive during Northern Ireland’s peace process.

The latest example came in 2026, when Polish YouTube collective ŁatwoGang reportedly raised an extraordinary $68.9 million in just nine days , setting a new benchmark for creator-led fundraising events.

The figure eclipses previous records set by France’s ZEvent, one of Europe’s most successful charity streaming marathons, and reflects the growing influence of digital creators in mobilising global audiences.

French livestream charity event ZEvent has become one of the most recognised fundraising initiatives in the online creator economy.

Founded by French streamers Adrien “ZeratoR” Nougaret and Alexandre “Dach” Dachary, the event brings together dozens of creators annually to raise money for humanitarian and environmental causes.

According to organisers and reporting from BBC News , the 2021 edition raised more than €10 million for Action Against Hunger, becoming one of the largest charity streaming campaigns ever recorded at the time. Subsequent editions continued to grow rapidly, with the 2025 event reportedly generating nearly $19 million within three days.

The event’s success has highlighted the power of livestream communities to convert audience engagement directly into donations at unprecedented speed.

In the United States, creators have also begun testing the limits of online fundraising.

A 2025 livestream collaboration involving YouTube creator MrBeast and streamer Adin Ross reportedly generated approximately $12 million in just 18 hours, demonstrating how major internet personalities can attract audiences comparable to large broadcast events.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is widely recognised for blending philanthropy with entertainment content and has built one of the world ’s largest YouTube audiences, with hundreds of millions of subscribers across platforms, according to Forbes.

Platforms such as Twitch, YouTube and Kick are increasingly functioning as large-scale fundraising infrastructure rather than simply entertainment services.

Data from Streams Charts shows charity livestreams consistently rank among the highest-engagement online events globally, often attracting millions of cumulative viewing hours and international participation.

Industry analysts say the format succeeds because livestreaming combines entertainment, direct audience interaction and real-time donation tracking, creating a sense of collective participation difficult to replicate through traditional fundraising methods.

Charity streaming first gained traction through gaming communities in the late 2010s, but has since expanded far beyond esports audiences.

One of the earliest large-scale examples came from Twitch streamer DrLupo, who raised nearly $900,000 in 24 hours in 2019 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over five years, his fundraising efforts surpassed $10 million, according to campaign records and Twitch reporting.

Since then, creator-led charity events have broadened to include music, politics, lifestyle content and global humanitarian campaigns.

"About eight years ago, I got a lump on my cheek which over time grew painful and made breathing difficult," Daballen shared. "When asleep, I would wake up with severe headaches, and when I sought medical help, I was diagnosed with throat cancer."

Daballen is among residents of Kargi and nearby Kalacha who have accused Amoco Corporation, now part of BP, of causing long-term health and environmental damage through alleged toxic waste disposal linked to oil exploration activities in the Chalbi Desert during the late 1980s.

Community members said toxic waste from the operations contaminated groundwater sources, leading to livestock deaths, rising cancer cases and the displacement of families decades after drilling activities ended.

Earlier this month, the Environment and Land Court in Isiolo ruled that a class action lawsuit filed against BP by residents from the two communities could proceed to a full hearing. BP has not commented on the case and the court ruling does not establish liability.

Amoco Corporation carried out exploration activities in the area before it was acquired by BP in 1998.

Former labourer Orowa Bayo said he briefly worked on road construction leading to the exploration site, where he alleges he witnessed excavators burying "toxic waste".

Bayo and other villagers said they later relocated after what they described as an increase in cancer-related deaths, which they attribute to contaminated water sources, although no official study has confirmed a link to the nearby exploration site. Residents say at least seven community members have died from cancer-related illnesses.

"At first, we lost our livestock. Years later, we started witnessing people die from throat and stomach cancer," Bayo explained.

He said fear and anxiety now dominate daily life within the community.

"Today, if anyone has an ailment for more than two weeks, stress and anxiety levels shoot up, thinking it's cancer."

Residents are calling for environmental assessments, medical support and a clean-up of the affected area.

"Those responsible for dumping toxins must know what to do in order to clean the site," Bayo said. "We ask that the government come to our aid so that we can live like we used to live before."

Villagers said water from shallow hand-dug wells is no longer considered safe for drinking and is now mainly used for washing, forcing women and children to travel long distances to access deeper machine-drilled boreholes.

"My appeal to the government and all other stakeholders is to come and clean up this mess so that we can live like other Kenyans," Daballen said, adding, "Today, we do not feel like we are in Kenya."

The case involves 299 people who allege that Amoco Corporation improperly disposed of hazardous and toxic waste contaminants during oil exploration activities in the Chalbi Desert.