If you live in Alaska, a family of four gets about $10,000 in oil royalties per year.

As oil royalties flow to the capital, politicians use the money to consolidate power.

Turkey has a claim on oil royalties from nearby fields dating back to when Iraq was set up.

They give the parish $10 million in oil royalties and control of the land.

The fund started in 1977 with $733,811, the state's first receipts from oil royalties.

"Our clientele includes many people who have oil royalties, and the bigger royalty checks are coming in."

Wyoming expects to see its government oil royalties drop this year by $40 million.

Burlington paid $8.5 million in 2001 to settle charges of cheating related to its oil royalties.

The government collects oil royalties of which 5% are passed to the states and the rest retained by the federal government.

In fact, suits over oil royalties are common.