I think ownership is misunderstood.  The residents of the state are like shareholders in the "company" of Alaska.  The PFD was set up to provide a "dividend," yes, lots of companies pay out dividends if you invest in them and are a "shareholder."  Your dividend is a payment to you for your ownership of Alaskan resources; every resource state could pay dividends.  The "state" receives payment, too, and decides how to best spend that money for you. Invest in dividend paying companies, like BP and Conoco-Phillips, and they will pay you "dividends."  On 2/17, BP paid .60 per share dividends to their shareholders, so about $2.40 annually per share if ROI holds.  CP annual dividend is about $1.06 per share owned. If you happen to be an Alaska Native shareholder in a Native corporation, like CIRI, you will receive another "dividend."  For example, on 3/13/2017, CIRI paid dividends to shareholders in the amount of $5,354,281 and public records only showed total payout not per share