Look at AIG's dividends over the last few years they where pumping out about a dollar a year in dividends and now their stock is worth ~4$. The reason they where able to generate that type of money is the reduction in banking regulation alongside absurdly low interest rates and a willingness of the federal government to bail out companies that are "to big to fail" all off which is giving money to the people who own and or run AIG and companies like them.

PS: If AIG still had all it's dividends from the last 10 years it would not need any government money.