Others have mentioned buybacks, but the broader point is that if a company is consistently profitable, it will eventually pay dividends (or do buybacks). The board, who decide what to do with the company's money, have fiduciary obligations to the shareholders. They can hold cash reserves to cover future liabilities and they can re-invest profits in growing the business, but ultimately when the board cannot identify profitable investment opportunities, that money has to go back to the shareholders.

Also, it is only in insolvent liquidations that shareholder get nothing back. If the company were to wind up while still solvent, the shareholders would get their share of its net assets. (Though I don't think this happens much with public companies.)