Two people got very large payouts, a significant percentage of what was owed to them.
I think you meant to say something like "a portion of the past-due payouts". These contracts are still owed 4+ years more of pay-outs to come.
What's owed to someone in a ponzi is a contentious topic, especially when a decent number of the people here likely knew it was a ponzi and were hoping to reach breakeven before it collapsed.