"The Treasury Department was also authorized to buy up to $250 billion in bank shares, which would provide much-needed capital to financial institutions. It bought $20 billion in shares each from Bank of America (BAC) and Citigroup (C). The Treasury Department later sold those shares back for a profit. In total, the government provided $245.1 billion in TARP assistance to banks and recouped $275.6 billion, for an investment gain of $30.5 billion.

I wish the government would do more bank bailouts if they make $30 billion profit.

But you are right about the auto industry bailout except in that case the money went to the autoworkers not shareholders.

The government bailed out the underfunded auto workers' pension plan.