The owners of controversial security firm Paladin received $71 million in dividends in 2019, the year its $532 million federal government Manus Island refugee contract came to an end, according to court documents.

The money was divided between Paladin's two shareholders, with $40 million going to 80 per cent owner and director Craig Thrupp, and $31 million going to 20 per cent owner and former director Ian Stewart.