'We won the... grand prize': 25+ People who witnessed instant karma play out right in front of their eyes

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Sep 4, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

These people believe that karma had their back, with instant results. What could be more satisfying? 

U/JeffreyGlen asked the citizens of the internet, "What is your best instant karma story?" and they delivered some intriguing answers! Lots of people's stories centered around driving, because as you probably know if you've ever driven anywhere, people have road rage. Some folks love to speed through the streets without any regard for their fellow drivers or civilians. When they do get caught by police, or their own stupidity causes them to crash, every other driver thinks, "It serves you right!"

Other people told stories that happened when they were children — a lot of the anecdotes are really wholesome, showing that many people are good at heart. Even if there's no incentive for them, lots of people will return a purse full of money without touching a thing. Instant karma happens when the owner of the purse gives them some money for doing the right thing. It's like the universe giving you a nod that being good to your fellow humans is the right move. 

Next up, this avocado farmer teamed up with his attorney wife to get justice for his farm that burnt down. 

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  • 01
    Font - 'A woman was 70 cents short on her purchase, so I let it go. When counting her change I noticed a 1960 silver dime.' ED ST VATE
    via Annie Spratt on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - Reddit, what is your best instant karma story? Today, my son and I went to Wal- Mart to get a new game for his DS. We got to the cash register I noticed the woman in front of me was upset. Her card had been declined and she was purchasing formula. My son is fascinated with babies so he was talking to the woman about her little girl. He put the game down and handed her his money and said, "Your baby needs food more than I need Plants Vs. Zombies." My heart swelled at this, so I got the gam
    via u/JeffreyGlen
  • 03
    Font - So what is your best instant karma story, positive or negative? Edit: I did see the kind woman talking to the needy lady as we were walking out of the store. Also, half of the money is going to the account for his college. The other half is his to do what he wants with. I think he wants to give it to the shelter we work at to buy dog and cat food.
    via u/JeffreyGlen
  • 04
    Font - yesidumbx100 I was in the passing lane on the highway slowly coming up on a couple of cars in the right lane. The speed limit was about to decrease ahead and the another car came up behind me going pretty fast. Instead of gasing it to get ahead of the traffic to my right I slowed down and pulled in behind them, with the car behind me right on my a Once I got into the right lane the car floored it and passed me honking the horn and the passenger's body was half out of the car
    via u/yesidumbx100
  • 05
    Font - window yelling at me and flipping me off as they passed. Turns out the car I pulled in behind was an unmarked state trooper who promptly pulled them over. Justice.
    via u/yesidumbx100
  • 06
    Font - AdolphManson I'm an old guy (46) and I use to buy newspapers One day I paid for one, but took two papers (because I was sick of co- workers rifling through MY paper). As I walked off with both newspapers, I noticed that my shirt tail got stuck in the newspaper box when it slammed shut. I had to put in another $0.25 to get my shirt out
    via u/AdolphManson
  • 07
    Font - [deleted] I was pulled over by police for speeding (2nd time in 30+ years driving). Before the officer got out of his car I made sure my window was rolled down, shut my truck off, turned on interior light (it was night time), and put both of my hands on the steering wheel. He told me how much he appreciated this and sent me on my way with a verbal warning to pay attention to speed limit.
    via u/deleted
  • 08
    Font - [deleted] Was out for dinner with my then-fiancee (now wife) and her dad, my (now) father-in-law. He's a bit of a dto her, he got divorced and re- married, loves those kids more than my wife, gives her s over too many things, etc. etc. So we're at the end of dinner, father-in-law offers to pay for the meal. OK, that's nice. My wife asks to get her leftovers boxed and she'll take them home. He starts with "well, you'll just leave them in the fridge, then they'll just get thrown out, blah b
    via u/deleted
  • 09
    Font - He gets all mad, "Don't tell me how to raise my daughter!" I reply "Then don't speak to my fiancee that way!" He literally throws the bill & folder thing at me and says "FINE! YOU ING PAY THEN" and storms out. OK, now everyone is A ed. I am, my fiancee is saying "why did you have to start something??" etc. So I pay the bill and I'm just waiting for the receipt. Like we're waiting 10 minutes here, what the h is going on? Tensions are rising, her dad is waiting outside, just building up ste
    via u/deleted
  • 10
    Font - get our bill and go?" "Oh no sir, you have to wait for the manager". Turns out they have a contest running where "every bill is a winner". Normally you'll win a free drink, or appetizer with your next meal. Well we won the MOTHERF ING GRAND PRIZE, a trip for 4 to Florida. Whoever pays gets the prize. WELL GUESS WHAT F ER? I PAID BECAUSE YOU STORMED OUT LIKE AN A KARMA'S A B
    via u/deleted
  • 11
    Font - [deleted] I was a $10/hr. employee at a ski resort, found a wallet with $500 in it which I turned in. Later I was called to the office to meet the man who owned the wallet. He gave me $100 as reward.
    via u/deleted
  • 12
    Font - mkicon A woman was 70 cents short on her purchse, so I let it go. When counting her change I noticed a 1960 silver dime.
    via u/mkicon
  • 13
    Font - [deleted] i saw this lost dog sign in the neighborhood... the dog had a distinct face, so when i saw it, only a few blocks away, i was like... no s. so i picked it up and took it home... the whole famn damily was there, and they all cried and thanked me. the next week when i started a new year of high school, the husband/father was my english teacher. i didnt do s and made an A in that class....
    via u/deleted
  • 14
    Font - Lemonface Me, my brother, and our friend decided to be funny and get on an elevator ahead of our other friend so we could get to the hotel room first and lock our other friend out for s n giggles. We got trapped on the elevator for an hour and a half while our other friend that we ditched got to chill by the pool for that time. I guess we deserved it.
    via u/Lemonface
  • 15
    Font - sekmaht I found a purse left in a cart outside a store I used to work at, against policy I opened the purse and found a name and then contacted the lady, and it was her purse and she was frantic looking for it. So I waited at the store after hours for her to come by and get the purse, and she gave me an envelope, also to open when I got home, which turned out to be almost exactly how much I was short on rent. $120
    via u/sekmaht
  • 16
    Font - Positive: A few years ago, my infant son couldn't sleep, so we walked out to my local supermarket to get some basics and blow off steam. I look terrible: Sleep deprived, grumpy, disheveled and bedraggled. Yes, just like any other new parent. My son was in a sling on my belly. I don't remember what I was purchasing, but as I was checking out, the woman behind me stepped forward and
    via u/sekmaht
  • 17
    Font - said: "Please let me pay for this. I've always wanted to help out like this." Now, I was actually pretty well off, despite my appearance -- but she wanted this, and I didn't have very much to buy so I graciously thanked her and walked out, both of us smiling. Was a beautiful night, my son was finally asleep so I just loitered and eventually noticed someone trying in vain to start a car. Yep -- it was the lovely young woman who "helped" me out. :) I'm a decent mechanic, happened to be toti
    via u/sekmaht
  • 18
    Font - [deleted] I saw a Mercedes SL hauling a down I-65 today. Easily going over 100. Weaving in rainy weather in his top heavy car like a endangering people unnecessarily. 5 miles later, bright silver Mercedes SL on the side of the road with a flat tire in the pouring rain. I laughed so hard.
    via u/deleted
  • 19
    Font - Alamodome Not exactly INSTANT, but relevant enough to share. I work in a building with 10 floors, I am on the 5th. Last Thursday, I was coming back to the lobby from lunch and in a hurry, and I had just pressed the UP button and the elevator immediately opened up. Awesome! Before I step into the elevator, I noticed someone coming up the stairs about 30 feet away. I usually like to wait for stragglers, so as to boost my own elevator karma.
    via u/Alamodome
  • 20
    Font - As this person approaches, I notice she is fairly attractive and close to my age. Bonus points right? I also notice that she's in a hurry. She asks me, "Is CSG in this building?" -Me: yes it is! 10th floor! - Her: Oh okay, thank you! I'm running so late for my interview! By this point I notice she is not only attractive, but she is pretty d ed gorgeous. I press "10" as she enters the elevator (using the Floor Number + Door Close button trick to jump straight to the requested floor) and sh
    via u/Alamodome
  • 21
    Font - -Me: No but since you're late we'll get you there first then I'll go back down to 5 -Her: Aw that's sweet, you don't have to do that! Sure enough we zip past the 5th floor, and we hit the 10th. She gathers herself and catches her breath (from running to the building), & realizes she forgot her phone. -Her: Oh my gosh I was supposed to call when I got here, could I use your phone I'm so sorry! -Me: Not a problem! She dials CSG from the elevator and clears everything up. She then goes on to
    via u/Alamodome
  • 22
    Font - I went for it, and said, "No problem! Let me know how it goes?" She smiles a bit shyly and says "I sure will" and proceeds to tap away at my phone. She hands it back, smiles again, and walks away. I look down at my phone: 7 digits, programmed under contact name "Samantha Elevator" For a guy who NEVER gets the girl, I was pretty fing elated. We're going out for drinks tomorrow night. Sorry so wordy.
    via u/Alamodome
  • 23
    Font - TL:DR - took a pretty damsel in distress to her 10th floor before my own 5th floor and let her use my phone. Had it returned back to me with a FUNCTIONING number & name. Taking her out Tuesday. P.S. tips are welcome for SAP such as myself. EDIT! Date night was pretty sweet! So as not to congest this thread, I moved the story over here! Check it out!
    via u/Alamodome
  • 24
    Font - StefanMusic101 My personal favorite is when a car comes speeding past you, but 30 seconds later, you meet them at the traffic lights. This never ceases to entertain me...
    via u/StefanMusic101
  • 25
    Font - [deleted] Pulled into a parking lot to go pick up a little kitten we saw curled up on the ground. Immediately ran out of gas, If we hadn't pulled in there, we would have run out of gas in the middle of a busy, traffic- heavy road. Bonus: kitten!
    via u/deleted
  • 26
    Font - Joddyzz One time when I was about 8, me and my older sister were fighting over a seat. This seat was godlike and was the softest and coldest in the summer heat. She won the arguement with brute force and sat down on it in victory. There was a wasp lodged into the cushions stinger exposed, right where she sat. She is allergic and was crying the whole day.
    via u/Joddyzz
  • 27
    Font - henny_316 A coworker who slightly outranks me was joking busting my bs on Saturday. She was giving me a hard time, saying I was a dumba and they paid me too much to browse reddit all day long. She went to sit down and somehow got her right hand stuck awkwardly underneath her. It broke her pointer finger. Through the tears she looked at me and said, "Guess I deserved that" and chuckled a little.
    via u/henny_316
  • 28
    Font - Ih8YourCat Just finished grocery shopping. Loaded the bags in my car, get in and turn the key, nothing... fu My car dead for whatever reason. I sit there for about another 20 minutes checking the wires on my battery, making sure everything is properly in place. I just changed the battery a month ago, it can't be that. So I call my girl to pick me up. Says it's gonna be about 20 minutes. I got some time to kill. I happen to see an elderly lady pushing the cart to her car. This cart
    via u/Ih8YourCat
  • 29
    Font - has 4x more bags than mine did. I already know it's going to be a struggle for her. I go over and offer her help. She accepts so I help her load her groceries into her car. Go back and think "what the h? why not give my car one my try." Bam. It starts. My first thought, "W_F? This car must run on karma."
    via u/Ih8YourCat
  • 30
    Font - 2dubs1bro Crushed a bug before going into the house. Tripped through the doorway.
    via u/2dubs1bro
  • 31
    Font - ScottRockview At one point in my life, I sold furniture and I was sy at it. It was a rough time in my life where I made MAYBE $1,000.00 a month (around 10 years ago) and pretty much had nothing left after rent and what few little bills I had. There were a lot of times when I didn't eat for days because I couldn't afford to eat that much. Anyhow, one day I'm trying to sell furniture and am selling nothing. It was nearing then end of the day and I had made $0 (I was on commission). An old c
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 32
    Font - avoid them because we all know that they're going to take up a bunch of time end up buying something for around $100.00 and then your commission is going to be $2.00. No add ons because who in their right mind would purchase a $29.99 extended warranty on a $100.00 item. I look at them and figure what the h if I can sell anything today, at least I won't get skunked and maybe my luck will turn around after that. They ended up buying 2 stands ($6.00 oommission for me) but asked how they woul
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 33
    Font - them to (for a fee of course) but I was desperate and didn't want to lose the sale, especially after having spent around 45 minutes with them. So I said "I'm off at 9:00 PM, if you come pick me up, I'll come setup the stands for you for free". They took this offer, paid for the furniture and left. The other sales reps laughed at me. They laughed at me more when my quitting time came around and I hadn't sold anything else. The old couple picked me up promptly at 9:00 PM. I loaded the boxes
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 34
    Font - their beautiful condo which was bigger than a lot of houses. I began working on assembling the furniture. I could smell some food cooking and tried to ignore it (I hadn't eaten in about 3 days at that point, so it was hard) I worked for almost 3 hours straight until it was done. I then moved the finished product into position and then moved their TV's for them. It was close to mid-night and I was trying to politely excuse myself from their home and thanked them for their purchase today. T
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 35
    Font - better than any money. I was so grateful and thankful. I held back tears as I ate the delicious home cooked meal she had prepared for me. It was now after 12:30. I thanked them again for all that they had done for me and was about to leave to try and find my way home on the bus at a late hour (maybe they weren't running at this point and I didn't know which buses to take as I had never been in this part of town before) but the old man stopped me and offered me a ride home. The old lady pa
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 36
    Font - As the car stopped and I got out and thanked them one more time, the lady handed me an envelope. I didn't open it, just thanked them. I happily went up to my apartment knowing that I was going to sleep with a full stomach that night and that I would get to eat for the next few days. I was feeling great. I opened the envelope and there was a thank you card. Insde was $100.00. I cried like a little b
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 37
    Font - After that, for the rest of the time that I sold furniture, I always ran to help the people nobody else wanted to. I changed my focus from getting a big sale every day to getting all of the small ones nobody cared about and it got me through until I got a better paying job.
    via u/ScottRockview
  • 38
    Font - clark_ent Long line at a fast food place; guy finally gets his turn, and finds he forgot his wallet. I stepped in and said "I'll get it," which completely floored him; he was in complete awe/thankfulness. He tried figure out how to return the money and I said don't worry about it. What kind of instant karma? At that moment, a chick in the area witnessed it and decided she needed to be my future wife. We just bought a house together.
    via u/clark_ent
  • 39
    Font - greytrench Out at Subway with a buddy, I put my napkin in my lap like I always do. He laughs at me so hard a meatball falls out of his sandwich and onto his lap.
    via u/greytrench
  • 40
    Font - IrritableGourmet My family visited some friends one day after church when I was about 8 or so. They lived on a farm, so one of their kids and I went out to look at the cows. I was dressed in my Sunday finest, so I was very careful not to get all muddy. The other kid noticed and grabbed this stick that was lying on the ground with some muck on the end of it and started chasing me around, threatening to wipe it all over me. He finally cornered me against some fencing and was about to throw
    via u/IrritableGourmet
  • 41
    Font - golden retriever sprinting towards him from behind. At the last second, he raises the stick above his head and the dog, trying to get it, leaps and full on tackles him. He lands face first in a mud patch, and I ran away.
    via u/IrritableGourmet
  • 42
    Font - [deleted] I was in a taxi with my uncle, and I saw what appeared to be a dollar bill between the passenger seat and the console (sort of that cupholder thing). I pulled it out and found it to be a 100 dollar bill. Out of instinct I gave it to the driver, who was shocked. Apparently somebody else left it there. Later, my uncle gave me a hundred dollars for doing the right thing and probably brightening that cab drivers day.
    via u/deleted
  • 43
    Font - I was at the gym an some a hat left 275 on the bar in the squat rack. Some petite girl immediately comes over and wants to use the rack, so she starts unloading the weight. All of the weight. From one side. So the bar does this sort of catapulting/seesaw thing,flies off the rack, and smacks the d who left it loaded with weight. TL;DR If you leave weight on the bar, you.
    via r/AskReddit

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