Estranged parents insult their accomplished son, calling him a 'spoiled brat' after he refuses to give them $2M for a retirement cruise: 'I said no and hung up'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Aug 11, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

Success makes the beggars crawl out of the woodwork. 

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  • As someone who craves riches but dreads fame, I understand the allure of staying silently wealthy; which is why it's always baffling to me when I hear stories of new money flaunting their affluence. But more often than not, once people dig their way out of generational poverty, it's hard to resist a little flex on the fam, right? When it came to his estranged family members, the 47-year-old rags-to-riches hero in our next story knew that it would be prudent to keep his accomplishments close to his chest.

    But after a random run-in with his mother, an impromptu family dinner, and 3 bottles of wine, the grandeur of his current status revealed itself in spades. 

    Although he was essentially disowned as a college kid (living briefly on the streets, working multiple jobs, and slogging his way through his Computer Science degree), the original poster of this story found a way to find success in his adult life. Berated by his parents over choosing a ‘hobby’ instead of a career, he successfully became the VP of a software engineering company, while continuing with the frugal lifestyle of his youth. By the age of 47, he was a millionaire and could retire tomorrow if he wanted to… 

    When his parents found out he was secretly insanely rich, they backtracked on a lifetime of abuse and apologized fervently with but one simple request… $2,000,000 cash to fund their dream retirement cruise. As if! Keep scrolling to read the juicy details of this familial betrayal and the caveated twist that left OP wondering if he'd done the right thing. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10385930496
    via canva

    This photo does not depict the subjects of the following story.

  • 02
    AITA for not helping my parents live their "retirement dream"?
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
  • 03
    I (47M) chose to pursue a Bachelor's in Computer Science against my father's wishes for me to get a BBA in Accounting. After I left for university, my parents told me to enjoy the experience and not worry about calling. When I returned home
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    for Christmas, they were cold and didn't give me any gifts, saying, "You are an adult now; you shouldn't expect presents." When the school year ended, I called my parents and got a disconnected number prompt. I
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
  • 05
    tried several times, but each time, it was the same. I panicked and eventually called my grandmother. She told me my parents had moved away, and she had their new number but wasn't supposed to give it to me until I finished university.
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    She then hung up, leaving me with no money and nowhere to go. I had to sell all my belongings quickly because I had no place to store them or money. I was
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
  • 07
    homeless for a month before a university professor recognized me on the streets and offered me a place to stay until the new school year. That became my home during breaks until I finished university. I worked as much as possible, lived in the dorms, and saved money.
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    Since then, I've been extremely frugal. I limited my budget to less than 20% of my income and saved the rest. When I reached three times my yearly income, I started investing in the stock market. Even after 25
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
  • 09
    years and becoming a VP of a medium-sized software company, I still spend at most $30,000 a year. Two weeks ago, while grocery shopping, I heard, "OP, is that you?" I turned around to see my
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    mother. I managed to stay stone-faced and have a conversation with her until she eventually invited me for dinner that Saturday and gave me her number and address.
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    I debated not going but decided I finally wanted answers. It turns out my grandmother died two years after I left for university, and no one knew how to contact me. They explained that after seeing me at Christmas, they
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    realized I was still in a "child's" mindset and needed to grow up and learn to be an adult. After dinner and at least three bottles of wine, my dad said he had decided to leave me behind when "I was a spoiled little brat going to university for a hobby,
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    not a career like he wanted." Being drunk (I rarely drink; alcohol isn't in the budget), I snapped at him, flaunting what my "hobby" had gotten me. I am a millionaire now and can retire tomorrow if I want.
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    Three days ago, my father called and apologized before dropping the bombshell: my parents want to sell everything and go on a "retirement cruise spree" for five years but are $2 million short. They want me to
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    give them the money, saying, "We spent so much raising you and giving you the best. Look at what an amazing man you have become because of us." I said no and hung up. My parents
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    have been showing up everywhere for the last three days, begging for my help. Today, my mother confessed she has dementia and maybe eight years to live. This is her last wish. AITA for not helping my parents with their retirement plans?
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    palmsinmypalms · 2 hr. ago NTA. You can tell them the same thing they told you: "You are an adult now; you shouldn't expect presents."
    via palmsinmypalms
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    hopingtothrive 2 hr. ago Aficionado [16] Cut them off. They are terrible people. Dementia is no excuse (there is no predicted end date. That's a manipulative lie). Never disclose your net worth.
    via hopingtothrive
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    AITA_Retirement_Save OP 2 hr. ago Telling them what I am worth was a big mistake I regretted along with the hangover. I only drink at company events, and it is at most 2 drinks. Not the 6 or 7 glasses of wine because I thought my mother was being generous and I didn't want to be rude.
    via AITA_Retirement_Save
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    fidelises 2 hr. ago Your success was despite them, not because of them. You owe them nothing.
    via fidelises
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    8475d91 2 hr. ago Spend your money honoring the professor that housed you 1.0k Reply Share AITA_Retirement_Save OP. 1 hr. ago I plan to. When I die, I plan for all my investments to go to a newly created scholarship in his name at the University.
    via 8475d91
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    WeirdnessWalking. 2 hr. ago Partassipant [1] How are they "showing up everywhere?" 122 Reply Share AITA_Retirement_Save OP. 1 hr. ago I was drunk and made the mistake of telling them where I work and where I live. They
    via WeirdnessWalking
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    asked for a tour. I was trying to be polite and not cause a scene at work, so I obliged them, only for them to bring up the subject halfway through. I told them I wouldn't discuss it at work and they left. The next day,
    via WeirdnessWalking
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    they showed up at my work again, "Offering to bring me to lunch so we can discuss it,' and I had security walk them off the premises and ban them from coming back. The next day they showed up at my home (My landlord said
    via WeirdnessWalking
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    they had been sitting across the street in their vehicle for at least an hour and a half). I told them to go away as I would not be discussing giving them any money, ever.
    via WeirdnessWalking
  • 26
    catskilkid 2 hr. ago Professor Emeritass [72] NTA They had NO retirement plan if they were 2 million short!!! It was only hapenstance that your mother saw you and you were invited to their home. What a BS story to ease their guilt!!! We had
    via catskilkid
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    to abandon you and run away so you couldn't find us so you could "grow up"!!! They did nothing to keep in touch, they could easily just disapprove of your choices yet still love you and be in touch with you. Now they are hounding you because you are successful!!!!
    via catskilkid

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