19-year-old inherits $8 million from estranged grandpa, entitled family members sue her: 'The money doesn't belong to [her]'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 19, 2025 4:00 PM EST

There's nothing like money to tear a family apart. Of course, we'd like to believe that there is no force stronger than that of the bond between loved ones, but the truth of the matter is that there is a stronger force and that, whether we like it or not, is the desire for more money.

In this instance, we have a 19-year-old young woman who wasn't even that close to her grandfather, but clearly, he liked her enough to give all $8 million of his inheritance solely to her, leaving all the other family members (including the grandfather's own children) with nothing. We can guess where this is going…

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    84 UNITIO 15 LEGAL TR S. PUBLIC AM er of the United St A "My dad and stepmom as well as my siblings are hounding me to split the money with them." 48 FEDE MH 3454488 8H
    via Unsplash+ (Jason Hawke)

  • Several members of the online community chimed in with their reactions as to whether or not the 19-year-old is at fault here. Of course, as she states, there are no legal repercussions for her actions; she is 100% lawfully entitled to that inheritance. However, is there a moral obligation to give some of it away? 

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    I (f19) have an estranged grandpa more or less. He's my dad's father, but my dad hardly had a relationship with him. I have two other siblings (one younger, (13) and one older (26). My grandma divorced my grandpa when my dad was only 10, so he lived with my grandma his whole life in a different state and didn't see him.
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    When he got older he saw him a little more and my grandpa started coming around a little bit more as well. He'd stay for a week at a time and then go home.
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    He was an old, bitter man to be honest. He never got remarried and lived his whole life in his coastal town with the same friends he'd had his whole life.
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    Cheezburger Image 10469714432
    via LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    He wasn't pleasant to be around and could hold grudges longer than anyone I've ever met. But regardless of this, he was filthy rich. He owned a successful
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    business that he sold for $1m dollars. He retired after selling, but his house sits on an island as well as the biggest piece of land on the island. So it sold for well over $3m.
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    I was never close with my grandpa, but I took after his sister who is an RN and he adores her. He always told me that he was proud to see me follow in her footsteps.
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    He did a few months ago. Since then, my family has been torn apart. He left everything to me. He essentially liquidated all of his assets and it ended up being close to 8 million dollars. I was shocked. I didn't and still don't know what to do with the money, but I'm going to save it.
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    My dad and stepmom as well as my siblings are hounding me to split the money with them. I just can't do it.
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    My dad is an a ]c who never said anything nice about his dad. Despite him being bitter, my grandpa actually bought my dad a $300,000 house. My dad would 100% dr k away any money given to him.
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    As far as my siblings, my brother has full financial support from my grandma as he is the favorite and he's very wasteful and ungrateful. He never talks to me and always is very mean to me when he does.
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    My little sister is the only person I've actually considered. She's very young and that's really the only thing stopping me. Her mom is money oriented and would take the money from her. So I'm waiting until she turns 18 and i offered to pay for her college.
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    But now my family is telling me I'm unfair and the money doesn't belong to me and I'm not deserving of it. That I'm too young and I'll waste it on cars and clothes.
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    I don't agree and now they're all threatening to cut me off and never speak to me, or even sue me if I don't give them all a chunk of the money. I don't know what to do and I'm buckling under pressure here. I've already had 2
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    police officers out to my house because my dad is claiming I stole the money from him. Everything was through an attorney, I know I did nothing wrong legally.. but morally? Idk. So AITA?
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  • First, a little backstory on the 19-year-old's family history, starting with why the grandfather was estranged and how they were reconnected in subsequent years. It's quite clear that his disdain for other family members may not have been justified, and unfortunately for the young woman, she would not have to be on the receiving end of the resentment these other family members harbored for their patriarch for years.

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    gr... NTA, my god these entitled people. If they want to cut you off for money that your grandpa willed to you show them the door.
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    Buy yourself a lovely home. and move away from them, pay for your sisters college and save the rest.
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    Edit: thank u for my first silver!! Woohoo! And also OP be careful of any brand new "friends" you may encounter, there'll be so many at your age.. So many stories online of how young people get a lump sum of money yet loose it all.
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    It's easier to make money than to keep it. Best to check with a financial adviser To invest and hopefully just live on the interest, like many on here. have suggested if you haven't already... :)
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    [d... NTA considering the circumstances u mentioned. Lawyer tf up. If they're gonna sue u, u might as well be prepared to deal with the ba. Also in terms of money I highly recommend u invest. I
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    don't wanna tell u what to do but u can turn that 8 million into generational wealth that can continue to provide for ur family for decades to come
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    Artsy_F _Fox • NTA Your reasoning sounds very sound and honestly people will turn on each other when money is involved. I highly suggest:
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    1. Getting a good lawyer 2. Getting an accredited financial adviser so you can plan/save
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    3. If you want to give your sister money you can set up a trust for her. That way she cant touch the money until she is 18. Again an adviser will help with this.
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    4. Tell people what you have on a very need to know basis. Friends and family can and will turn on you. Ik this sounds scary but I'd advise you to look up the history of lottery winners.
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    In the mean time, take care of yourself. Be smart and do not over spend.
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Tags

family drama inheritance aita entitled parents family feud entitled people karma lawsuit Grandpa family money entitled people
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