19-year-old brother wins $50,000 gambling but won't pay brother back $2,000, brother cuts him and defensive parents off: 'This is about respect'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 23, 2025 8:00 AM EST

The ties that can hold a family together are strong, but the force of money just might be stronger. 

Here's the deal: when family members are struggling in any way—financially, emotionally, what have you—that's when parents and siblings step in to help each other out however they can. Ideally, there's a sense of reciprocity among family members; that is, if the other person were in need, they should be supported by their family as well. Unfortunately, favoritism and money can get in the way of these scenarios, as was the case for these two brothers.

Keep scrolling below for their story, which for better or for worse, resulted in one of them going no contact…

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  • 01
    "My brother [won] $50k from gambling but [is] refusing to pay back the $2k he owed me" 31 店
    via Kaysha

  • The 19-year-old younger brother in this scenario was in a bad place prior to the start of this story and had asked his older brother for financial assistance, leading the other brother lending him $2,000 with the mutual understanding that he would be paid back down the road.

    Not long after, the 19-year-old won $50,000 (all in gambling, mind you). Rather than fulfill his promise to his brother, he decided to shower their parents with expensive Holiday gifts. Now several months later, the older brother still has yet to receive a cent of that $2,000. When he asked for their parents to step in, they were, well, less than helpful…

  • 02
    A few weeks ago, I posted about my brother (19M) winning $50k from gambling but refusing to pay back the $2k he owed me. Instead, he spent it on extravagant Christmas gifts for our family while telling me he'd "pay me back eventually."
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 03
    I finally had a sit-down with my parents, hoping they'd understand where I was coming from. Instead, they doubled down, saying I was being "petty"
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 04
    and that my brother was just "trying to do something nice for the family." When I reminded them that my loan helped him during a tough time, they shrugged it off and said, "It's just money. Let it go."
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10471177216
    via Michał Parzuchowski
  • 06
    That was my breaking point. If they're okay with my brother being financially irresponsible at my expense, then I don't need that energy in my life. I told them I was done with the conversation -and for now, with them, too.
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 07
    Now my phone is blowing up with messages about how I'm "ruining the family over a couple of thousand dollars." But to me, this
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  • 08
    is about respect. Am I overreacting by stepping back from them until they acknowledge how unfair this is?
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  • 09
    Mountain-Elevat... • 15h ago Actually your brother is "ruining the family" over a couple thousand dollars
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  • 10
    Fickle_Toe1724 • 15h ago NOR. You are not "ruining the family" over this. Your brother is. Debts get paid first. Your brother showed you he has no respect for you. Now your parents have shown you they feel the same way. Your brother is always right, isn't he?
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 11
    Before you cut them all off, tell them you will consider speaking to them when you are repaid for the loan, and they all apologize for taking advantage of you.
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 12
    Do not loan any of them any thing in the future. You are not a priority.
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 13
    HeadWorldliness... 15h ago Ask your brother for a $2k loan. Tell him you've really hit a rough spot. See what he has to say.
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 14
    rocketmn69 • 15h ago Tell them that their golden child has ruined the family over a couple of thousand bucks and consider that they have lost one son over their petty actions. Return any gifts that he gave you,
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 15
    drop them off at their front door. Then block them all for at least a month so that your phone doesn't blow up anymore. Let them come to you to apologize
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 16
    WornBlueCarpet • 14h ago If "a couple of thousand dollars" are so minor a problem, surely your parents can just pay them, right?
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 17
    3ndt1m3s 14h ago • Nor. Your family is toxic. Cut your losses and have respect for yourself.
    via PreferenceIcy8666
  • 18
    . SnooWords4839 • 14h ago Take brother to small claims court. Block the toxic people!
    via PreferenceIcy8666

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family drama entitled parents family feud parenting entitled people karma family money Parenting Fail brothers entitled people Parenting FAILS
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