Stepdad drains his 19-year-old adopted son's college fund to give the money to his 16-year-old biokid instead, then he accuses the teen of 'breaking the family': 'No, dude, you did that all by yourself'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jul 9, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

This 19-year-old was just about to go off to university when he found out that his stepdad had drained his college fund account—all so that his 16-year-old stepbrother could go to an expensive private sports academy. Perhaps Daddy-O does have a favorite child…

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  • College is expensive. 

    For many teens considering their post-high school options, college seems like the best course of action to get ahead in life. Torn between financial responsibility and a secure future, teenagers are in no position to be making huge calls like this—which is why it is such a privilege when an adolescent has parents who plan ahead for them. 

    With a college fund, parents effectively remove the financial strain and the debt burden from their kids' shoulders, allowing them to make wise decisions without worry. However, if you've been raised your whole life on the promise of a college fund, and suddenly that's ripped away from you just a few months away from graduation, now we have an even bigger problem. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10525405184
    via Mikhail Nilov

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

  • My stepdad canceled my college fund and gave it to his "real" son
    via dollxzid3
  • I'm 19 now. When my mom married my stepdad 7 years ago, he legally adopted me. He made a big show of saying I was his daughter too, that he loved me like his own, blah
    via dollxzid3
  • blah blah. When I was 13, they told me there was a college fund for me, started by my mom, and added to over time by both of them.
    via dollxzid3
  • Well. Two months before my high school graduation, I found out that fund was gone.
    via dollxzid3
  • Turns out, my stepdad emptied the account (without my mom knowing) and gave the entire thing to his biological son (16M) for a private sports academy.
    via dollxzid3
  • When I confronted him, he said, "He needs it more. He has a future. You'll figure it out."
    via dollxzid3
  • My mom was furious and filed for divorce. She opened a fraud case, but it's still unresolved. I'm going to community college now, working two jobs, and paying out
    via dollxzid3
  • of pocket. I haven't spoken to him since. He occasionally sends emails telling me I "broke the family!" No, dude. You did that all by yourself.
    via dollxzid3
  • Hatingeveryonesike ⚫ I'm so sorry that is so f ed especially when he made it seem like he loved you. Look into any scholarships they have tons even like weird ones!! Happy for your mom for going to a lawyer for this.
    via Hatingeveryonesike
  • falcon3268 · At least your mom did the right thing and divorced him. I would've sued the guy also on top of going after him for fraud because thats messed up. Sorry to say this but I honest hope that idiot has to pay it all back plus interest and the son has to go to community school where he can flunk out
    via falcon3268
  • Flat Passage_1935 Yea that's really messed up, I'm glad your mom had your back and saw through his bs and pressed charges. That's wild
    via lat Passage_1935
  • Chipchop666. Kudos to your mom She definitely has her priorities straight Children no matter what age, come before a man even her own husband Give her a big hug and an I love you She got your back and will drop people out of her life if it calls for it
    via Chipchop666
  • hdmx539. OP, my heart goes out to you. Nothing like a parental figure (in some way) making a promise of support only to renege on it. Any adult doing that to a child/teen is a special kind of fed up.
    via hdmx539
  • When you do well in life and your stepfather, or even stepbrother, come asking for help or support, remember this response to tell them: "You'll figure it out." I'm so sorry, OP.
    via hdmx539
  • AWholeNewFattitude I'm sorry, my Dad did something similar. Learn from it, but don't let it hold you back. It will take time but it will become a distant memory. Ultimately i became a far better person than my father ever was.
    via AWholeNewFattitude
  • kingofnothing2514. Deflection is the defense of the weak minded. He should be ashamed of himself but instead he blames you. I'm sorry this happened to you.
    via kingofnothing2514

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family drama dads famiies drama kids brother siblings moms parenting dad story family sibling sister stepdad stories parent mom cousins parents
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