18-year-old inherits $1 million from his grandfather, spends all the money traveling the world, and emerges with no prospects at 35 years old: 'I want a life with a stable salary, a wife, and kids.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Nov 4, 2025 8:00 AM EST

He had a life-changing amount of money, and he squandered it in less than two decades.

A great deal of society has contempt for poor people, but that contempt can come from very different places. If someone grew up poor and was able to work their way out of poverty, they might feel contempt for those who weren't able to do the same. Likewise, a person born into and currently in poverty might resent a downwardly mobile middle-class person, because they had far more opportunities than they did, and they squandered their chance to be upper-middle class. 

There is one group of poor people that individuals across the political and socioeconomic spectrum resent: those lucky few who were given a life-changing amount of money, but squandered it all in a couple of years. Who among us hasn't heard stories of a garbage man winning the $40 million jackpot and spending all of it on fancy cars and way too much house, forcing him to go back to his old job? We resent him because we think that we would've been better and smarter with that money if we had gotten it, whether or not that is actually true or not.

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  • Man sitting on floor with suitcase looking distressed
    via Donald Merrill

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The dude in this story really screwed up his life. He inherited a windfall of $1 million when he was 18, which he could've invested and lived off of forever, but instead he blew it all in 17 years and is back to square one at age 35.

  • 35 years old never had a job, high school dropout. I need something.

    Yeah, I am 35 and live in my parent's pool house. When I was 18 my grandpa died and left me over a million dollars.
    via u/myteslasucks
  • I dropped out of high school and spent the next couple of years traveling, with the intention of going into the entertainment world when I came back.
    via u/myteslasucks
  • Man playing DJ turntable
    via Matty Adame

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Well, it didn't happen. In the end I lost all the money and another couple hundred thousand my mom gave me.
    via u/myteslasucks
  • Now I am stuck where I am. I want a life with a stable salary, a wife and kids.
    via u/myteslasucks
  • Silhouette of man standing beside family near shore under brown sky during sunset
    via Mike Scheid

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I have tried applying to the trades but get nowhere.. I have a GED. TBH i think school is pointless.
    via u/myteslasucks
  • I can't do anything customer related or fast food I don't have that patience. I know I sound whiney, but I am seriously lost.
    via u/myteslasucks
  • routinequeen I say this out of genuine kindness, it seems as though you might be your own worst enemy. I would suggest therapy
    via u/routinequeen
  • MyshterT The problem is you're at rock bottom but still think you're above working fast food or customer service. If someone offers you a job to flip burgers and talk to customers all day you better take that job. You're too proud to work but have nothing.
    via u/MyshterT
  • WoozyOrBlanco You're insane for being so privileged and not knowing what to do with all that... I feel like if I were to get my hands on 50,000 I'd never be broke again but everyone is dealt different cards in life. I'm from a single mother hard working household, never had more than 10k myself I work very hard in a warehouse to see barely 1k a week. You'll be fine just learn to manage your money wisely.
    via u/WoozyOrBlanco
  • funandone37 If only you invested....
    via u/funandone37
  • IAmMister_J I mean... This.. Has to be a troll post right? If not man I'm sorry but you seriously need some help / therapy. Honestly kind of screwed tbh, you definitely shot yourself in both feet.
    via u/IAmMister_J
  • FirmDiver1929 I'm gonna be blunt here: You're fully responsible for your situation right now, you were given a golden opportunity to have a decent nest egg and retire early, you didn't even invest in yourself or your career, and now you're saying you need something? Like what? A handout?
    via u/FirmDiver1929
  • leadbelly1939 You've got 50 years of life yet so you better figure this out. Your window for a wife and kids is probably 5-10 years. Start with structure. Get up the same time every day. Work out. Go to a job, any job. Stock shelves, work in a warehouse, be a barista. Go to AA meetings--even if you don't work the program it's structure. You need work and meetings to get out in the world and meet people. You won't meet a woman sitting in the pool house drunk. After you've worked consistently for
    via u/leadbelly1939

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saving money spending money money problems drop out money 30s investing grandfather investment financial Travel family traveling financial support mom
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