Wealthy son asks his 60-year-old parents not to leave him any money in their will because his brother and sister are greedy: 'My parents seem offended that I don't want their money.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Feb 5, 2026 8:00 PM EST

Is that really his decision to make?

It's a pretty standard rule of etiquette not to tell anyone what to do with their money. You can give well-meaning advice to your friends and family when they ask for it, but offering unsolicited money advice is almost always met with backlash. It can be frustrating to watch people whom you love be completely financially irresponsible, buying cars and houses they can't afford, and living with the stress of being one missed paycheck away from financial ruin. Unless you are their conservator, you have no control over the money moves they make. Sometimes, the only way for them to learn to be better is to reach rock bottom and figure out how to get back up. 

If you're financially well-off, you might not feel comfortable accepting a large sum of money as a gift. If you're making six figures and your parents, who are barely scraping by on their retirement income, offer to pay for your car, it's only right to insist they save that money for themselves. Still, they might insist, because even though their baby is all grown up, they still want to do everything they can to support them. The parents might think it's condescending and impolite for their kid to reject a gift just because the kid has more money than the parents. After all, it's the parents' money, and they should be able to do what they want with it.

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  • Elderly couple sitting on a couch indoors
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • The adult son in this story rejected his parents' gift before they had a chance to give it to him. They want to leave him an inheritance, but he disagrees because he is already wealthy and thinks his greedy siblings will be a pain when his parents pass away.

  • Am I wrong for asking my parents not to leave me any money in their will?

    My parents are only on their late sixties. Hopefully they have many many years left. Last year they called me siblings and I to talk about their will.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • They want to spread everything evenly. I don't think this is fair. Firstly they are still alive and active.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • They need to take care of themselves first. Secondly I don't need their money. I am a pipeline welder.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • I have more money than I will ever need. Not bragging. I have worked hard d for every cent.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • If you think it's easy why doesn't everyone do it? Thirdly my brother and sister are greedy assholes.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • Let them have whatever is left after our parents are done with it. I said that nicer though.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • I also said I want some sentimental stuff they have. My grandpa's rodeo buckles, and Stetson.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • My mom's recipe book. A copy of the family photo albums. Even just scans are fine.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • A person holding a book with pictures of people on it
    via Drazen Nesic (Unsplash+)

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

  • That sort of stuff. I will come clean here and say the buckles are silver and gold.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • They are also collectors items. But I want to display them not sell them. My brother and sister think I'm playing some sort of reverse psychology game on my parents.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • A man and a woman sitting next to each other
    via GlassesShop

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

  • My parents seem offended that I don't want their money. I'm lost. I thought being honest was a good thing.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • UdonLurker TBH it sounds less like rejection and more like you valuing memories over money, which is rare and kind of refreshing. If anything, it just shows you want your parents, not their assets
    via u/UdonLurker
  • First_Match_3128 Original Poster's Reply I hope they are healthy and happy as long as possible.
    via u/First_Match_3128
  • doggotis 1 My same thoughts about my parents. I'm a retired union elevator mechanic on a pension, soon to start receiving SS. My parents are well off, but I don't expect anything and my bother and sister can have it all. I pretty much told them so. My parents are late 70's, early 80's.
    via u/doggotis1
  • Airfrying_witch First, a will is for when they are dead, not before then. Also very smart to do this before any extreme or condition impairing events to have things squared away. Handling late parents estates is no walk in the park if they didn't do their due diligence prior. Also notoriously brings out a really ugly side of people like your siblings involved. Second, and third, that's awesome you could build wealth and be that comfortably confident you need no inheritance + I'm wondering if you
    via u/Airfrying_witch
  • PassengerRelevant991 It sounds like your parents want to do this for you. It's the last stage of their taking care of you. Even though you don't need the money, I think it would be kinder to accept their gift, rather than snub them.
    via u/PassengerRelevant991
  • Scenarioing "Firstly they are still alive and active. They need to take care of themselves first." \---Wills exist because people can die at any moment. Also, having a a will doesn't mean people can't or won't take care of themselves. It doesn't mean there will even be any money left over for anyone to inherit. "I have more money than I will ever need." \---Inheriting money doesn't mean yo have to keep it. You can donate it or whatever. Also, you can disclaim the inheritance and you won't get it
    via u/Scenarioing
  • lazy__goth My gran did this with her items - she started giving them away before she even became ill. I'm not the wealthiest cousin but like you I put far more value in memories. I started going through her old photos with her, putting them in an album that I said I'd keep and hold for the family (which I have, it frequently gets loaned out and brought to family gatherings). It became our thing to do, and I made more lovely memories with her before she died. Perhaps you could do similar?
    via u/lazy__goth
  • Barbsayshi I'm in a similar position with my dad and my siblings. My sister wants EVERYTHING and she wants it NOW. My brother thinks he's clever by biding his time and then thinks he and his wife will swoop in and grab everything and all I want (or would like) is a photo album and a lamp that's been in the family forever. My dad cannot get his head around this at all!
    via u/Barbsayshi
  • CarterPFly I think YTA dispite your intentions. Don't be telling your parents what they are and are not allowed to leave you when they pass away. That not your decision, it's not your choice. Saying "Im so rich I don't need any help from you, sure, anything you leave me makes no difference anyway" is deeply insulting. They worked hard to have what they have to leave you. Saying, sure" My siblings need it more than I do" is also deeply insulting to them. It may be true, but its still an assholes
    via u/CarterPFly

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inheritance welding brother siblings wealthy sister money son parents will
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