Man renovates building with son and sells it for $240k profit, other family members get upset when he won't share the money with them: 'They didn't help in any way'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Mar 31, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

A lot of people only want to share their hard-earned money with those who contributed to earning it.

It doesn't matter if they are family or somebody else close to them, they feel like the only ones who are entitled to enjoy these proceeds are themselves. In a lot of ways, it is an understandable point of view to take; when you are the person who put the work in, it can feel insulting that others feel entitled to the rewards, even if they are the people that you love.

Still, it is not always totally far-fetched to hope that you might benefit when a family member makes a significant amount of money. When these kinds of things happen, it is pretty normal for the main beneficiary to want to share the profits with those closest to them. 

The thing is that this is dependent on a lot of very changeable factors, including the amount, the different relationships, and how involved (or not) they were with the whole process. At the end of the day, the decision is totally in the hands of the person whose money it is. No matter what others may plead, they will always have the final say.

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  • An older man looks over his shoulder inside a building that is being renovated
    via GN Group

    An older man looks over his shoulder inside a building that is being renovated

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

  • One man felt like certain members of his family were putting unfair pressure on him after he and one of his sons recently sold a property they renovated for a profit. These relatives had not contributed anything to the renovation, whereas his son and some other members of the family had, and therefore received a cut of the money.

    He still planned to spend some of this money on his close family, but many felt that this wasn't enough. He wanted a second opinion on whether he was making the right decision with this.

  • Am I wrong for not sharing the profit I made from selling an investment property with my family?

    About two years ago I bought something really cool. A one room school house in a town about an hour south of where I live.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • I'm semi retired so my plan was to do most of the renovations myself with my wife and kids pitching in.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • I said that if they helped we could do something as a family and make a profit.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • We could split any profits. My wife said she thought it was a stupid idea. Our kids said they didn't have the time to help.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • My son from my first marriage was the only one who pitched in. He and I went 50/50 on the down payment and all the renovations.
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  • His wife Paola and my grandkids all worked with me making it into something special. All in each of us put in $80,000 to purchase the building and on renovations.
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  • What we made sold for around $400,000 in January. We paid his kids $10,000 each. We paid Paola $20,000.
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  • And after everything was said and done we each got about $100,000 each. The money I invested was mine not money from a shared account.
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  • My wife and kids didn't invest a single cent. But now that they found out that their niece and nephew and their mom made money and that their half brother made $100,000 they are p ed that I didn't share.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • My wife is upset that she isn't getting anything out of the deal. That's not true.
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  • I'll use my profits to take her on a vacation. The majority will go into my retirement account.
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  • We had a family dinner last weekend and it was not cool. My younger kids said I should have cut them in in a family project.
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  • My wife says I should give her half of my part. She also said I should give my two grandkids from our kids some money too.
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  • They are 6 and 8. And they didn't help in any way whatsoever. Not even taking out garbage.
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  • My other grandkids helped a lot. Mostly with the yard. They earned their money. It wasn't a gift.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • It was a cut. In no way do I think I'm in the wrong but my wife and two of my kids think I'm being an a.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • An older man stands in the middle of a building that is being renovated
    via GN Group

    An older man stands in the middle of a building that is being renovated

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

  • Renyerd NTA, clearly. The other members of the family brought no capital, no sweat equity, and from the sound of things not even any personal interest (asking about it, progress updates, hey can we swing by to see how much you've done, etc). Only question I have is who the h I bought a one-room schoolhouse for 400K...
    via Reynerd
  • Live_Shopping_8074 Original Poster's Reply It's a 2,700 square foot open concept cabin on 5 acres.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • Live_Shopping_8074 Original Poster's Reply I'm going to spoil my wife and grandchildren.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • Potential_Drive 7999 You are right. They don't deserve a d In thing they didn't do any of the work. The other side of the family are a bunch of gems
    via Potential_Drive7999
  • Live_Shopping_8074 Original Poster's Reply All of my grandchildren are great. I will probably use some of the money to take them all on vacation.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • Eucalyptus517 Why the f should they get any anything out of it? If they didn't put it in the work. You offered them the opportunity and they declined. you're not the a h le.
    via Eucalyptus517
  • Live_Shopping_8074 Original Poster's Reply They think since I gave my son, my daughter-in-law and two of my grandkids a share they deserve to wet their beaks.
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • PrudentConcentrate 78 I figured they'd get paid one way or another.....you are nta, just a sap
    via PrudentConcentrate78
  • Live_Shopping_8074 Original Poster's Reply For treating my grandchildren to a vacation? How much did your grandparents hate you?
    via Live_Shopping_8074
  • shyfidelity You know you're NTA, so. Your family certainly sounds financially secure, and $100,000 doesn't stretch as far as you'd think. I don't think Reddit is going to argue with you
    via shyfidelity
  • annebonnell No, you are not the ah le here. Your wife and kids are. Remind them of the tale of the Little Red Hen.
    via annebonnell
  • CuriousPenguinSocks NTA, easily not one bit the AH here. Your wife and kids though? They are HUGE AHS here and entitled ones at that. I would be very frank with them. They invested ZERO money, your son invested the SAME as you, he is a partner, not just family you gave money to, he is a business partner. His kids and wife, put in sweat equity, they are paid labor! Your kids and wife sound selfish, lazy and entitled. I would be having none of that attitude.
    via CuriousPenguinSocks
  • GlittzyyLove NTA. Calling it a family project after the profit shows up is convenient
    via GlitzyyLove

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Tags

family drama kids home renovation wife family property money son entitled people
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