This Lottery Winner Is Refusing To Share Their $20K Prize With Their Gambling-Obsessed Family
by Michaela Bramwell · BuzzFeedPosted 2 minutes ago
A lottery winner is being harassed by their gambling-obsessed family after they won $20K on a scratch-off and refused to share a cent.
Here's the full story from u/Low-Assistant-4712: "Hi, I'm a 33-year-old male. To make this short and readable, my elder sister lets her husband spend anywhere from $400 to even $800 a month on scratch-off tickets. He buys the $20 and $50 tickets."
"At the same time as he does that, both he and my sister will complain to other family members and anyone that will listen that they are 'struggling financially.'"
"Now, to the meat of the actual am I the asshole. My brother-in-law, 35, male, rode with me to a gas station. Once there, he proceeded to waste $520 on scratch-offs, which were all duds."
"Seeing me silently judge him, he told me to stop being a stick in the mud and buy a ticket. So, I pulled a single dollar bill out and bought the Halloween-themed scratch-off. This all took place in October 2025."
"As I was lamenting to him on how much money he wastes every month, I finish scratching off the ticket only to find out one of my matching numbers was above a $10k winning."
"Upon further inspection, I'd forgotten to scratch the 'double' area. When I did, it came up '2X,' to which the kind cashier confirmed it meant I had won $20K."
"My brother-in-law immediately cycled through emotions before demanding I hand the ticket over for him to see, then making a scene in the gas station when I asked to borrow a pen and started filling out the back of the card."
"From there, chaos rained down on me, as not only did my brother-in-law, but my sister as well, attempt to gaslight me into ' at least splitting the winnings' with them. I told them no."
"Fast forward a few days, and now my parents, who are in their late 60s, are gaslighting me into forking over $10k of the lottery winnings. I tell them no."
"Fast forward again, and in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' place, they, along with my sister, brother-in-law, and my other siblings, start verbally cornering me about money. Now, not only do they still want the $10K from me, but my other siblings want some as well. With my eldest brother attempting to convince me to pay for a family vacation."
"I again turn them all down, which of course turns into everyone calling me selfish, and an asshole, amongst other colorful words. So am I the asshole for not forking over my scratch-off winnings?"
So far, in the comments, people are ripping the winner's family to shreds.
"Your family are all classless vultures. Don't give them a damn thing."
"Not the asshole. Money makes families crazy. Say no, and then you will talk about anything except money. If they keep on about money, leave."
Others suggested different solutions to address their family's demands that range from lying to brutal honesty.
"This is why it's recommended to not let people know you've won anything. Too bad Bill was there when you won."
"They're acting like you've hit the jackpot when you're probably going to end up with $10-12k after taxes. A nice amount, but not enough for a family vacation or to share if you're wanting to actually do anything with your winnings. I agree with another commentor to tell them you donated it. I'd go the 'I didn't want money to tear the family apart' route."
—ApprhensiveBook4214
"Make a group chat with everyone giving you grief and include the following: 'I said no. Which part of that did you not understand?'"
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Post has been edited for clarity.