I Told My Grandkids I Lost Everything And Was Facing Homelessness. Two Of Them Blocked Me, But The Third Offered Me His Only $500. They Have No Idea I’m Actually Worth $12 Million. Was This Test Too Cruel?

A Hidden Legacy and a Grand Plan

I never told my three grandchildren that I had $12 million sitting in various accounts and investments. To them I was just Grandma Catherine, the woman who lived in a comfortable but modest house in suburban Portland who drove a 15-year-old Honda Civic. I was the woman who clipped coupons and shopped at discount stores.

They had no idea that their grandfather, my late husband Thomas, had been a silent partner in a tech startup back in the 90s that eventually sold for an enormous sum. They didn’t know that we had invested wisely, lived frugally, and built wealth that could change their lives forever.

Why didn’t I tell them?. Because I wanted to see who they really were. I wanted to know if they loved me for me, or if they would love me more if they knew about the money.

At 67 years old, after watching too many families torn apart by inheritance battles, I decided to conduct a test. It was a test that would reveal their true characters before I made the biggest decision of my life, deciding who would inherit everything I had worked so hard to build.

The Phone Call Test

It was a Tuesday morning in March when I made the phone calls. I made three separate calls to my three grandchildren: Blake, Madison, and Tyler.

Blake, 30 years old, was an investment banker in Manhattan who wore thousand-dollar suits and lived in a luxury high-rise. Madison, 28, was an Instagram influencer in Los Angeles with 200,000 followers and a lifestyle that screamed expensive. Tyler, 25, was a sous chef at a farm-to-table restaurant in Seattle, the quiet one who called me every Sunday just to chat.

The script was simple. I told each of them the same story: Grandma had made some bad investments, Grandma had been scammed, and Grandma had lost everything. I told them the house had a reverse mortgage, the retirement accounts were drained, and I was broke, possibly facing bankruptcy and needing help.

“Hey Grandma, what’s up?”. Blake answered on the first ring. He always did when he thought it might be about money or opportunity.

“Blake honey, I need to talk to you about something serious.”. I let my voice shake just slightly enough to sound worried but not theatrical.

“Is everything okay? Are you sick?”.

“No, no. I’m healthy, but Blake, I’ve made some terrible financial mistakes.”. I told him I got involved with an investment adviser who turned out to be running a scheme and I’ve lost almost everything.

There was a pause. I could almost hear him calculating.

“How much are we talking about, Grandma?”.

“Everything sweetheart, the retirement funds, the savings, all of it.”. I told him I might have to sell the house just to pay off the debts.

Another pause, longer this time.

“That’s really tough, Grandma. Have you talked to a lawyer? Maybe you can get some of it back.”.

“I’m trying, but it’s complicated.”. I told him the thing is I’m scared, I don’t know how I’m going to manage, and I might need to ask for help from the family.

“Right, yeah, of course.”. His tone had shifted. It was the tone he probably used with clients he was trying to politely decline.

“Listen Grandma, I’m actually in the middle of something right now. Can I call you back later? We’ll figure something out.”.

“Sure honey, talk soon.”. He didn’t call back.

Madison was next. She picked up on the fourth ring, sounding distracted.

“Grandma, hey, what’s going on?”. “I’m literally about to shoot content for a sponsored post so I’ve got like five minutes.”.

I repeated the story of the bad investments, the scam, and the financial ruin.

“Oh my god, Grandma, that’s literally insane. Like, how did that even happen? Didn’t you have like a financial adviser or something?”.

“I thought I did sweetheart, but he wasn’t legitimate. I’ve lost everything.”.

“That’s so scary.”. She paused. I heard her typing.

“Okay, so like, what are you going to do? Are you moving into one of those assisted living places?”.

“I can’t afford assisted living anymore, Madison.”. I told her I was hoping maybe I could stay with family for a while just until I figure things out.

Silence. Then she spoke carefully.

“Grandma, you know I would totally help if I could, but my apartment is literally a studio. Like, I barely have room for myself and all my equipment. Plus, I’m traveling constantly for brand partnerships. It’s just not realistic right now.”.

“I understand, sweetheart.”.

“But I’ll definitely like share your GoFundMe if you set one up.”. “I have a huge platform that could really help.”.

She had suggested I start a GoFundMe rather than offer any direct help.

“Thank you Madison, that’s very kind.”.

“Love you Grandma, I have to run, my ring light is already set up.”. She hung up.

Tyler answered on the second ring. He was on his lunch break at the restaurant.

“Grandma Kathy, perfect timing. I was just thinking about you. How are you?”.

I told him the same story I’d told the others. I told him about the bad investments, the scam, the financial disaster, and the fear. He didn’t hesitate.

“Grandma, I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Are you okay? Like emotionally? That must be incredibly stressful.”.

“I’m managing sweetheart, but I’m worried about the future.”.