How 5,000 Pennies and an Easter Egg Hunt Settled the Pettiest NBA Bet Ever
If you’ve ever made a friendly bet and watched it spiral into family drama, you know just how quickly things can escalate from “let’s see who’s right” to “I will haunt your dreams until you pay up.” But few tales capture the art of petty revenge quite like the saga posted by u/cinemabears on r/PettyRevenge, where a brother-in-law’s paranoia over a $50 NBA wager led to a legendary, penny-packed Easter showdown that still echoes in family lore seven years later.
Let’s crack open this egg-cellent tale of calculated mischief, familial tension, and the kind of payoff that turns ordinary holidays into unforgettable legends.
The Bet That Hatched a Plot
It all started innocently enough: a $50 bet between our storyteller and his brother-in-law (BIL) over whether an NBA team would make the playoffs. What should have been a harmless wager soon became a battleground, as BIL’s paranoia about getting paid ramped up faster than a March Madness Cinderella run.
By February, BIL was pressing hard for the money—months before the fate of the bet was even decided. Our protagonist stayed calm and reasonable, repeating, “You’ll get your money when it’s official.” But reason was no match for BIL’s escalating demands. By March, the playoff odds were slim, but not zero, and BIL’s impatience hit a fever pitch. So, our narrator decided it was time for a little lesson in patience—delivered, of course, with a side of pettiness.
Hatching the Petty Plan
Enter: the Easter invitation from mother-in-law, complete with a family lunch and an egg hunt for the kids. For most, this would be a time for pastel colors and chocolate bunnies. But for our crafty family, it was the perfect stage for revenge.
The plan? Pay out the $50 debt in pennies—5,000 of them, to be precise—stuffed into hundreds of Easter eggs. The family gathered around the kitchen table, giggling as they packed each egg with the heavy, coppery coins. As eggs burst open under the strain and the sheer volume of pennies threatened to break their spirits, they pressed on, fueled by the anticipated look on BIL’s face.
A Hunt to Remember
On Easter Sunday, as the kids gleefully hunted for candy-filled eggs, our narrator’s children were tasked with hiding the penny-packed eggs in the backyard. The adults distracted BIL, who—still anxious about his $50—was promised he’d be paid before the family left.
Then, with everyone’s attention gathered, the big reveal: a tiny Easter basket for BIL and an invitation to go hunting for his “winnings.” As BIL trudged through the yard, collecting egg after egg stuffed with pennies, the family burst into laughter. The kids egged him on (pun intended), his brother filmed the ordeal up close, and the adults watched the spectacle unfold.
But as the weight of the pennies—and the ridicule—piled up, BIL’s patience finally cracked. He lashed out, hurling an egg over the house and onto a neighbor’s car, sending pennies flying everywhere. Basket dropped, temper flared, BIL stormed off, leaving a trail of copper chaos behind him.
The Aftermath: An Easter Never Spoken Of
The fallout was instant. Mother-in-law was furious—not at our hero, but at the brother who had escalated things further. The air was thick with tension, but no one dared blame the mastermind directly. In the ultimate family cold war, the incident was never discussed again. Even now, seven years later, it remains a silent, unspoken legend—except for the original poster, his wife, and their kids, who still laugh about it every Easter en route to grandma’s house.
Why We Love Petty Revenge
Is it petty? Absolutely. But there’s an art to this level of mischief—a way of turning the tables on someone who takes a friendly bet way too seriously, and delivering a lesson with a side of hilarity. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best paybacks aren’t just about getting even—they’re about making a memory, even if it’s one no one dares to mention at family gatherings.
So next time someone tries to collect a bet before it’s due, just remember: there are 5,000 ways to make your point, and sometimes, the best revenge is served one penny at a time.
Do you have a story of family pettiness or legendary revenge? Share it in the comments! And if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a bet, remember: patience is a virtue—unless you prefer your winnings in loose change.
Happy (petty) hunting!
Original Reddit Post: Try to collect a bet before it’s due! Happy Hunting!