A woman posted a now-viral TikTok video detailing how receiving a random $8 million led to her “biggest regret.”
TikTok user @shawnainchapterland said she will always remember June 28, 2024, due to this.
“That was the day that Fidelity incorrectly wired $8.7 million into my bank account, and my noble ass called them to let them know there had been some mistake and to let me know what I needed to do to resolve the situation,” she said in the video that has now amassed more than 109,000 favorites.
Why It Matters
Many Americans dream of what winning a lottery jackpot or randomly receiving a major pot of money could do for their personal financial situation, often rendering the concept of a job and career unnecessary.
While there would likely be consequences to taking this amount of money when it’s not meant for you, the quick access to such funds could open up the door to trips and material items most everyday Americans could never afford otherwise.
What To Know
TikTok user @shawnainchapterland said not keeping the money was the “biggest regret” of her life.
“I could be watching this mess from a beach in the Seychelles right now, for real for real,” she said in her TikTok caption.
She said now, instead of daydreaming about this escape, she finds herself thinking about what could have been.
“Whoever was wiring $8.7 million and didn’t even take the time of day to make sure that that was processed correctly, cause we did find out that they had messed something up, probably didn’t need that money that bad, right?” Shawna said in the video.
The TikTok comments that poured in applauded her for her honesty but also said they likely would have made a very different choice.
“I couldn’t even finish the video because you made me so mad,” one user wrote.
Another said: “I’d be out the country in an hour.”
But personal finance experts warn of the actual consequences of taking the money.
While everyone wants to believe they’d be the genius who keeps the $8.7 million and gets away with it, the TikTok user’s “biggest regret” is likely the “luckiest break of her financial life,” said Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com.
“Could she have legally kept it? Absolutely not,” Ryan said. “You have zero legal right to money that wasn’t yours, even if you didn’t notice the error or cause it. Courts routinely order return plus interest regardless of good faith.”
Under UCC Article 4A, which governs wire transfers, the sender has an absolute right to claw back erroneous wires via a restitution claim for “payment by mistake.”
The right to claw back the money lasts indefinitely, Ryan said, and while the statute of limitations for restitution varies by state, banks move fast.
“Often same-day via reversal with the receiving bank. If not, within days or weeks via demand letter,” Ryan said. “If you spend it, they sue for unjust enrichment, freeze your assets, garnish your wages, lien your property.”
If she tried spending fast and secured a big check or wire, it likely would trigger suspicious activity reports and anti-money laundering holds.
“Viewers love the ‘what if I got $8 million by accident’ hook,” Ryan said. “They’re ignoring the grim reality. If she spent it, she’d spend decades repaying via wage garnishment, liens, or bankruptcy, with ruined credit and endless collections. That’s the true ‘biggest regret’ scenario, not the honest return she chose.”
What People Are Saying
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “It’s the type of situation that builds resentment toward the financial sector. While mistakes do happen, misappropriating millions of dollars into a customer’s account and the good deed that follow should be an opportunity to reward that individual in some form.”
Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “Erroneous wires are a test of character and systems. Smart money does this: spot the anomaly, freeze the account, notify immediately. Document everything for protection. Use it as a fire drill for real windfalls. Sudden $8 million exposes whether you have boundaries, advisors, and processes ready.
“The video sells the dream. Reality is her honesty saved her from a nightmare. Most viral “money regret” stories flip the script this way. Entertainment over economics. She didn’t lose $8 million. She dodged a lifetime of debt slavery.”
What Happens Next
Beene said mistakes like this on a bank’s part will naturally draw criticism and resentment from everyday Americans who have nowhere near the amount of access to $8 million in their bank account on a regular day.
“When you have substantial dollar amounts like this one in which the customer reacts honestly and with the care of bringing it to the institution’s attention and the reaction feels more apathetic than appreciative, be prepared to deal with the potential negative fallout that could occur on social media,” Beene said.