So Close and Yet So Far-Woulda' Coulda' Shoulda'

I thought there must be other guys out there that came so close to being set for life and something screwed it up.

My mother's father had an offer from his best friend in the 1940's (I think) to be a silent partner in his business.
But it would require moving to L.A. My grandfather didn't want to move away from Cleveland where he had a successful law office. And he didn't think it would take off.
His partner would have been Max Factor.

The other one was that my other grandfather remarried at age 65 to a woman that was mother to one of the two owners of Arby's. This would have been the late 60's. The wife liked me and had a huge piece of the company and put me in her will.
In the mid 70's, I think, a huge conglomerate came in and bought Arby's. They made a bundle!
I was rubbing my hands like a little Donald Trump. My grandfather dies and the wife pulls me out of the will and then she dies.
Drat!
Can't catch a break.

Any other stories?