The Young and the Restless’ Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) has been a major character on the show for a staggering forty-five years. In that time, we’ve watched him rule the Newman family with an iron fist. Sometimes we root for him, especially when he vows to protect his family at all costs. Other times, though, his behavior drives us crazy. Here are just four of Victor’s annoying traits that we’ve noticed throughout the years:

He refuses to give up his feud with Jack Abbott on The Young and the RestlessVictor told Jack off last week on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Die-hard fans of The Young and the Restless know that archenemies Victor and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) will never see eye to eye on anything. For a while, they actually did call a truce. During that time, they miraculously had a calmer and more peaceful relationship, and they co-existed as frenemies. It was a relief and a joy to watch them behave that way after all their years of mutual hatred.

But in 2024, pill-addict Jack tried to help Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) through her alcoholism by popping pills again. Victor was furious with him for putting her life at risk, which reignited their feud. Nikki has asked Victor to stop waging war against Jack, but Victor won’t back down, even for her sake.

He says he hates all the Abbotts, but does that include Ashley and Traci?Beth Maitland and Eileen Davidson as Traci and Ashley on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Victor has declared his hatred for the entire Abbott family. Wait a second, Victor. What about the Abbott women? We know he doesn’t like Diane (Susan Walters), although he was married to her years ago. But he did truly love his ex-wife Ashley (Eileen Davidson), who was Nikki’s long-time rival. He shares a daughter, Abby, (Melissa Ordway) with her, and for the most part, Victor and Ashley are still on pretty good terms with each other. So he doesn’t hate her, does he?

And what in the world could he possibly have against Traci, who is probably the sweetest character in The Young and the Restless? She even donated her daughter Colleen’s (then-Tammin Sursok) heart to Victor in 2009 when he needed a transplant.

He definitely hates Jack’s brother, “Billy Boy Abbott” (Jason Thompson). The fact that he repeatedly calls him that 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ish nickname every time Billy’s name is mentioned is similar to the sound of nails on a chalkboard. And we know Victor doesn’t want Kyle (Michael Mealor) to date his granddaughter Claire (Hayley Erin), so maybe Victor should make it clear that he only hates all the Abbott men?

Victor has put his family through hell over the yearsAdam rushed to Nice to warn his family about what Dumas was doing on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

As much as Victor loves his family and does anything to keep them safe, he has repeatedly made them jump through hoops to prove their loyalty to him. He has unbelievably high expectations of his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. Maybe that was why Nick (Joshua Morrow) left Newman Enterprises years ago and ran The Underground bar for a while before he eventually returned to NE. He wanted the freedom to do his own thing without Victor breathing down his neck.

Adam was so determined to prove himself to Victor that he raced like a bat out of hell to Nice, France, to warn him that the mysterious Aristiotle Dumas (Billy Flynn) was buying real estate all over Genoa City. Also, Victor put Adam in an impossible situation by pressuring him to use Newman Media to attack Billy, after Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) vehemently told Adam she refused to work for the company if he did what Victor ordered him to do. Victoria (Amelia Heinle) has also feuded with Victor over the years in her struggle to become CEO and retain the position.

In 2023, Victor even pretended to have dementia because he was afraid one of his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren was going to betray him. What in the world, Victor?

Victor interferes in his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren’s and grand𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren’s love livesCole told Victor he and Victoria have a second chance on The Young and the Restless | Image: YouTube

One of Victor’s most annoying faults on The Young and the Restless is his constant interference in the love lives of both his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren and grand𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. He even went so far as to have Victoria arrested on her wedding day to Billy (then-Billy Miller). He told nice guy Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck), “You’re not good enough for my daughter,” because Cole called Victor’s lawyer Michael (Christian LeBlanc) after he found Jordan (Colleen Zenk) imprisoned in an underground cell in Victor’s home. Most recently, Kyle felt compelled to sign a contract that he would pay Victor five million dollars if he broke Claire’s heart.

In short, Victor drives everyone in his orbit crazy in various ways. But if he didn’t, he simply wouldn’t be The Great Victor Newman, love him or hate him.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.