Victor Newman vs. Jack Abbott: Why The Young and the Restless’ Biggest Feud Rages On
For most of 2025, or maybe the millennium, viewers of The Young and the Restless have been taken on some wild rides. But one constant engine of the show has now reached an undeniable high…or low point, depending on which family you’re in.
The Abbott vs Newman War on The Young and the Restless
For decades, The Young and the Restless fans have witnessed the hatred between Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). While other rivalries in Genoa City burn out or turn into tentative alliances, the war between the Mustache and Smiling Jack remains the show’s most reliable conflict.
Despite occasional ceasefires, this feud is currently as volatile as ever. Here is a breakdown of why this battle started, how it escalated into criminal madness, and why it is still tearing Genoa City apart today.
The Origins: Business and Blood
The animosity began in the boardroom but quickly became personal. The feud’s foundation was solidified when Victor Newman purchased Jabot Cosmetics, the Abbott family legacy. For Jack, this was not just a business loss; it was a theft of his birthright. Jack had convinced his father, John Abbott (Jerry Douglas) to make Jabot a public company, and Victor managed to quickly buy controlling stock.
The rivalry deepened when it involved the women they loved. Jack initially married Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) to use her as leverage against Victor to regain Jabot. However, Jack fell in love with her, a complication that Victor never forgave. The tragedy compounded when Nikki miscarried Jack’s child following an altercation with Victor, a specific grievance Jack has held onto for decades.
Simultaneously, Victor’s treatment of Jack’s sister, Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson), solidified the hatred. Victor had an affair with Ashley while married to Nikki. When Ashley became pregnant, Victor left her to return to a sick Nikki. Ashley’s subsequent mental breakdown and abortion are scars the Abbott family — specifically Jack — has never let heal.
The Escalation: From Heart Attacks to Doppelgängers
The feud moved beyond corporate raiding into physical danger and psychological warfare, particularly two critical incidents that define the depth of their hatred:
The Heart Attack: In a moment of supreme callousness, Jack once stood by and watched Victor suffer a heart attack during a confrontation, leaving him to die. Although Jack eventually called for help, the hesitation proved that he wanted his rival dead. (Fun fact: When Peter Bergman walked away, he surprisingly kicked Victor’s hand — neither Braeden nor the cameraman knew he was going to do that, but they caught it on camera, making it an even more dastardly moment for viewers.)
The Marco Annicelli Incident: In 2014, Victor orchestrated what may have been his most villainous plot. He replaced Jack with a Peruvian drug lord lookalike named Marco Annicelli. While Jack was held hostage, Marco took over his life and slept with Jack’s wife, Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford). This violation went beyond business; it was a calculated assault on Jack’s identity, marriage, and, unforgivably, Phyllis.
The Present Day: Why It Still Matters
As of late 2024 and entering 2025, Jack and Victor’s feud reignited. Recent storylines show Victor attacking Jack for “inserting himself” into Nikki’s recovery from alcoholism. Despite Jack saving Nikki’s life, Victor viewed his involvement as a threat to his marriage.
Victor retaliated by launching a smear campaign through Newman Media and utilizing a stolen AI program to attack Jabot’s infrastructure. Nikki drew a line in the sand, threatening to leave Victor if he continued his assault on Jack, proving that after forty years, this rivalry still has the power to destroy the Newman marriage.
Victor (still) views Jack as a silver-spoon dilettante who didn’t earn his success, while Jack views Victor as a ruthless tyrant with no moral center.
Victor used the AI program against its maker, Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn), while he bought some time before attacking Jabot. He wanted to make Jack let his guard down so he could get more satisfaction from a surprise attack.
But Cane has used the app against Victor, and Newman Enterprises is crumbling before his eyes. Although Jack had nothing to do with it, Victor will most likely hold him accountable in some way.
As long as Jabot and Newman Enterprises stand, and as long as Nikki remains torn between her loyalty to her husband and her friendship with Jack, this feud will not end. It is the heartbeat of The Young and the Restless, and if history is any indicator, the next ceasefire will be short-lived.