have the last laugh on (someone)

To achieve victory or vindication in the face of someone else's doubt, derision, or mockery. Following an extended hiatus from film, the actress just signed a contract with a movie studio to produce and star in six separate films. It looks like she's having the last laugh on all the people who said she was washed up. Everyone at my old job laughed at me for pursuing a career in making games for cell phones. But I had the last laugh on them—my very first game made nearly $4.5 million. Did you see the massive contract that pitcher just signed? It looks like he's had the last laugh on all the people who said he was washed up.