last laugh, have the

See also the two adjacent proverbs. The ‘French proverb’ referred to in quot. 1822 is rira bien qui rira le dernier.

Hee laugheth best that laugheth to the end.
[c 1607 Christmas Prince (1923) 109]

Does she play her jests upon me too!—but mum, he laughs best that laughs last.
[1715 Vanbrugh Country House ii. v.]

Your Grace knows the French proverb, ‘He laughs best who laughs last.’
[1822 Scott Peveril IV. iii.]

The mark of greatness is survival. He laughs best who laughs last.
[1980 J. Linssen Yellow Pages lii.]

This purchase‥was wildly out of character and the source of endless amusement to those who know me best. ‥Well, in the immortal words of Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726): He laughs best who laughs last.
[1996 Washington Post 15 Jan. C2]

Related to: revenge; winners and losers

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

Succeed in the end, after some earlier reverses. For example, We'll have the last laugh when they learn we got the contract. This expression, alluding to laughing at the loser, appeared in slightly different form in the mid-1500s and gave rise to the modern proverbial phrase, He who laughs last laughs best (or He laughs best who laughs last).