A tech millionaire transforms single mum’s life in a powerful episode of Rich House, Poor House.
Steve Bolton, an entrepreneur from Dorset with a portfolio worth an estimated £750 million, swapped homes with a single mum from Portsmouth, Valerie Mayer, who currently lives on a budget of £52 per week
In season 12, episode 7 of Channel 5’s Rich House, Poor House, viewers meet Mr Bolton and his children, whose lavish lifestyle includes a £1 million six‑bedroom home in an affluent Bournemouth suburb, regular trips around the world, access to 30 different boats at a private club and leisurely drives in Mr Bolton’s prized Corvette Stingray.
For one week, Mr Bolton and his family moved into Ms Mayer’s home and took on her daily struggles of an extremely tight budget, unrelenting bills and thousands of pounds of debt.
Viewers also meet Ms Mayer and her mother, Cleo, both are both university graduates who work as professional carers, while also providing care at home for Tammy, Ms Mayer’s sister, who has Down syndrome.
Living with her three children, Ms Mayer manages on very little. The show illustrates this poignantly, showing her reattaching the broken door of her washing machine so that she can continue using it.
She said: “I can’t really go and buy a new washing machine because I don’t have £300 or £400 to do so.”
Ms Mayer’s lifelong dream is to open a Zimbabwean restaurant and she shares her passion for hearty meals on her Instagram page, where she posts creations made in her modest family kitchen.
Throughout the episode, Mr Bolton, who left school at 16 and built his fortune by co-founding Bolt Angels, becomes deeply moved by the toll of Ms Mayer’s financial situation and gets emotional during an interview.
He said: “It is heart breaking really.
“People who have degrees, that have studied hard, that have kids.
“It is just so unfair.”
At the end of the experiment, Mr Bolton gives Ms Mayer and her family a life changing offer when the families meet for the first time after spending seven days in each other’s homes.
Mr Bolton said: “We’ve been talking a lot about how we might be able to help you guys because that’s obviously a big part of what we want to do.
“We want to help get you out of debt.”
Mr Bolton went on to say he would support Ms Mayer financially and through mentoring with “anything and everything” she needs to achieve her dreams. Whilst staying in Ms Mayer’s home, Mr Bolton and his family also worked together to renovate her garden.
Mr Bolton’s children, who are currently in the videography and marketing sectors, also offered to help Ms Mayer and her new business venture by building her personal brand.
Overcome with the gesture and very emotional, Ms Mayer responded with: “Oh my god.
“This can change mine and my family’s life.
“No one understands what this is going to do.”
Following the swap, the families were both asked what their biggest takeaway from the experience had been.
Mr Bolton said his highlight was spending so much quality time with his children, which they say is rare, due to work commitments and busy lifestyles.
Charlie, Mr Bolton’s 23-year-old son, said: “I think this week is proof that money doesn’t buy happiness.
“I think money buys you freedom, and when you have freedom, it’s a lot easier to be happy.”
