Man hiding millionaire status from wife for 5 years called in asking if he should reveal it — Dave Ramsey didn't hesitate to call out his entitlement
Keeping secrets out of suspicion can end up revealing bigger problems than expected. Something very similar happened in an episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights after a man called in to ask whether he should confess a truth he had kept from his wife for five years. The man apparently hid the fact that they were worth millions of dollars from his wife. Dave Ramsey’s response was immediate and unsparing, calling out what he described as deception, entitlement, and a lack of respect within the marriage. The episode, posted on YouTube on June 9, 2025, has received over 203,000 views.
The caller asked, “How do I or should I ever disclose to my wife that we are secretly worth millions of dollars?” When Ramsey pressed him for details, the man explained that he had been married for five years and handled all the household finances. He said his wife was a stay-at-home partner, while he worked a full-time job and ran a business on the side. Over the years, his income had grown dramatically. Hearing this, Co-host Ken Coleman asked, “How much has it increased?” The caller answered, “Sevenfold,” revealing that he now earns about $750,000 a year. However, the man mentioned that his wife had no idea how much money he made or that their net worth had reached the millions. He said he feared she would overspend if she knew, describing himself as a saver and his wife as more free-spirited with money.
Without hesitation, Ramsey said, “Well, she's probably going to react poorly because she's married to a guy who's deceived her. Unless she's a doormat.” When the caller tried to explain their cultural background and differing financial philosophies, Ramsey cut him off. He told the man that he had been deliberately hiding the truth from his wife and that she was unlikely to respond well to it. The conversation continued, and it became clear that the man controlled all financial decisions.
The man shared that his wife received a set amount of money for household expenses and personal spending, while he managed savings and investments without her knowledge. “Honey, you're not listening,” Ramsey told him. “You keep deflecting every time I bring this at you.” The host said the issue went far beyond the budgeting approach.
Ramsey considered it a serious breach of trust, pointing out that the man had been married to his wife for five years while keeping his financial situation completely hidden from her. He later added that the situation troubled him because he “values a quality marriage and relationship going into old age.” He warned that the longer the man waited to tell his wife the truth, the worse the fallout would be. Ramsey also criticized the caller’s mindset. He said, “All of that combined with your nerd-like paranoia has led you to this deception. This is not going to end well.” Coleman echoed the sentiment, telling the caller the problem wasn’t his wife’s spending habits, it was his own behavior. “And you need to go work on you, buddy,” Dave advised.
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