Well, I have quite a few wealthy friends. I mean perceived wealth, it’s not like these people go around talking about their net worth!

I know many who drive amazing new cars, though who knows whether they are owned or leased? Many who wear the latest designer clothes, holiday 5 times a year and eat at the best restaurants …. But how big is their credit card debt? It’s often a show, sometimes it’s not. None of my business.

However, to discover someone has true wealth and is humble enough to keep it under the radar is actually lovely.

I met a lady, same age as me, the first week my kid started his new school. I was the “new mum” as he’d been taken out of state education into a fee paying private school. I’ll happily admit, I felt out of my depth. I had never grown up in this life so had to find my feet fast and make friends. There was a coffee morning and this lady came over to me with the biggest smile. I remember thinking how pretty she was and smiled back. Her opening gambit, “I saw you in the carpark the other day and just felt like I knew you, there’s something about you I love!” I was a bit blown over but we chatted and really had a great laugh. I’m a pretty confident person with new people and find socialising easy, but we certainly clicked. It was almost like a first date that went really well and I smiled all the way home thinking I’d definitely made a new friend.

The months passed and we had coffee and brunches and shopped together (in regular stores) mostly browsing, buying the odd gift for kids parties, that kinda thing. We opened up to each other about our husbands and kids, what makes us tick. The only thing we never did was spend time in each other’s homes. We both live 30 minutes drive from school in opposite directions so our meet ups were always central to us both. I never thought this strange, it wouldn’t have made much sense to sit about at home as we both love being out and about.

Anyway, Her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer at Christmas and I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. We helped each other as best we could, as any good friend would. We saw each other less but spoke most days. Her mum died last month and she asked me to the funeral. Of course I said, I’d be honoured.

When I arrived at the crematorium I realised it wasn’t an average affair. There were Bentleys and Rolls Royce’s, Maserati’s, Ferrari’s, you name it, it was like the most exclusive car showroom ever! The flowers were breathtaking. Simply huge, stunning displays of peonies, roses, lilies which looked and smelled sensational. Each display was worth thousands, and there were at least ten, not to mention the flowers on the coffin and at the wake and memorial service thereafter.

The funeral was beautiful. I didn’t know her mother, I was there to support my friend. But it was then I discovered who my lovely friend actually was. Her mother was a supermodel and we were treated to the most amazing story of her life. She had married a music producer and their lives were almost like a fairytale of famous friends, amazing parties and holidays on yachts and private islands. The venue for the wake was owned by the family (I won’t name it to avoid identifying her) but it was truly breathtaking. I simply had NO IDEA that this lovely lady was now worth in excess of £100 million. She honestly could be the lady you see in the supermarket. She was the lady who was a shoulder to cry on when I was at my lowest and she still will be.

I’m pleased I didn’t know this until now as I know our friendship is genuine. However, I know she’d pass it all on just to have her mother back with her.

Now I will help to pull her through her grief. No money can do that, doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re worth, it’s the good in the people you surround yourself with that makes a person truly rich.