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Life

10th Mar 2014

“I Don’t Like Spending Lots Of Money” Math Teacher Ends 21 Year Long Marriage After Wife Becomes A Billionaire

Is there a word for the opposite of a "gold digger?"

Alanna Alexander

Sometimes people change and relationships have to end, but this man needed out because he couldn’t handle being rich anymore.

Tony Hawke and Xiu Li met on a blind date 21 years ago when he was a math teacher and she was studying English, but in 2011 Li became a billionaire.

The couple became rich when her idea of building shopping centres in unused Chinese bomb shelters earned them about €1.24 billion and placed her on Britian’s Sunday Times Rich List as UK’s richest woman.

“I think it made me uncomfortable because I’m not in the habit, I don’t like spending lots of money – I’ve been brought up that way,” Hawken said.

The couple bought a €1.6 millionhouse and quickly adapted to her luxurious lifestyle, but Hawken told the Daily Mail he felt more comfortable shopping at thrift shops and having a counter meal at his local chain pub.

“I’m getting a pittance when you consider her potential wealth, but I don’t really want to fight it,” he said.

Hawke is walking away with a million euro and no longer works as a school teacher. He tutors under-privileged children for free.