He has claimed on The Golden Bachelor he has been relatively single since the death of his wife Audrey 14 years ago.

But now it has been revealed Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden was engaged to a millionaire heiress for several years after he became a widower.

Jo Kinghorn, a Sydney nanny from a wealthy family, fell ‘madly in love’ with Bear after meeting the Canadian widower in 2012, according to Woman’s Day.

A friend of Kinghorn told the publication that Bear’s claims about his love life on the show have left her and her friends ‘gobsmacked’.

For not only had the pair been engaged and lived together, but Kinghorn even stepped into the ‘step-mum’ role with Bear’s three young boys – Charlie, Jack and Declan.

‘She really opened her heart to them and dedicated her life to them – and they adored her,’ Jo’s friend revealed.

Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden was engaged to a wealthy heiress for several years after he became a widower

Jo Kinghorn, a Sydney nanny from a wealthy family, fell ‘madly in love’ with Bear after meeting the Canadian widow in 2012, according to Woman’s Day

However, as soon as money started playing a major role in their relationship, things seemed to go down hill for the couple.

Kinghorn is a millionaire heiress. Her father founded Allco Financial Services and RAMS Home Loans and has been featured the Aussie Rich List.

Bear seemingly lived the good life with Kinghorn, who hired a full-time nanny for his children so that she and the engineer could travel the world together.

What’s more, she even bought him a warehouse with a million-dollar price tag, which Bear transformed into a ‘man cave’.

‘I know for a fact that she was paying for almost everything in the last three years they were together because Barry quit his job,’ the friend added.

The publication revealed that when the pair got engaged in 2016, Bear and his three kids moved into Kinghorn’s $6 million home in Manly.

However, just two years later, the couple called it quits on their relationship in what was dubbed as an ‘acrimonious’ split by the insider.

‘There were lawyers called in and they spent a whole day in mediation before it was settled,’ Kinghorn’s pal revealed to Woman’s Day, adding that Bear even asked her to return the diamond solitaire engagement ring.

 Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden and his late wife Audrey

While Bear kept his house and Kinghorn kept hers, she eventually sold the Manly abode because of ‘bad memories’.

Daily Mal has reached out to Nine for comment.

Bear recently came clean about his romantic past, admitting to Daily Mail that he dated ‘multiple women’ after the death of his late wife.

‘I’ve had a few partners since the passing of my wife and we had wonderful times and they were lovely ladies,’ he said.

‘Very nice but it didn’t work out.’

He added: ‘I don’t think I was ready. I believe I was still grieving. And it’s unfortunate, they were absolutely lovely, they were tremendous people, but it didn’t work out.’

Bear has reportedly had two significant relationships following his late wife Audrey’s death.

‘Bear was in a six-year relationship with his ex-fiancée… and then had a two-year relationship with another woman after that,’ an insider told Woman’s Day.