Rich kid, 20, with a Rolex and a £40k Mercedes gifts former homeless family holiday to Blackpool
The loaded youngster also treated the struggling family-of-three from Bolton to a new bed frame after they couldn't afford their own in the latest episode of Rich Kids Go Skint
A LOADED 20-year-old who drives a £40k sports car treated a family who survive on just £1,000 a month to a holiday to Blackpool in the latest instalment of Rich Kids Go Skint.
Alex, 20, from Nunthorpe in Middlesbrough, moved in with a struggling family-of-three from Bolton in the most recent episode of the 5Star programme.
16
Alex, 20, who drives a £40k sports car moved in with a family struggling to get by on £1,000 a month in the latest episode of Rich Kids Go SkintCredit: 5Star
Acknowledging his privileged upbringing, Alex gave cameras a look inside the mansion he grew up in to kick off the experiment.
As the son of a wealthy businessman, Alex's family have four living rooms in their enviable home as well as as a private drive full of sports cars worth over £40,000 each.
Alex has the entire top floor of the mansion as his own - a room he jokingly refers to as "the penthouse suite" complete with its own en-suite bathroom.
Along with his Mercedes-Benz sports car, Alex also counts his wardrobe bursting full of designer coats worth over £5,000 and his £10,000 Rolex watch as his most prized possessions.
16
The Middlesbrough lad grew up in this spacious mansion in the countrysideCredit: 5Star
16
This is the family's fourth living room - although Alex admits they 'don't really use it'Credit: 5Star
16
The 20-year-old has never had to cook or clean for himself and believes the experiment will push him out of his 'comfort zone'Credit: 5Star
On the other hand, the family welcoming Alex into their home struggle to get by on just £1,000 a month.
Parents Jen, 23, and Antony live in a small terrace home in Bolton with their son Jackson and first met at a homeless hostel four years ago.
While Jen is a full-time mum to their little boy, Antony works 40 hours a week but is determined to provide for them.
He said: "I'd rather work than be on benefits cause I want to support my own family."
16
Antony and Jen have been together for four years and live with their son Jackson in BoltonCredit: 5Star
16
Jen is a full-time mum while Antony works 40 hours a week and earns £1,000 a monthCredit: 5Star
After paying their rent, electricity and council tax bills, the family are left with just £40 to spend on treats for their son - and had spent months saving up for a trip to Blackpool last year.
However, the family's holiday fund was stolen just minutes after they arrived at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach.
Jen said: "We saved up for two months to take [Jackson] because we never took him anywhere before so we wanted him to have what he wanted while we were there.
"We were there five minutes and our money got stolen."
Antony added: "He was asking for a bucket and spade and we couldn't even buy him one."
16
The couple have just £40 left to live on after their rent and bills go outCredit: 5Star
16
Jen and Antony haven't been able to afford a new double bed and have been sleeping on a mattress on the floorCredit: 5Star
But it's not just family holidays that have fallen by the wayside.
Jen and Antony have not been able to afford to replace their bedframe since it broke and only got halfway through decorating their room after they ran out of paint.
After Alex arrives at the house he'll be calling home for a week, Jen shows him round the family property - all the while apologising for the lack of decoration as they "just don't have the money to do it".
Shocked by how the couple are getting by, Alex said: "When I saw Jen hadn't finished the wall because she'd ran out of paint, it made me sad for them really.
"They haven't got much decor but they're trying to do the best with what they have at the moment."
16
Alex arrives the house carrying his £1,000 Louis Vuitton luggageCredit: 5Star
16
The rich kid swaps his penthouse suite for the family's sofa for the entirety of the experimentCredit: 5Star
What's more, experiment comes to a head when the couple ask about the cost of Alex's blingy watch over a cup of tea.
He admitted: "The current value of this is just over £10,000."
Unable to wrap his head around price, Antony responded: "Wow, that's quite a lot of money that.
"If we had that sort of money, we'd be set for a long, long time."
Jen added: "That would pay all our debts off. We'd go on a holiday and still have money left.
"I couldn't imagine going and spending £10,000 on a watch. Mine's £20 from Argos."
16
Antony is keen to put Alex to work handing out leaflets in the city centre to earn some extra cash to pay for the family's roast dinnerCredit: 5Star
16
Alex earns £20 for every thousand leaflets he distributesCredit: 5Star
However, the couple quickly throw Alex in the deep end with Jen teaching him how to cook and clean for himself.
Along with cooking a Sunday roast for the family, Antony also takes Alex to work with him in Bolton city centre handing out leaflets for a local estate agent to earn a bit of extra cash.
Despite working for up to seven hours to hand them all out, Alex is shocked to learn that Antony only gets paid £20 for every thousand leaflets he distributes.
However, it's this extra day of work on a Saturday which allows the family to have treats - like a Sunday roast - at the weekend.
Explaining how he was once a homeless drug addict, Antony told the rich kid: "I was that bad on drugs I was stealing from my mum and dad and they kicked me out when I was 16.
"I slept rough around Bolton town centre and was homeless for two years and sleeping on the streets before I went into a hostel."
16
After his day handing out leaflets, Jenny taught Alex how to make a Sunday roastCredit: 5Star
It was there that Antony met his partner Jen, who he credits for keeping him on "the straight and narrow.
He added: "Since Jackson came along, I always put my family first."
What's more, the programme draws to an emotional close as Alex offers to pay for the family to go on a proper trip to Blackpool as well as replacing the couple's bedframe.
Penning Jen and Antony a handwritten note, Alex wrote: "Thank you so much for opening up your home and letting me experience your life.
"It's opened up by eyes to how tough it can be for some people. I feel like I have learnt a lot from you two and will apply what I've learnt in my everyday life.
16
Alex thanked the couple for welcoming him into their home by treating them to a family day out in BlackpoolCredit: 5Star
16
Alex even bought the couple a new bedframe after they were unable to afford their own for monthsCredit: 5Star
16
Alex says he's made 'friends for life' in the Bolton familyCredit: 5Star
"I wanted to give you the opportunity to go [to Blackpool] again and this time do it properly. If you let me know the dates, I'm going to arrange family tickets plus your train fares to Blackpool Pleasure Beach."
Describing what he'll take away from the experience, Alex said: "Thanks to Jenny, I can now cook and I can cook mum a Sunday dinner.
"I've learnt budgeting and being better with my money and I now know how to make it go a little further.
"I think I've made friends for life in Jenny, Ant and Jackson and it's overall been a brilliant experience."