'Built on a throne of lies': Texas woman is 'freaking out' after her husband lied about having a $1 million net worth — he's actually $150,000 in debt. Here's what The Ramsey Show had to say

“I would go straight to counseling,” replied co-host George Kamel. “I don’t know anywhere else to go when your relationship was built on a throne of lies.”

However, fellow co-host Ken Coleman wanted her to consider the “nuclear option” instead.

“I would go straight to the judge and I would get the marriage annulled,” he said bluntly.

Now, while lying to a spouse about being a millionaire may be an extreme case, it seems financial infidelity is actually quite common in America.

Financial deception

The results of a Bankrate’s 2025 financial infidelity survey reveal 40% of adults in the U.S. who are married or living with a partner say they’ve kept a financial secret from their significant other. Secrets include spending more than their partner would approve of (33%) and holding undisclosed debt (23%).

Among those with a spouse or live-in partner, 38% felt keeping financial secrets in a relationship is as bad as cheating, while 7% said it’s worse.

“Money secrets can undermine a relationship,” Bankrate senior industry analyst Ted Rossman said. “It’s hard enough to meet your financial goals when you’re pulling in the same direction. It’s almost impossible if you’re pulling in opposite directions.”

Marriage counseling is an option for couples to resolve differences and change behaviors. It can be a forum to open up communication between partners and get them on the same page.

But the level of deception involved in Veronica’s relationship may be too high to overcome, according to Coleman.