The romantic narrative presented by Barry 'Bear' Myrden on popular reality show The Golden Bachelor has been thrown into question following revelations about a significant relationship he kept hidden from viewers.
A Secret Engagement Unveiled
While Bear claimed on television that he had been relatively single since his wife Audrey's death 14 years ago, it has now emerged that he was actually engaged to millionaire heiress Jo Kinghorn for several years during that period.
According to Woman's Day magazine, Kinghorn - a Sydney nanny from a wealthy family - fell madly in love with Bear in 2012, just a few years after he became a widower. The publication reveals that their relationship developed into a full engagement by 2016, with Bear and his three young sons moving into Kinghorn's $6 million Manly home.
Family Integration and Financial Dynamics
Friends of Kinghorn have expressed being gobsmacked by Bear's television claims, particularly given the depth of their relationship. Not only were the couple engaged and cohabiting, but Kinghorn reportedly embraced the role of stepmother to Bear's three boys - Charlie, Jack and Declan.
"She really opened her heart to them and dedicated her life to them – and they adored her," a friend of Kinghorn revealed to Woman's Day.
The relationship took a significant financial turn as it progressed. Kinghorn, whose father founded Allco Financial Services and RAMS Home Loans and featured on the Aussie Rich List, reportedly hired a full-time nanny for Bear's children so the couple could travel together.
More substantially, she purchased him a warehouse valued at over one million dollars, which Bear transformed into a personal 'man cave'. Financial support apparently extended further, with Kinghorn covering almost all expenses during the final three years of their relationship after Bear quit his job.
Acrimonious Split and Aftermath
The couple's relationship ultimately dissolved in 2018 in what insiders described as an acrimonious separation that required legal intervention. "There were lawyers called in and they spent a whole day in mediation before it was settled," Kinghorn's friend disclosed, adding that Bear even requested the return of his diamond solitaire engagement ring.
While property was divided with each keeping their respective homes, Kinghorn eventually sold the Manly property due to bad memories associated with the relationship.
Bear has since acknowledged his romantic history in comments to Daily Mail, admitting he dated multiple women after his wife's passing and had been in a six-year relationship with his ex-fiancée followed by a two-year relationship with another woman. He attributed the relationship failures to ongoing grief, stating "I don't think I was ready. I believe I was still grieving."
