Think this story very much depends on the age of the foreign man. If he's like 65 and she is still at uni - story says after graduation - and a virgin, never married with kids etc, it may well be a bargain for an older man.
If the guy is young, then I am in two minds about this story - the parents expecting a guy to find a million baht if he is young and single is ridiculous since they own a 'shipping company' and it stinks of greed rather than helping the young couple out.
I am probably like most of you, never paid a penny for my Mrs. Older women are free or get a very large discount !