A MILLIONAIRE who raised three boys thinking they were his sons received a heartwarming text after learning the devastating news that he was not their real father.

Richard Mason was handed a £250,000 payout after finding out his ex-wife Kate had been lying to him for 21 years over the paternity of her now grown-up sons.

6 Richard Mason was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis two years ago and told he cannot have children Credit: Huw Evans

He only made the shocking discovery when doctors told him in 2016 that he had been infertile since birth.

The subsequent court battle has led to two of the boys refusing to speak to him.

But Richard was left overjoyed after receiving a supportive message from the third son last month.

It read: "Dad, as I explained from the beginning you would never not be dad to me regardless of all this.

6 Kate Mason only confessed to the illicit relationship in 2016 when Richard Mason confronted her, ten years after they divorced Credit: Richard Stanton

"Of course I’ll stay in touch, that will never change… I’m always here for you too and you will always be Dad. Love you x."

Richard, co-founder of price comparison site MoneySupermarket.com, is offering a £5,000 reward for information to help him identify the real father - who is not thought to have contributed financially to raising the boys.

Doting Richard told the Daily Mail: "I still regard them as my boys even though I’m not their biological father, and I miss them so much."

Richard made the astounding discovery when he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and told he couldn't father children naturally.

Legal documents seen by the Mail on Sunday reveal Mrs Mason declared a sudden interest in Judaism when she first fell pregnant.

6 Richard said he was stunned to find out the boys he brought up weren't his Credit: Huw Evans Picture Agency

She also insisted all three children have Jewish middle names, something Mr Mason now believes is a clue to the identity of the real dad.

Mrs Mason initially said "of course the boys are yours, no matter what the science might suggest" when he revealed he knew he couldn't have fathered them.

But she later confessed to the betrayal when confronted by her eldest son.

Mr Mason, from Rhos, North Wales, told The Mail on Sunday yesterday: “You don’t know what’s real and what isn’t — it’s as if I’m living in The Matrix.

“Someone says to you, ‘All you know and everything you thought solid and true is not real, and never did exist. You are not a father, you are not able to have kids, your name will not continue’.

“I still see what the boys are doing on Facebook and it’s heart-wrenching. It’s all been taken away from me.”

6 Richard, co-founder of moneysupermarket.com, with his new wife Emma Louise Jones Credit: Daily Post

She admitted she had been seeing a colleague at Barclays in an on-off affair during the 20-year marriage - but wouldn't name him.

Richard, 55, was left contemplating suicide after DNA tests revealed the the 19-year-old university student twins were not his sons.

Their businessman brother, 23, did not provide a sample for a test.

Mr Mason's family has been torn apart as his relationship with the boys has been destroyed by the revelation.

Due to the latest legal battle in his efforts to get back some of the enormous divorce settlement money and to sue for paternity fraud, two of his sons broke contact with him.

6 Richard proposed to his then girlfriend Emma Louise Jones on the Venue Cymru stage in Wales Credit: Daily Post

6 The pair had been together for one year before he popped the question Credit: Daily Post

He believes there must have been some doubt in his ex's mind when she fell pregnant seven years into their marriage, and thinks she "tricked" him into bringing up the boys.

Mrs Mason confessed over six to 12 times she had sex with her colleague - but was adamant he couldn't be the dad as the pair always used condoms.

Two of the three have broken off all contact with the man they believed was their father for most of their lives.

His ex-wife only confessed ten years after they divorced and he had been ordered to pay a £4million settlement.

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Mr Mason launched a paternity fraud case, which ended a few weeks ago when his ex agreed to pay an out of court settlement.

She decided to hand back a £250,000 portion of the lump sum after he sought to have the divorce financial settlement “set aside”.

However, the legal case allowed her to keep the biological father’s name out of proceedings.

It is not known if he is aware he is the boys’ dad.

Speaking of his struggle to come to terms with being childless, Richard added: "Imagine being told you are going to die and your three sons are not your own – my life fell apart."

He added that the love of his new wife Emma, 46 - who also sadly cannot conceive after a cancer battle - is getting him through the trauma.

Richard said: "But what stopped me was the love I feel for Emma.

"She is my soulmate, and has got me through all this trauma."

Mrs Mason, who lives at a £1million home near Uttoxeter, Staffs, and her sons have declined to comment.

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