"he contacted his poly ex gf and settled for her"...??
consolation prize? this sounds really bad...
if your friend got stable career and salary like you said, he
should have gone to china... he would have gotten young and super
model-quality girlfriends, and life will be decadent but fun

so happy for him that he did not got one... prc would have swindle
his money till he dry. that girl he got now got earnings on par
with him.
probably its consolation prize, but at least better than nobody.
cant hiam, at least she can provide for family. it would be harder
to get a girl at 40..