A La Jolla man went from riches to rags for charity in Fox TV’s new reality series, “Secret Millionaire,” airing this evening, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. Molly Haerr said her son Greg, 50, was always gifted. While attending La Jolla’s schools, such as Muirlands Middle School, he gravitated toward encyclopedias instead of fiction, she said. Greg graduated from La Jolla High School and then the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) when the university had only one computer, according to his mother. But her eldest son — of seven — certainly used that lone computer that sat inside UCSD’s basement, Molly said. Greg Haerr launched a software company called Century Software Inc., founded the Microwindows Project and then invested his profits in several real estate ventures. Although Greg lives in Salt Lake City, he frequently flies his own plane to visit his family, Molly said. So when producers from Fox’s reality show “Secret Millionaire” decided to cast Greg as star of their show, Molly was not surprised. “He grew up and was born here. He will be on this coming Thursday, and it’s an hourlong program,” Molly said. “They show pictures of where they live and everything, and then they take them to an undisclosed location.” Fox Studios borrowed the theme from the United Kingdom. A millionaire dresses up like a vagrant and walks an undesirable neighborhood for a week searching for people worthy of a charitable contribution. RDF/UK Productions co-produces the show. “It’s a reality show about people who normally live lavish lifestyles. They leave their belongings behind and are sent to an impoverished neighborhood,” Greg said. A film crew arrived at Greg’s doorstep, took his belongings and gave him $47 and a bus ticket to Las Vegas, he said. Greg arrived in Vegas with two pairs of pants, three pairs of underwear, two shirts and $47 for the week, he said. The crew following him included three camera operators, a producer, a director and a soundman, but Greg wasn’t allowed to speak to the people around him, he said. “The director told people they were filming a documentary of me moving to Las Vegas,” Greg said. “I had a secret mission. I had to live in poverty … In that week, I’m running around looking for folks, and at the end of the week, I reveal who I am and give them a large check.” Greg thought about his mission and who he would award $100,000, he said. “My belief was to help as many people as possible [rather] than one person down on their luck,” Greg said. During his mission, Greg entered community centers searching for residents helping less fortunate people. Although he couldn’t reveal who or what organization he chose for the $100,000 prize, he said he ran into many deserving groups. But a “couple of folks” who ran teen organizations plucked at his heartstrings. Greg posed as a poor man. But with less than $50, Greg said his mood darkened so he called his brother, Paul Haerr — a La Jolla contractor — for moral support. Paul flew to Greg’s side, offering assistance. But “Secret” producers did not offer Paul a hotel, Greg said. “We ended up sleeping together on one mattress in a hotel room,” Greg said. “Paul helped me a lot. He advised me … I was getting pretty depressed. You kind of start falling apart a little bit. It was nice to have a family member to lean on.” Greg said eating on a reduced budget ultimately altered his mood, although interacting with all types of people was an enlightening experience. “It was hard but I’d do it again because the mission was a worthy mission,” Greg said. “It’s a charity at the end of the day.” “Secret Millionaire” airs on Fox Channel 5 today, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. For info, visit www.fox.com. n