The fact that he has 3+ kids and a wife seems to be relevant now that the start up has failed. So, it should have definitely been taken into consideration at the beginning.
Why do you need to be married to have people stand beside you in times of crisis? Such people should care about you unconditionally, not because they are contractually bound to you.
How many people think about the possibility that their partner may become physically or mentally ill when they get married? Most people assume their life will be great and don't really think about how they would handle really bad situations later on.