Either you're very lucky, or very unlucky, to not know what fake IRL friends are. You don't need to be rich to have people that are only friends for their own benefit. Hell, on facebook, the only real benefit they have to being friends with most people is a single digit higher on their number.
People provide many things: entertainment, emotional support, beer.
Some will be your friends when it's convienent for them, but not when it becomes more difficult.
Being rich was just an example. Of course there are benefits I am not arguing that before there were no fake friends, they were just there in less proportion to real friends (unless you suck at friend making) until the day of today I can knock on any of my friends doors when I need help an they will invite me with open arms and help me where they can.