>> I GOT CAT LAMPS, CAT TEAPOTS, TABLECLOTHS, PICTURES. I GOT SHOES THAT HAVE CATS ON THEM. >> AND YOU GOT CATS -- LOTS OF CATS. >> Narrator: THESE OBSESSIVE COLLECTORS HAVE TRANSFORMED THEIR HOMES. >> $450,000 FOR CATS. >> THAT'S A LOT OF CAT FOOD. >> Narrator: THEIR PASSIONS HAVE PUSHED THEM TO THE VERY EDGE. >> NOT QUITE HOARDING YET, BUT IT'S LEANING THAT WAY. >> Narrator: THEY DEDICATE HUNDREDS OF HOURS... >> SHE KIND OF UNDERSTANDS THAT I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CRAZY. >> Narrator: ...AND SPEND SMALL FORTUNES... >> WELCOME TO THE OVAL OFFICE! >> OH, MY GOODNESS. >> Narrator: ...TO FEED THEIR OBSESSIVE APPETITES. >> I NEVER DREAMED THAT I'D BE ABLE TO EVER HAVE ONE. >> Narrator: THIS IS "MY CRAZY OBSESSION." --<font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC --</font><font color="#00FFFF">
www.vitac.com</font> CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS >> THERE. OKAY. [ CAT MEOWS ] IT'S FEEDING TIME AGAIN. >> AND RIGHT ON TIME. >> YEAH. >> Narrator: BOB AND FRANCES HAVE CATS. >> WE HAVE XANDER AND WILLOW. YOU WANT SOME? >> Narrator: LOTS OF CATS. >> AND WE HAVE STELLA AND EDDIE. AND THEN WE HAVE LILY. GUS. GUS-GUS, COME ON DOWN HERE. SAM IS A TWIN. HIS BROTHER DAVE. SAM AND DAVE, THE MUSICAL GROUP. AND THEN THE TOP OF THE HEAP IS CHARLOTTE. >> THERE YOU GO, CHARLOTTE. >> Narrator: THAT'S NINE CATS IN ALL. >> WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO NINE AND ABOVE, MANY PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE KIND OF CAT-CRAZY AT THAT POINT, AND IT'S NOT QUITE HOARDING YET, BUT IT'S LEANING THAT WAY. >> Narrator: THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN NINE CATS. THE RECORD IS 689. BUT THERE IS NOBODY WHO IS MORE OBSESSED. BOB AND FRANCES, WHO DON'T HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN, FAWN OVER THEIR NINE FELINES LIKE THEY'RE THEIR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD. >> YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE CRUNCHIES YOU WANT. >> Narrator: THEY WALK WITH THEIR CATS, TALK WITH THEIR CATS... >> WHAT DO YOU THINK, XANDER? DID YOU THINK IT WAS A GOOD MEETING HERE? >> Narrator: ...BUY THEM LAVISH GIFTS... >> BOB AND FRANCES COME IN HERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, AND THEY PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM $200 TO $600. >> Narrator: ...AND THROW EACH AN ELABORATE BIRTHDAY PARTY, COMPLETE WITH A SPECIAL ROAST CHICKEN DINNER... >> HE DOESN'T REALLY LIKE CHICKEN. >> OH, WHAT A LUCKY CAT. >> Narrator: ...PRESENTS... >> WHOA! LOOK AT THAT. >> Narrator: ...CAKE... AND PARTY FAVORS. >> LIKE EVERY BIRTHDAY PARTY, THERE'S ALWAYS ONE THAT CRIES. THERE'S ALWAYS ONE THAT SPILLS THEIR FOOD, ONE THAT THINKS ALL THE PRESENTS SHOULD BE THEIRS. >> THERE'S ONE THAT GETS HIGH ON CATNIP. [ MEOWS ] >> Narrator: BOB AND FRANCES LOVE THEIR CATS SO MUCH, THEY ALL SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO WATCH A FAMILY SLIDE SHOW... >> THERE'S BEAUREGARD. I HAD HIM PICKED OUT BEFORE YOU EVEN ASKED ME TO MARRY YOU. >> Narrator: ...AND REMEMBER THEIR 17 CATS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY. >> HERE'S TOM CAT THAT EVERYBODY LOVED AND WAS OUR VERY, VERY DEAR KITTY. >> I WISH WE STILL HAD HIM, OF COURSE, BUT YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE THEM. THEY DON'T LAST THAT LONG. >> Narrator: BUT BOB AND FRANCES FEEL THE CATS DON'T JUST LIVE <i> WITH</i> THEM... >> THE CATS OWN THIS HOUSE. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED THE CATS' HOUSE. >> Narrator: CARING FOR THEIR GROUP OF CATS TAKES PATIENCE AND DETERMINATION. FLEA TREATMENT AND NAIL TRIMMING CAN TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS BECAUSE THE CATS SCATTER WHEN THEY HEAR THE SOUND OF THE CAT CARRIERS BEING BROUGHT OUT, AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO HERD ALL NINE. >> DAVE'S STILL UNDER HERE. YEAH, DAVE MAY HAVE SOME DEEP-SEATED PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES. >> Narrator: BOB AND FRANCES GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO DOTE ON THEIR CATS LIKE KIDS, CASTING THEIR PAWPRINTS, ALLOWING THEM TO SLEEP IN THEIR BED, AND ALWAYS PUTTING THE CATS' NEEDS BEFORE THEIR OWN. >> YOU CAN'T EVEN CONSIDER MAKING YOUR MEAL UNLESS YOU'VE FED ALL THE CRITTERS. >> Narrator: AND THEY HAVEN'T GONE ON VACATION FOR 15 YEARS, NOT TRUSTING ANYONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM THE WAY THEY DO. THEY HAVE ALSO SURROUNDED THE CATS WITH A $20,000 CAT-THEMED COLLECTION, RANGING FROM THE PRIVATE TO THE BIZARRE. >> THIS IS MADE OUT OF DRYER LINT. YOU GOT CAT LAMPS, YOU GOT CAT TEAPOTS, YOU GOT TEACUPS, YOU GOT TABLECLOTHS, YOU GOT BEDSPREADS, YOU GOT PICTURES. I'VE GOT SHOES THAT HAVE CATS ON THEM. >> AND YOU GOT CATS -- LOTS OF CATS. >> Narrator: AND THEY'VE GONE EVEN FURTHER. BECAUSE CATS HAVE POOR COLOR VISION, BOB AND FRANCES PAINTED THE WALLS AND CABINETS 42 DIFFERENT COLORS TO STIMULATE THE CATS' SENSES. >> I INVITED MY GRANDMOTHER OVER AFTER WE'D PAINTED EVERYTHING, AND SHE SAID SHE WAS GLAD THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH THESE COLORS. >> Narrator: BUT PAINTING WAS ONLY A MINOR COSMETIC CHANGE. MOST OWNERS SETTLE FOR A CARPETED TOWER TO KEEP THEIR CATS IN SHAPE. INSTEAD, BOB AND FRANCES UNDERTOOK MAJOR CONSTRUCTION. >> I THINK I'M MOST PROUD OF THE CATWALK AS FAR AS THE HOUSE HERE. THERE'S 140 FEET OF CAT PATH THAT GOES THROUGH ALMOST EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE. IT HAS A SPIRAL CAT STAIRCASE, AND IT ALSO COMES UP HERE WHERE XANDER IS. AND HE'S A TIRED CAT. SEE? >> Narrator: BOB DEVOTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS TO DESIGN AND BUILD AND SPENT OVER $10,000 ON MATERIALS TO CONSTRUCT THE WALKS THAT WIND FROM ROOM TO ROOM. >> ONE OF THE IDEAS WE HAD WAS TO MAKE A CATS-ONLY CLUBHOUSE, SO THAT WAY, THE CATS CAN GO IN AND KIND OF KICK BACK. AS YOU CAN SEE, HERE'S SOME OF THE MICE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET IN. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO MICE IN THE CATS-ONLY CLUBHOUSE. >> Narrator: HOME IMPROVEMENTS OF THIS SCALE CAN CATAPULT A HOME'S VALUE. NOT SO FOR BOB AND FRANCES. >> ONE TIME WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE. TWO REALTORS WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER, WONDERING, YOU KNOW, IS IT WORTH MORE OR LESS? SO WE FIGURED AT THAT TIME WE HAD PROBABLY DEVALUED THE HOUSE BY $30,000 BY MAKING IT SO SPECIFIC TO CATS. >> Narrator: INVESTING $30,000 IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR CATS MORE COMFORTABLE IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR BOB AND FRANCES. AND WHILE OTHER COUPLES SAVE FOR RETIREMENT, BOB AND FRANCES ARE BUSY SAVING SOMETHING ELSE. >> A WHISKER! I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT. >> Narrator: CATS HAVE FOUR ROWS OF WHISKERS, 24 IN ALL. LOSING A WHISKER ISN'T UNUSUAL, AND HEALTHY CATS SHED THEM PERIODICALLY. USUALLY THEY JUST GET SUCKED UP IN THE VACUUM CLEANER. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE DON'T SHOW EVERYBODY, BUT IN THIS BAG HERE, LET'S JUST SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND. WE'RE OBSESSED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. ONE OF OUR CATEGORIES IS WHISKERS. LOOK AT ALL THESE. >> WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM? WE HAVEN'T QUITE DECIDED WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOUVENIRS. >> Narrator: IN THE PAST 39 YEARS, BOB AND FRANCES HAVE COLLECTED OVER 500 WHISKERS FROM 26 DIFFERENT CATS. AND THEY EVEN KNOW FROM WHICH EACH WHISKER CAME. >> THIS ONE IS FROM A BLACK KITTY WE USED TO HAVE NAMED JOSEPH. YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY SAM. THIS ONE MUST BE CHARLOTTE'S 'CAUSE IT'S THE ONLY REALLY CURLY ONE IN THERE. >> THERE'S A LOT OF MEMORIES IN THESE WHISKERS HERE. WE MARRIED IN 1973. SO, WE GOT OUR FIRST CAT ON OUR WEDDING NIGHT, ACTUALLY. WE WENT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND GOT THIS KITTY, AND IT SHARED OUR WEDDING BED WITH US, AND FROM THEN ON, IT WAS CATS FOREVER. >> Narrator: FRANCES' OBSESSION STARTED YEARS EARLIER, GROWING UP WITH THREE CATS IN THIS VERY SAME HOUSE. >> MY MOM WAS THE BIGGEST CAT LOVER THERE WAS. SHE WAS MY INSPIRATION FOR HAVING CATS. SO, I MADE THIS LAMP FOR HER. AND THE LITTLE BIRDS ARE TAKING THE LITTLE KITTIES TO HEAVEN. SO, IT'S ALL SPARKLY FOR A MEMORIAL SORT OF A PIECE. [ SQUEAK! SQUEAK! ] >> WE GIVE IT TWO SQUEAKS. >> [ LAUGHS ] [ MEOWS ] >> Narrator: TODAY BOB AND FRANCES HAVE SOME IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF. >> CATS LIVE 15 YEARS, SO, IN 15 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE 75 YEARS OLD. YOU GOT TO PLAN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THEM AFTER YOU DIE. >> Narrator: THEY'RE MEETING WITH A LAWYER TO SET UP A TRUST FOR THEIR CATS AND TO DESIGNATE A GUARDIAN WHO WILL EVENTUALLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE. >> OKAY, SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR ASSETS FOR A WHILE. >> WE HAVE OUR HOME. >> THE APPROXIMATE VALUE OF THE HOME IS... >> ABOUT $450,000. >> YEAH, $450,000. >> SO, $450,000 FOR CATS. >> THAT'S A LOT OF CAT FOOD. >> IT IS A LOT OF CAT FOOD. >> Narrator: $13 MILLION IS THE LARGEST CAT INHERITANCE ON RECORD. SINCE BOB AND FRANCES PLAN ON LEAVING THEIRS A LOT LESS, THEY'RE MORE WORRIED ABOUT HOW TO DIVIDE THE $450,000 IN ASSETS EQUITABLY AND PEACEFULLY BETWEEN ALL NINE. >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT DIVIDE THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS. WILLOW SHOULD GET THE ARTWORK, AND SADIE SHOULD GET THE RUGS. >> THE ONLY ISSUE WITH LEAVING OBJECTS TO YOUR CATS IS THAT UNDER THE LAW, YOUR CATS ARE CONSIDERED PERSONAL PROPERTY, ALSO. SO, WE CAN'T ACTUALLY GIVE ANY ITEMS TO THE PARTICULAR CATS. >> Narrator: WHILE BOB AND FRANCES ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY CAN'T LEGALLY DETERMINE WHICH CATS GET WHICH ASSETS, THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THEIR COLLECTIVE ASSETS TO FRANCES' SISTER, WHO THEY DESIGNATE GUARDIAN OF ALL NINE CATS. >> BOB AND FRANCES ARE VERY OBSESSED WITH THEIR CATS. THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE THEIR CHILDREN. THE LAW DOES ALLOW US TO TAKE CARE OF THE PETS IN A WAY THAT I THINK THEY'LL BE HAPPY WITH, AND THEIR CATS WILL BE HAPPY, AS WELL. >> IT'S KIND OF STRANGE LEARNING THAT THEY'RE JUST PERSONAL PROPERTY, YOU KNOW? >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY HAS TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE, 'CAUSE THEY'RE OUR KIDS, THE BOTTOM LINE. >> Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS, BOB AND FRANCES ARE GOING ON A TRIP THE CATS CANNOT JOIN, AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGHEST DECISION OF THEIR LIVES. >> WE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THEM ALL YET. >> Narrator: LATER, THE OBSESSION THAT LED THIS TEXAN TO BUILD HIS OWN OVAL OFFICE. >> Narrator: BOB AND FRANCES ARE PARENTS TO NINE CAT KIDS WHO ARE THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS. THIS OBSESSED COUPLE HAS DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO TRANSFORM THEIR HOME INTO A FELINE OASIS, FROM BUILDING A $10,000 INDOOR CAT GYM TO DECORATING EVERY ROOM WITH UNIQUE CAT COLLECTIBLES. FOR THIS COUPLE, THERE'S NO PLACE THEY'D RATHER BE THAN WITH THEIR CATS IN THEIR FELINE FANTASY LAND. >> HECK, WE LIVE IN PARADISE. WHY WOULD WE WANT TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE? >> WE RARELY GO AWAY ON VACATION, SO WE'RE PRETTY MUCH HERE AS A CAT FAMILY. >> Narrator: BUT AN INVITATION HAS ARRIVED. >> WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GO TO SOMEBODY'S WEDDING IN ALABAMA. >> Narrator: THE TRIP WOULD BE THEIR LONGEST IN 15 YEARS -- IF THEY CAN FIND THE RIGHT PERSON TO SIT FOR THEIR CATS, WHICH WON'T BE EASY, BASED ON THE BAD CAT-NANNY EXPERIENCE THEY HAD 15 YEARS AGO. >> WE HAD A CAT THAT, WHEN WE LEFT, HE WAS A KITTEN, AND HE WAS CREAMY WHITE, AND THEN WHEN WE CAME BACK, HE WAS CHOCOLATE BROWN. HE TRANSFORMED IN THAT TIME, SO WE WEREN'T SURE THAT SOMEBODY DIDN'T GIVE US ANOTHER CAT. >> Narrator: AFTER CONTACTING NUMEROUS PET-SITTING COMPANIES, BOB AND FRANCES HAVE NARROWED THEIR SEARCH, AND TONIGHT THEY'RE INTERVIEWING THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES BASED ON FIRST-AID TRAINING... >> HI, BOB. I'M TEVIA. >> HI, TEVIA. >> Narrator: ...MULTIPLE-CAT EXPERIENCE... >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S HECTOR. >> Narrator: ...AND STELLAR REFERENCES. >> HI. >> HI, I'M BOB. >> I'M BRONTE. >> HI, BRONTE. >> NICE TO MEET YOU. >> WELCOME TO THE CATS' HOUSE. >> WOW! >> YEAH, WE HAVE A FEW CAT ITEMS HERE. YOU MIGHT EVEN SAY WE'RE OBSESSED WITH CATS. >> THOSE ARE CALLED "CHILDREN." >> CHILDREN. DO YOU GUYS THINK OF YOUR CATS AS CHILDREN? >> ABSOLUTELY, SO I GUESS THAT'S APPROPRIATE. >> DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN? >> NO. JUST KITTY-CATS. >> THESE ARE OUR CAT KIDS. >> FUR FAMILY. >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. WE'LL BE GONE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHICH IS LONGER THAN WE'RE USED TO EVER LEAVING OUR CATS ALONE, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO WE SELECT. >> SO, INSURANCE WILL COVER IN CASE SOMETHING AWFUL WERE TO HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, BUT... >> MM. CAT DEATH. I THOUGHT BOB AND FRANCES' HOME WAS LIKE A CIRCUS. I HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE AS OBSESSED WITH CATS IN MY LIFE. I DON'T THINK I EVER WILL. >> Narrator: EVEN THOUGH BRONTE HAS BEEN CAT-SITTING SINCE SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD, SHE DOESN'T MEET THEIR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS. >> THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA... >> WOW. >> ...OF WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON. >> WE'VE KIND OF GIVEN OVER THE WHOLE HOUSE TO THE CATS, PRACTICALLY. SO, THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF. >> HOW MANY ANIMALS HAVE YOU CARED FOR? >> AT LEAST, IF I HAD TO ESTIMATE, IT'D BE AROUND 100. >> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. >> ALSO, NOT JUST THE FEEDING AND THE CAT-BOX CLEANUP, IS THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW -- A LITTLE PERSONAL QUALITY TIME. >> THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF THE HOUSE WAS IT'S A LOT OF VISUALS AND A LOT TO TAKE IN AT ONE TIME. SO, IT STUCK WITH ME, FOR SURE. >> Narrator: EVEN THOUGH HECTOR'S EXPERIENCED, HE'S NEVER CARED FOR MORE THAN THREE CATS AT ONCE. BOB AND FRANCES WORRY HE WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL NINE. >> OKAY, THIS ROOM HAS MOST OF THE CATWALK AREA IN IT. THIS IS THE KIND OF PLACES WHERE THEY MIGHT, OF COURSE, FALL OFF FROM. >> WOW. >> AND THEY ALSO HAVE THIS RAMP THAT GOES INTO THE BEDROOM. >> CUTE. IT'S A CAT FACE. >> IT'S ACTUALLY BASED ON ONE OF OUR REAL CATS. >> CAN THEY ALL FIT THROUGH THERE? >> YES, THEY CAN. >> OKAY. >> BOB AND FRANCES' OBSESSION WITH CATS, I THINK, IS JUST, AS THEY'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR SO LONG, THEY JUST KIND OF INCORPORATE MORE AND MORE AND MORE. THEY GO, "I HAVE THE TIME TO DO THIS. I'LL MAKE IT FOR THE CAT. I'LL DO THIS FOR THE CAT." >> IF I WAS GOING TO LEAVE MY CATS TO ANYONE, IT WOULD BE TEVIA BECAUSE SHE WAS A PRO. I THINK WE FOUND A CAT SITTER. >> I THINK WE DID. >> Narrator: THEIR INSTINCTS WERE RIGHT. WHEN BOB AND FRANCES RETURN FROM THEIR TRIP TO FIND THE CATS ALL STILL THEIR ORIGINAL COLORS, THEY KNEW THEY HAD CHOSEN THEIR SITTER WISELY. BUT FOR THESE CAT LOVERS, SOME CHOICES AREN'T SO SIMPLE. >> I DON'T THINK I COULD CHOOSE BETWEEN THE CATS OR HIM, BUT... >> THANKFULLY, IT'S NOT A CHOICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE. >> I KNOW. >> 'CAUSE I'D HATE TO BE ON THE LOW END OF THAT, YOU KNOW? >> Narrator: NEXT, THIS MAN IS SO OBSESSED WITH THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, HE TRIES TO LIVE EXACTLY LIKE HIM. >> I THINK IT'S A HEALTHY OBSESSION. [ "HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYS ] >> Narrator: THE OVAL OFFICE IS RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD AS A SYMBOL OF POWER AND PRESTIGE. IT HAS HOUSED AMERICA'S GREATEST PRESIDENTS, VISITING DIGNITARIES, ROYALTY, AND RON WADE, RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEE OF LONGVIEW, TEXAS. RON IS OBSESSED WITH THE U.S. PRESIDENCY AND COLLECTS ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO IT. BUT HIS MASSIVE ARCHIVE, NOW WORTH NEARLY $500,000, ACTUALLY STARTED SMALL. >> I'VE BEEN COLLECTING THESE SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD. I OWN OVER 10,000 BUTTONS THAT ARE SHOWN HERE IN THE COLLECTION AND MANY, MANY OTHERS IN CLOSETS, UNDER BEDS, IN THE ATTIC, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE HOUSE. >> Narrator: BUT HE'S GONE FAR BEYOND BUTTONS. RON EXPANDED HIS COLLECTION TO INCLUDE ARTWORK, SCULPTURES, AND FURNITURE ACTUALLY USED BY PRESIDENTS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> I'M CONSTANTLY ADDING TO THE COLLECTION. >> Narrator: IN 2003, RON DECIDED HE NEEDED MORE FLOOR SPACE, BUT HE DIDN'T BUILD AN ORDINARY HOME ADDITION. HE CREATED THE ULTIMATE PRESIDENTIAL SHOWPIECE -- A REPLICA OF THE OVAL OFFICE. >> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD LONG DREAMED OF. >> Narrator: IT TOOK RON 2 1/2 YEARS TO DESIGN AND ANOTHER 8 MONTHS TO HAVE BUILT AT A COST OF $250,000. THOUGH IT'S ONLY 80% OF THE ACTUAL SIZE, RON MADE SURE HIS OVAL OFFICE WAS PAINSTAKINGLY REPRODUCED, FROM THE CUSTOM-MADE CEILING TO THE PORTRAITS ON THE WALL. AND ALTHOUGH HE ALLOWS HIS FAMILY INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, RON FOLLOWS A HARD-AND-FAST WHITE HOUSE RULE -- DON'T MOVE ANYTHING. >> WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL IN THE OVAL OFFICE. >> SOMEBODY'S MOVED MY FLAG. >> 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY VALUABLE STUFF IN THERE. >> Narrator: AND RON WORRIES FOR GOOD REASON, BECAUSE THIS FORMER STATE EMPLOYEE PUSHES HIS BUDGET TO THE BREAKING POINT FOR RARE COLLECTIBLES. >> IT'S EXCITING. WHEN I SEE SOMETHING NEW, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, BUT I'M GOING TO BUY IT. AND I'LL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY SOMEHOW. THIS CHAIR WAS BOUGHT BY JACKIE KENNEDY. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE ITEM IN MY COLLECTION. IT WOULD SELL FOR $100,000 TO $250,000, AT LEAST. >> Narrator: BUT FOR RON, HIS SPENDING DIDN'T STOP THERE. RON FIRST SAW THIS CAR WHEN HE WAS 13 AND PINED FOR IT FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS BEFORE HE BOUGHT IT ONLINE FOR $20,000. IT IS NOW WORTH OVER $65,000. >> THIS IS JOHN F. KENNEDY'S LIMOUSINE. THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF HIS LIFE, HE RODE IN THIS WHEN HE WENT TO MILITARY BASES. >> SOMETIMES MY DAD GOES TO SCHOOL, AND HE PICKS MY SISTER AND I UP WITH THE LIMOUSINE, AND I SOMETIMES JUST, LIKE, LIKE TO HIDE. BUT, YEAH, IT DEFINITELY CATCHES PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. >> Narrator: IN ADDITION TO USING THE PRESIDENTIAL LIMO FOR DAILY ERRANDS AND PICKING UP THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL, ON WEEKENDS, RON DRESSES THE CAR UP... AND HAS THE FAMILY DRESS UP, TOO... >> WE LIKE TO DRESS UP LIKE THE KENNEDYS AND GO IN THE KENNEDY LIMOUSINE AND HAVE FUN. >> Narrator: ...SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY FEEL PRESIDENTIAL. >> IT'S QUITE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREETS OF LONGVIEW AND PEOPLE TURN THEIR HEADS ANYWHERE YOU GO. I THINK "OBSESSION" VERSUS "AVID COLLECTOR" IS JUST LIKE "INSANE" VERSUS "SANE." IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE SOMETIMES. >> Narrator: RON'S COLLECTION HAS GROWN TOO LARGE FOR THEIR HOME, SO HE AND LAURA ARE CONSIDERING MOVING, BUT HOW WILL HIS EXTRAVAGANT ADDITION AFFECT THEIR ASKING PRICE OF THEIR HOUSE? >> THIS REALLY IS THE OVAL OFFICE, ISN'T IT? >> Narrator: RON WADE'S SPRAWLING COLLECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORABILIA IS VALUED AROUND $500,000. IT'S A COLLECTION THAT MIGHT FIT COMFORTABLY IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH ITS 132 ROOMS. BUT RON HAS NINE ROOMS, INCLUDING HIS CUSTOM-BUILT REPLICA OF THE OVAL OFFICE. AND FOR THIS COLLECTOR, THE HIGH OF A GREAT FIND IS ADDICTIVE. >> AN OBSESSED COLLECTOR, THAT'S ALL THEY EVER DO. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S ME. I'VE NEVER BEEN OBSESSED. I PROBABLY AM ON THE COMPUTER LOOKING AT POLITICAL-CAMPAIGN ITEMS 15 HOURS A DAY. I THINK IT'S A HEALTHY OBSESSION. >> Narrator: RON SPENDS A MINIMUM OF $1,000 EACH WEEK TO BUY UP TO 30 NEW ITEMS, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THIS $250,000 COLLECTION IS STARTING TO TAKE OVER HIS 2,100-SQUARE-FOOT HOME. >> EXCUSE ME. IT'S OVER HERE, BABY. I NEED MY OUTFIT. >> OKAY. >> RON TAKES THINGS TO THE EXTREME. HE LIKES THINGS BIG. I TOLD ONE DAY HIM THE HOUSE IS FULL. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE ROOM FOR ANY MORE FURNITURE. YOU DON'T HAVE NO ROOM FOR PAINTINGS. WE HAVE ENOUGH. >> I THINK SHE KIND OF UNDERSTANDS THAT I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CRAZY. >> Narrator: RON ISN'T AFRAID TO GO AGAINST CONVENTIONAL WISDOM, SO WHILE MOST OF HIS FRIENDS ARE DOWNSIZING, HE'S LOOKING FOR A BIGGER HOME TO MAKE HIS OWN. >> I'D PROBABLY WANT TO START OVER AND REBUILD ANOTHER OVAL OFFICE. AND I'D WANT TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT. >> Narrator: TODAY REALTOR HEATHER KELLY WILL DO A WALK-THROUGH SO SHE CAN PRICE RON'S HOUSE. >> OUR HOUSE IS JUST TOO SMALL, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT UPGRADING. >> HOW MANY SQUARE FEET DOES THE HOUSE HAVE? >> IT STARTED OUT WITH 2,100 SQUARE FOOT. >> Narrator: RON IS HOPING THAT HIS $250,000 ADDITION WILL PAY OFF AND WILL BRING IN ENOUGH CASH TO BUY A ROOMIER HOME WITH A FULL-SCALE OVAL OFFICE. >> WELCOME TO THE OVAL OFFICE! >> OH, MY GOODNESS. THIS REALLY IS THE OVAL OFFICE, ISN'T IT? >> I HOPE IT BOOSTS UP THE VALUE OF THIS HOUSE. >> WELL, IF YOU WANT ME TO BE JUST ABSOLUTELY HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE HERE. >> YEAH. >> THERE IS, AND THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS TRANSLATE INTO MARKET PRICE. WHEN I HEARD FROM RON THAT THIS ADDITION COST HIM ABOUT $250,000, I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED AND SURPRISED. I'M NOT SURE IT'S REALLY GOING TO BRING HIM WHAT HE THINKS IT'S GOING TO BRING HIM. IT COULD POTENTIALLY, DEPENDING ON THE RIGHT BUYER, BRING YOU UPWARDS OF $20,000, $25,000. >> DO YOU KNOW $20,000 IS HOW MUCH THOSE TWO DOORS COST? THAT IS JUST NOT ANYTHING I EXPECTED AT ALL. >> Narrator: THE BOTTOM LINE -- AFTER SINKING $250,000 INTO HIS OWN PERSONAL OVAL OFFICE, TODAY HIS ENTIRE HOUSE IS WORTH $240,000. RON MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO MOVE INTO A BIG HOUSE JUST YET, BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP HIM FROM DREAMING BIG. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A REPRODUCTION OF THE WHITE HOUSE. I MAY HAVE TO DO THAT IN THE NEXT LIFETIME.
