Ron Sturgeon offers mansions to families whose homes were destroyed in Texas tornadoes
Millionaire businessman Ron Sturgeon has offered two mansions to families whose homes were destroyed by tornadoes in Texas for just $1 a month
A millionaire businessman has offered to give two of his mansions to families whose homes were destroyed by recent tornadoes in Texas for just $1 a month.
Ron Sturgeon, who is worth an estimated $75million, urged families whose lives were torn apart by the recent tornadoes and storms to contact him so he could help them out in their hour of need.
The two houses - collectively worth $3.5million - are empty and up for sale, and one has a 10-car garage and a swimming pool.
The generous Texan, 61, wrote on his Facebook page: 'Does anyone have friends or relatives that lost their home in Garland or other city that needs housing?
'I have a 10,000sf home in Colleyville (empty for sale) that I will loan to someone to stay in for up to 3 months. And an extra car they can use. No charge.
'The home is big enough for 2 families. The home is pet friendly with a 10 car garage to store belongings in.'
Around 10,000 people have shared the post and scores of people are have commented, suggesting friends who lost their possessions in the storms.
Mr Sturgeon, who was in Jamaica on vacation when tornadoes struck north Texas last week but saw the devastation when he returned, later offered a second home and said two families could also stay there.
The millionaire, who made his money scrapping cars and still owns commercial and industrial properties, told the Dallas Morning News that he felt he had no choice but to offer what help he could.
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Share'I was just thinking how lucky I was to have two big houses sitting vacant,' he said. 'Maybe somebody could use those while they were having their houses rebuilt.'
He added to NewsFix: 'I was just thinking about having those two big homes. We’ve got them listed for sale, and it doesn’t make sense for them to be vacant when somebody could be using them that obviously would have a great need.'
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The two houses - collectively worth $3.5million - are empty and up for sale, and one has a 10-car garage and a swimming pool
Generous Texan: Mr Sturgeon offered a second home and said two families could also stay there
Luxury: One of the houses comes with a swimming pool and a garden with an acre of land
Mr Sturgeon offered the free use of a car to families who need his help while their homes are rebuilt
One of the bedrooms comes with four bedrooms and the other comes with five, making plenty of room for at least four families
Mr Sturgeons is taking applications for the homes (pictured) on a first-come first-served basis and is taking submissions from anyone who lost their home in the tornadoes
One of the homes is valued at $1.9million and comes with four bedrooms, an acre of land, a large garage and a swimming pool.
The other five-bed property, valued at $1.6million, is in another affluent area of the town. Mr Sturgeon is also offering the use of the car and is happy to help temporarily house pets.
He is taking applications on a first-come first-served basis and is taking submissions from anyone who lost their home in the tornadoes, can pass a background check and has a decent credit score. All Mr Sturgeon will ask for is $1 a month.
Dozens of homes were flattened by last week's tornado, as well as half of an elementary school.
The millionaire is known for his eccentric acts and made headlines in 2014 for hiring a social media expert to post Facebook, Twitter and blog updates about his dogs.
Mr Sturgeon paid an employee $45 an hour to make online posts about his King Charles Cavaliers Willy, Dixie and Lance.
Dozens of homes were flattened by last week's tornado, as well as half of an elementary school
Destruction: Families were made homeless by the tornadoes that ravaged north Texas in December
Ron Sturgeon is worth an estimated $75million and made his money in the car scrapping business
HOW TO CONTACT MR STURGEON
Mr Sturgeon encouraged families to contact his assistant, Jennifer, at jenniferk@rdsinvestments, or 817-999-0980.
All applicants must have a credit score of at least 700, must pass a background check and must also prove their home was destroyed.
The millionaire made his money in the auto salvage trade, starting up a company after leaving high school in 1978.
He was left homeless when his dad died but now has a fortune of around $75million.
Mr Sturgeon sold his chain of car yards to Ford in 1999 for upwards of $20million before buying it back from the car company for a profit years later. He later sold the business again for $23.5million.
In between those deals, he worked for Ford and started a successful auto auction for insurers, which won him even more millions.
He also collects toy and adult-sized cars. He displays many of his 3,000 toys at one of his Texas offices.
In 2013, Sturgeon published a sex and relationship advice book called Men are Pigs: And That's a Good Thing, in which he describes how he applies his keen business sense to women in order to become a 'sex whisperer'.
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