Howard Hughes

Date of Birth: December 24, 1905

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: April 5, 1976

Biography

Howard Robard Hughes Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, aerospace engineer, film director, and philanthropist, born on December 24, 1905, in Houston, Texas. He was one of the wealthiest individuals of his time and a significant figure in various industries, ranging from aviation to entertainment. Hughes took control of Hughes Tool Company after his father’s death and expanded his business empire into numerous sectors. Hughes was also a pioneering aviator who set multiple world airspeed records and founded Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932. He significantly influenced the aviation industry with his innovations and designs. During World War II, his company was involved in producing aircraft for the U.S. military. In Hollywood, Hughes produced and directed numerous films, including the infamous “Hell’s Angels” (1930), which was one of the most expensive movies of its time. His investments in RKO Pictures further cemented his influence in the entertainment industry. Despite his professional success, Hughes’s later years were marked by reclusiveness and deteriorating mental health. He became an eccentric figure, living in near-total isolation, plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic pain from several plane crashes. Hughes died on April 5, 1976, on board an aircraft en route to Houston from his penthouse in Acapulco, Mexico.

5 Interesting Facts about Howard Hughes

1. Howard Hughes once bought an entire hotel to ensure his privacy.

2. He set a world flight airspeed record in 1935, flying at 352 mph.

3. Hughes was instrumental in the development of the H-4 Hercules, also known as the “Spruce Goose,” which had the largest wingspan of any aircraft ever built.

4. He produced the film “The Outlaw” (1943), which was controversial for its provocative content.

5. Hughes was known for his extreme germophobia, which significantly impacted his later life.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Howard Hughes

1. “Do the impossible, because almost everyone has told me my ideas are merely fantasies.”

2. “Every man has his price, or a guy like me couldn’t exist.”

3. “The only time an aircraft has too much fuel on board is when it is on fire.”

4. “I am by nature a perfectionist, and I seem to have trouble allowing anything to go through unless it is perfect.”

5. “Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Howard Hughes’ highest net worth was estimated to be around $1.5 billion at the time of his death in 1976, equivalent to approximately $6.74 billion today when adjusted for inflation.