Howard Hughes

Template:Infobox person

Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, aviator, and investor who became one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world during his lifetime. Rising from inherited wealth, Hughes built a diverse business empire spanning aviation, motion pictures, real estate, and defense contracting, while simultaneously setting world aviation records and producing controversial Hollywood films. His later years were marked by increasingly severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain from aviation accidents, and reclusive behavior that transformed him into one of the twentieth century's most mysterious figures.

As a film producer in the late 1920s and 1930s, Hughes created lavish, controversial productions including Hell's Angels (1930), Scarface (1932), and The Outlaw (1943). He acquired RKO Pictures in 1948, becoming the first sole owner of a major Hollywood studio since the silent-film era. In aviation, Hughes founded Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932 and spent two decades setting multiple world air speed records, building landmark aircraft including the Hughes H-1 Racer and the massive Hughes H-4 Hercules (the "Spruce Goose"). He acquired and expanded Trans World Airlines into a major international carrier. During his final years, Hughes extended his financial empire to include major hotels, casinos, and real estate in Las Vegas, transforming the city while living as a recluse in the Desert Inn penthouse. His $2.5 billion fortune at death (equivalent to approximately $11 billion today) was eventually divided among 22 cousins after a lengthy legal battle over his estate.

Early Life and Family Background

Texas Origins and Family Heritage

Howard Robard Hughes Jr. was born on December 24, 1905, in Houston, Texas (though his baptismal certificate lists September 24, 1905, with no place of birth specified). He was the only child of Howard R. Hughes Sr. (1869–1924) and Allene Stone Gano (1883–1922). The family had English, Welsh, and some French Huguenot ancestry.

Hughes had notable family connections that reflected his privileged background. His uncle was Rupert Hughes, the famed novelist, screenwriter, and film director. Through John Gano, a minister who allegedly baptized George Washington, Hughes was a distant cousin of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who invented the first successful airplane—a connection that seems almost predestined given Hughes' later aviation achievements.

The Hughes Tool Company Fortune

The foundation of the Hughes family fortune was Howard R. Hughes Sr.'s invention of the two-cone roller bit in 1909. This revolutionary tool allowed rotary drilling for petroleum in previously inaccessible rock formations, transforming the oil industry. The senior Hughes made the shrewd decision to commercialize the invention by leasing the bits rather than selling them, creating an ongoing revenue stream that generated enormous wealth.

Hughes Sr. obtained several early patents and founded the Hughes Tool Company in 1909 to manufacture and lease the drilling bits. By the time Howard Jr. came of age, the tool company had established a near-monopoly in its field, generating the wealth that would finance all of Howard Jr.'s later ventures.

Childhood and Early Interests

From a young age, Hughes showed remarkable interest in science and technology, displaying engineering aptitude that would characterize his career. At age 11, he built Houston's first "wireless" radio transmitter. He became one of the first licensed ham-radio operators in Houston, with the assigned callsign W5CY (originally 5CY). At 12, Hughes was photographed for the local newspaper as the first boy in Houston to have a "motorized" bicycle, which he had assembled from parts of his father's steam engine.

Hughes was an indifferent student academically, though he showed aptitude for mathematics, flying, and mechanics. He took his first flying lesson at age 14, beginning a lifelong passion for aviation. His formal education included Fessenden School in Massachusetts (1921), a brief period at The Thacher School, and courses in mathematics and aeronautical engineering at California Institute of Technology. The house where Hughes lived as a teenager at 3921 Yoakum Boulevard in Houston still stands.

Orphaned and Emancipated

Hughes experienced tragedy in rapid succession during his late teenage years. His mother Allene died in March 1922 from complications of an ectopic pregnancy. His father died of a heart attack in 1924. These losses, occurring when Hughes was still a teenager, apparently inspired him to include the establishment of a medical research laboratory in the will he signed in 1925 at age 19.

Howard Sr.'s will had not been updated since Allene's death, and Hughes Jr. inherited 75 percent of the family fortune. On his 19th birthday, Hughes was declared an emancipated minor, enabling him to take full control of his life and the family business. With this independence and substantial inherited wealth, the young Hughes set out to make his mark.

Film Career

Early Hollywood Ventures

Shortly after gaining control of his inheritance, Hughes married Ella Botts Rice in 1925 and the couple moved to Los Angeles, where Hughes hoped to make a name for himself as a filmmaker. He installed himself at the Ambassador Hotel and began learning to fly while simultaneously producing his first motion picture.

His initial effort, Swell Hogan, was such a disaster that after hiring an editor to try to salvage it, Hughes ordered the film destroyed. However, his next two productions achieved success: Everybody's Acting (1926) and Two Arabian Knights (1927), the latter winning the first Academy Award for Best Director of a comedy picture. The Racket (1928) and The Front Page (1931) also received Academy Award nominations.

Hell's Angels

Hughes' most ambitious early production was the aerial combat film Hell's Angels (1930), on which he spent an unprecedented $3.5 million. The film required years of production and extensive aerial footage featuring dozens of vintage aircraft. Hughes personally directed many of the dangerous flying sequences, and several pilots died during production.

When the film neared completion as a silent picture, Hughes decided to reshoot it entirely as a talking picture, requiring replacement of the lead actress because her accent was unsuitable for sound. The resulting film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography and established Hughes' reputation as a producer willing to spend whatever necessary to achieve his vision.

Scarface and Other Productions

Hughes produced another hit with Scarface (1932), a gangster film that faced significant delays from censors concerned about its violence. The film, loosely based on Al Capone, became influential in establishing the gangster genre and demonstrated Hughes' willingness to challenge censorship standards.

The Outlaw (1943) premiered years before its national release in 1946, generating controversy over Jane Russell's revealing costumes and Hughes' aggressive publicity campaign focusing on her figure. The film became as famous for its censorship battles as for its content.

RKO Pictures

In 1948, Hughes gained control of RKO Pictures, then recognized as one of Hollywood's Big Five studios, by acquiring 929,000 shares owned by Floyd Odlum's Atlas Corporation for $8,825,000. Within weeks of taking control, Hughes dismissed 700 employees. Production plummeted from RKO's previous average of 30 films per year to just 9 during Hughes' first year of ownership.

Hughes' management of RKO was marked by paranoid political investigations of employees during the Red Scare era, extensive interference in productions, and general chaos. If he felt that stars did not properly represent his political views or if a film's anti-communist message was insufficiently clear, he would halt production.

By the end of 1954, Hughes had gained near-total control of RKO at a cost of nearly $24 million, becoming the first sole owner of a major Hollywood studio since the silent-film era. Six months later, he sold the studio to General Tire and Rubber Company for $25 million, walking away with an estimated $6.5 million in personal profit despite the studio's decline. This marked the effective end of Hughes' 25-year involvement in motion pictures.

Aviation Career

Hughes Aircraft Company

In 1932, Hughes founded the Hughes Aircraft Company as a division of Hughes Tool Company, initially operating from a rented corner of a Lockheed Aircraft Corporation hangar in Burbank, California. The company's first major project was building the Hughes H-1 Racer. Hughes' dedication to aviation was so intense that he briefly took a job as a baggage handler for American Airlines under the alias "Charles Howard," eventually being promoted to co-pilot before his true identity was discovered.

During and after World War II, Hughes transformed Hughes Aircraft into a major defense contractor. The company manufactured spacecraft, military aircraft, radar systems, electro-optical systems, the first working laser, aircraft computer systems, missile systems, ion-propulsion engines, commercial satellites, and other advanced technology. In 1953, Hughes donated all his stock in Hughes Aircraft to the newly formed Howard Hughes Medical Institute, converting the defense contractor into a tax-exempt charitable organization.

Aviation Records

Hughes' personal flying achievements were remarkable. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, he set multiple world records:

On September 13, 1935, flying the Hughes H-1 Racer he had commissioned, Hughes set the landplane airspeed record of 352 mph over a test course near Santa Ana, California. This marked the last time in history that an aircraft built by a private individual would set the world airspeed record.

On January 19, 1937, flying the same H-1 Racer fitted with longer wings, Hughes set a new transcontinental airspeed record by flying non-stop from Los Angeles to Newark in 7 hours, 28 minutes, and 25 seconds, beating his own previous record.

On July 14, 1938, Hughes completed a flight around the world in just 91 hours (3 days, 19 hours, 17 minutes), beating the previous record by almost four days. For this flight, he piloted a Lockheed 14 Super Electra equipped with the latest navigation technology. New York City gave him a ticker-tape parade, transforming the previously relatively obscure heir into a national hero.

Hughes received numerous aviation honors including the Harmon Trophy (1936 and 1938), the Collier Trophy (1938), and the Congressional Gold Medal (1939) "in recognition of the achievements of Howard Hughes in advancing the science of aviation and thus bringing great credit to his country throughout the world."

The Spruce Goose

Hughes' most famous aircraft was the Hughes H-4 Hercules, nicknamed the "Spruce Goose" by critics (though it was actually made largely of birch, not spruce). Originally contracted with Henry Kaiser to transport troops and equipment across the Atlantic as an alternative to ships vulnerable to German U-boats, the massive flying boat was not completed until after World War II.

The Hercules was the largest flying boat ever built and had the longest wingspan of any aircraft from its construction until 2019 (319 feet, 11 inches). Because wartime restrictions prohibited use of aluminum, Hughes constructed it primarily of wood. The aircraft flew only once, on November 2, 1947, with Hughes at the controls—traveling one mile at 70 feet above the water.

The H-4 became the subject of 1947 Senate War Investigating Committee hearings, where Hughes was questioned about why $22 million had produced only two prototypes of another aircraft, the XF-11, and why the H-4 development had been so troubled. Hughes famously turned the tables on his chief interrogator, Senator Owen Brewster, and the hearings were widely interpreted as a Hughes victory.

Near-Fatal Crash

On July 7, 1946, Hughes nearly died while performing the first test flight of the XF-11 reconnaissance aircraft near Los Angeles. An oil leak caused one of the contra-rotating propellers to reverse pitch, and the aircraft lost altitude rapidly. Hughes attempted to land at the Los Angeles Country Club golf course but crashed in a Beverly Hills neighborhood, destroying three houses.

Hughes sustained severe injuries: a crushed collar bone, multiple cracked ribs, a crushed chest with collapsed left lung (which shifted his heart to the right side of his chest cavity), and numerous third-degree burns. His recovery was considered almost miraculous. Marine Master Sergeant William L. Durkin rescued Hughes from the burning wreckage.

The crash had lasting consequences beyond physical injury. Hughes developed a trademark mustache afterward to hide a scar on his upper lip. Many attribute his long-term dependence on opiates to his use of codeine as a painkiller during recovery from this accident.

Trans World Airlines

Building a Major Carrier

Hughes acquired significant stock in Trans World Airlines (TWA) beginning in the late 1930s, eventually owning the airline outright. By 1944, he had acquired 45 percent of the stock, and TWA became his "favorite possession." Hughes made significant contributions to the airline, including introducing the highly successful Lockheed L-049 Constellation.

Under Hughes' ownership, TWA developed into a major international carrier with exclusive foreign and domestic routes. However, his management style—marked by secrecy, interference in operations, and delayed decisions—created ongoing conflicts with airline management and regulators.

Forced Sale

In 1966, Hughes was forced by a U.S. Federal Court to sell his TWA shares due to concerns over conflicts of interest with Hughes Aircraft, which supplied aviation equipment. The forced sale netted Hughes a profit of $547 million—an enormous sum that substantially increased his already vast fortune. Hughes later acquired Air West, renaming it Hughes Airwest.

Las Vegas Empire

Desert Inn Purchase

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1966, Hughes arrived in Las Vegas by railroad car, traveling under cover of darkness. He moved into the top two floors of the Desert Inn on the Las Vegas Strip. When the hotel's management grew irritated by his extended stay and wanted the rooms for high-rolling gamblers, Hughes simply purchased the entire hotel for $13.25 million rather than leave.

Over the following four years, Hughes extended his financial empire throughout Las Vegas, spending an estimated $300 million to acquire hotels, casinos, real estate, and media outlets. His purchases included the Sands, Frontier, Silver Slipper, Castaways, Landmark, and Harold's Club in Reno. He also purchased a television station reportedly because he suffered from insomnia and wanted control over late-night programming.

Transforming Las Vegas

Hughes became one of the most powerful men in Nevada and the state's largest private employer. He is credited with transforming Las Vegas from its Wild West and Mafia-connected roots into a more refined cosmopolitan city. By purchasing properties from organized crime figures and bringing legitimate corporate practices to the gaming industry, Hughes helped change Las Vegas's image and attract mainstream investment.

Remarkably, Hughes accomplished all of this during the four years he spent at the Desert Inn without ever leaving his suite. His business was conducted entirely through a small group of Mormon aides who served as intermediaries with the outside world.

Personal Life

Marriages

Hughes was married twice. His first marriage was to Ella Botts Rice in 1925. She was the daughter of David Rice, great-niece of William Marsh Rice for whom Rice University was named. The couple moved to Los Angeles, where Hughes pursued his film career, but after four years of marriage, Ella returned to Houston and filed for divorce in 1929.

After years as one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors, Hughes married actress Jean Peters in 1957. Their marriage was unconventional from the start—they lived separately much of the time, and Hughes' increasing reclusiveness made normal marital relations impossible. They divorced in 1971. Peters was reportedly "the only woman he ever loved," and Hughes had his employees monitor her activities for years after their divorce.

Hollywood Relationships

During the 1930s and 1940s, Hughes was one of Hollywood's most famous romantic figures, linked to numerous actresses and starlets. His most significant relationship was with Katharine Hepburn, with whom he lived beginning in 1938. The relationship ended when Hepburn discovered his continued involvement with other women including Ginger Rogers and Olivia de Havilland. However, Hughes helped finance the Broadway production of The Philadelphia Story that relaunched Hepburn's career.

Hughes also pursued Ava Gardner obsessively for years. Gardner later said she "couldn't get rid of him for fifteen years." Other women linked to Hughes included Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine, Gene Tierney, and many contract actresses at RKO.

Golf and Early Interests

As a young man, Hughes was a proficient and enthusiastic golfer, playing to a two-three handicap during his 20s and briefly considering a professional golf career. He frequently played with top professionals including Gene Sarazen. However, injuries from his various aircraft accidents eventually made golf impossible.

Mental Illness and Decline

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Hughes suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that worsened dramatically throughout his life. His symptoms included extreme fear of germs and contamination, elaborate cleaning rituals, and increasingly bizarre behaviors.

During his Desert Inn years, Hughes had the windows darkened to block all light. He often sat naked in his chair or lay in bed, refusing to bathe for months. He demanded that his aides use Kleenex tissues or paper towels to hand him objects. Piles of tissue boxes surrounded him, and he famously wore tissue boxes on his feet. He would have his hair and nails cut only once a year, resulting in the unkempt appearance visible in rare photographs from this period.

Physical Deterioration

The chronic pain from Hughes' 1946 XF-11 crash led to long-term dependence on codeine and other painkillers. Combined with his OCD rituals, increasing deafness, and malnutrition from his restrictive eating habits, Hughes' physical condition deteriorated dramatically.

His teeth rotted away due to neglect. His famous six-foot-four frame, once robust and athletic, eventually weighed only 90 pounds. By his final years, Hughes had become virtually unrecognizable even to people who had known him in his prime.

The Final Years

On Thanksgiving Day 1970—exactly four years after arriving—Hughes was secretly carried out of the Desert Inn on a stretcher and flown to the Bahamas. He would never return to Nevada. For his remaining years, he moved between various hotel penthouses in the Bahamas, Nicaragua, Vancouver, London, and finally Acapulco, Mexico, always accompanied by his Mormon aides and always maintaining complete seclusion.

Death and Estate

Death

Howard Hughes died on April 5, 1976, aboard a Learjet en route from Acapulco to Methodist Hospital in Houston, where he was being taken for urgent medical treatment. The cause of death was kidney failure. He was 70 years old.

The FBI had to use fingerprints to conclusively identify the body because Hughes had become virtually unrecognizable. His hair, beard, fingernails, and toenails had grown extremely long, and his tall frame weighed barely 90 pounds.

Estate Battle

Hughes died without a valid will, despite his vast fortune. He had no children, no siblings, and no close living relatives. Over 400 people came forward claiming portions of his estate, including a gas station attendant in Nevada who claimed Hughes had promised him $150 million after supposedly picking up a lost and disheveled Hughes and driving him to the Desert Inn.

Several wills were produced, all eventually determined to be fraudulent. After lengthy litigation, a judge declared Hughes intestate and divided the approximately $2.5 billion estate among 22 cousins. The value was equivalent to roughly $11 billion in today's dollars.

Legacy

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Hughes' most enduring philanthropic legacy is the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which he established in 1953 using profits from Hughes Aircraft. When Hughes donated his Hughes Aircraft stock to HHMI, he converted the defense contractor into a tax-exempt charitable organization.

After Hughes' death and the subsequent sale of Hughes Aircraft to General Motors for $5.2 billion in 1985, HHMI became one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the United States. As of recent years, HHMI has an endowment exceeding $22 billion, making it the second-wealthiest philanthropic organization in America, funding extensive biological and medical research.

Cultural Impact

Hughes' extraordinary life has inspired numerous books, films, and cultural references. The 2004 film The Aviator, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes, won five Academy Awards and renewed public fascination with Hughes' story. The film focused on his aviation achievements and early struggles with OCD.

Business Legacy

Hughes' business empire ultimately dispersed after his death, but its components had lasting impact. Hughes Aircraft's technologies contributed to numerous advances in aerospace and electronics. The sale of Hughes' TWA stock in 1966 established precedents for antitrust considerations in conglomerate ownership. His Las Vegas investments helped legitimize and transform the gaming industry.

Aviation Pioneer

Hughes was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973 and was included in Flying magazine's 2013 list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation, ranked at number 25. His aviation records, particularly the 1938 round-the-world flight, demonstrated that long-distance air travel was practical and helped advance public acceptance of commercial aviation.

The Hughes H-1 Racer's design innovations—retractable landing gear and flush-set rivets—are thought to have influenced World War II fighter designs including the Mitsubishi Zero and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. The H-1 was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1975.

References

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