Howard Hughes Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

A famous aviator, film producer, entrepreneur and most of all a philanthropist by the name Howard Hughes was born on December 24th, 1905. He was born in Houston, Texas, United States of America. His family was very successful in oil tool business, and he ended up inheriting the family business. With enough financial muscles, began investing in films. This famous personality died on 5th April 1976.

Early Life

A famous aviator and film producer, Howard Robard Hughes Jr., was born on December 24th, 1905. He was born in Houston, Texas United States of America. Coming from a well-established family with enough financial muscles, Howard Hughes became one of the wealthiest men and was widely known for that. He was also one of the most famous recluses.

Filming

Howard Hughes came from a wealthy family that dealt in oil-drill tool manufacturing. He inherited this business from the family at a tender age of 18 years in 1923. Since finance was never a challenge, he began using a part of his fortune to finance films three years after inheriting the business in 1926. He went on to produce several movies some of them being the World War I epic Hell’s Angels of 1930. This movie had expensive aerial fight sequences and actress Jean Harlow who was not known then in the industry. Some of his other valuable films include; Scarface of 1932 and The Outlaw of 1941.

Flight

Howard Hughes got very interested in flying of aircrafts which led him to found his own aircraft company in the 1930s. He got himself into designing and building planes which were driven by his interest in the aircrafts. He took several risks of life in trying to test the airplanes and setting world air speed records. He did this between the mid and late 1930s.

Howard Hughes made several aviation innovations such as the first retractable landing gear. He will also be remembered for the H-4 Hercules which was nicknamed as the Spruce Goose by the press. It was a massive wooden plane intended to ferry troops and materials across the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.

Recluse /Isolation

Howard Hughes began to withdraw from the world in 1946 after suffering from a terrible plane crash.

He went on to buy the RKO pictures in 1948 without visiting the studio. He decided to live and conduct business from the top floor of the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada from his hotel suite. This was in the 1960s, and very few people ever saw him, leading to much rumors and speculation of his activities. It was speculated that he suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder and also had a drug problem. He later came to leave Las Vegas and lived abroad.

An allegedly authorized biography of Howard Hughes’ recluse was announced in 1972, but it turned out to be a scam.

Personal Life

Howard Hughes developed a reputation for being a playboy during his time at Hollywood. He dated Katherine Hepburn, Ava Gardner, and Ginger Rogers.

Death

Howard Hughes died on April 5th, 1976. After his death, several versions of his will came into the picture over his fortune.