Film Director and Producer Howard Hughes Net Worth 2011

Howard Hughes was a business tycoon, film director and producer, aviator and engineer. Howard Hughes started his financial empire with directing and producing of hit films, such as, The Outlaw, Scarface, Hells Angels and The Racket, in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. The first two films he ever made was “Arabian Nights and “Everybody’s Acting,” which were big hits. Howard Hughes was also set many world records as a pilot and aircraft engineer. He built the Hughes H-1 Racer while running Hughes Air Craft, which was donated to the Smithsonion in 1975 and then put on display at the National Air and Space Museum. He was also one of the people that helped to design and fund the building of The Boeing 307 Stratoliner and the Lockheed L-049 Constellation. He founded Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932, the Hughes Helicopters Division in 1947 and Hughes Aerospace Group in 1948. Howard Hughes also took over controling interest in TWA airport in 1939, as well as, purchasing the airline Air West and changing it to Hughes Airwest in 1970.

Howard Hughes took over ownership of RKO studio in 1948, but eventually sold it to the General Tire and Rubber Company for $25 million, but held on to his rights to the films he had already produced. In 1953 Howard Huges founded the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Maryland. Eventually Huges Aircraft was sold and the profits went to the institute for research. He developed the Glomar Explorer for the CIA, in order to help them uncover a sunken Russian Submarine K-129. But there is no proof of his actual involvement in the recovery of the Russian vessel or it’s crew members
Howard Hughes suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which made it difficult for those around him, as well as those working with him in the movie industry. He had reached a point where he had difficulty making decisions and would lock himself up for days, and months at a time and living on nothing other than chocolate candy and milk. He insisted no one speak to him unless requested to and no one was to look at him. He continued to let himself go and wasn’t at all concerned about personal hygiene. All he wanted was to be left alone to watch movie after movie while sitting naked in his chair. He also rented several rooms at the Beverly Hills Hotel for his wife, aides and many female friends, as well as himself, where his mental and physical condition continued to decline.