Howard Hughes Jr.

The exact day and birthplace of Howard Hughes is uncertain. His birth date ranges from 1901-1905, while the birthplace for all dates are in Texas. His mother was Allene Stone Gano, who was believed to be related to the Queen of England. His father, Howard R. Hughes Sr. was the inventor of the two headed drill bit that is used on drilling rigs. Howard's parents both had passed by the time he was 19 years old, leaving him three-fourths of his father's fortune.

A year after his father's death, Howard dropped out of college and married Ella Botts Rice in June of 1925. Shortly after getting married Howard moved out west to make movies. His first two films were a success which in turn won him the Academy Award for Best Director. Winning this award also made him the first to do so. After Hollywood, Howard moved on to aviation where he set many records including a coast to coast flight of seven hours, twenty-eight minutes and twenty-five seconds.

Toward the end of his life, Howard began to show the calling cards of mental illness. He also was feeling the many plane crashes of his youth. Howard became addicted to pain killers and developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Howard Hughes Jr. spent his last years bouncing from hotel to hotel and died on April 5, 1976. Where he died has been argued about whether it was on a plane or in a hotel in the Bahamas. Eventually, his estate was split up among his cousins.