| Howard Hughes autographs are scarce. In 1951, | | | | Hollywood's most glamorous women such as Billie |
| when Howard Hughes autographed | | | | Dove, Ava Gardner, and Kathryn Hepburn. |
| his bank signature card after moving to California, | | | | Hughes founded the Hughes Aircraft Company in |
| he was earning over $2 million a month and would | | | | 1932. The Hughes Aircraft Company produced the |
| soon become one of America's first billionaires. | | | | famous Spruce Goose transport aircarft. Hughes's |
| Although Hughes spent almost no time in Texas after | | | | popularity soared and an alleged autobiography |
| the 1930s, he continued to list it as the location of his | | | | allegedly written with the cooperation of Clifford Irvind |
| permanent residence. | | | | was proven false. While in prison Irving wrote, "it's |
| The foundation of the Hughes fortune was the | | | | harder to get to the Oracle at Delphi than it is |
| Hughes Tool Company in Houston, Texas, founded by | | | | Hughes." Lockheed executive Jack Real was the |
| his father Howard Hughes Sr. After Hughes Sr. died, | | | | only man who came to know Howard Hughes on a |
| his son had the enviable luxury of having a steady | | | | deeply personal level. |
| stream of tremendous income without direct | | | | Hughes founded the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, |
| managerial responsibility. | | | | the largest nonprofit institution in the world until the |
| Hughes moved to southern California and lived briefly | | | | Gates Foundation came into existence. The Hughes |
| with his screenwriter uncle Rupert Hughes. | | | | Research Laboratories in Malibu, California, spawned a |
| Enamored with Hollywood, Hughes financed and | | | | number of useful devices including the laser, invented |
| produced motion pictures, and dated some of | | | | by Ted Maiman in 1960. |
