The Downfall of Howard Hughes and His $2.5 Billion Empire of Airplanes and Madness
402K views · May 24, 2026 · Entertainment
Comments · 381
@tpp27 · 4 months ago
In 1972, Howard Hughes sold the oil tool division of the Hughes Tool Company to the public for $150 million. In 1987, that tool division merged with Baker International to form Baker Hughes, a major global oilfield services company that continues to operate today.<br><br>The design principles and innovations born from the Hughes drill bit are still used today, and Baker Hughes remains a top-tier international oil services provider.
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@bwatson7586 · 4 months ago (edited)
He suffered multiple plane crashes with skull fractures, creating a lifetime of chronic pain, likely brain trauma, and years of heavy drug use for pain control, mixed with isolation, OCD, and unlimited wealth and his mental decline becomes far less surprising, plus being surrounded by suss handlers controlling access to one of the most powerful people in the world.
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@wilmothutson1140 · 3 months ago
Sad way for a genius to end his life.😢
34
@DivesAndRides · 3 months ago
My father worked at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City from the early 50’s to the late 70’s. He used to tell the story how he was working late one night he left his office and saw Hughes walking the hallway alone in the near dark.
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@judys6663 · 3 months ago
If only he had someone who really cared
35
@jackjohnsen8506 · 4 months ago
I live in Summerlin Nevada, in a age related development in Nevada 14 miles from the strip, My house was built in 1995, and on land once owned By Hughes. I can see the strip from my back patio, at 3.100 feet in elevation, 1000 feet higher than the strip.Summerlin was the the maiden Name of Hughes mother.
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@DanielDydzak · 3 months ago
I met people who knew him. He was brilliant and mainly sane , unfair how he's portrayed
31
@weirdshibainu · 4 months ago
The man was a billionaire when a billion was a mind numbing number for the average person.
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@macbeavers6938 · 4 months ago
I remember reading that Hughes and his entire entourage waited weeks if not months for clouds to materialize for the flying scenes in Hells Angels. Amazing aspect of that story.
10
@sjr7822 · 4 months ago
Well done. Howard Hughes also invented the "underwire/push-up bra for Jane Russell. In 1941, while directing the film The Outlaw,"
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@macbeavers6938 · 4 months ago
He never flew the Spruce Goose again. He told his confidant Noah that it was a "flying coffin".
13
@40beretta1 · 4 months ago
His Mother was the OG Helicopter Mom....
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