Heir to a family fortune made in drill bits and other tools, Howard Hughes parlayed this fortune into successful aviation and film projects. As head of Hughes Aircraft Company, he set a speed record in 1935 and completed an around-the-world flight in 1938, also in record time. He invested in a variety of interests, including Trans World and Northwest Airlines and Las Vegas land deals. In later life, Hughes became something of an eccentric recluse, refusing to appear in public after 1950.

Hughes Breaks the Speed Record