The Madness of Howard Hughes
How did a billionaire vanish in plain sight?
4.7 (35)
47 mins
Explore how aviation pioneer and industrialist Howard Hughes transformed from a famous public figure into a complete recluse. Discover the extreme measures he used to run an enormous business empire from a sealed hotel suite. Learn about the severe psychological decline and intense fear of contamination that defined his final years.
Ep 1:
The Man Who Vanished in Plain Sight
A morgue can't identify the richest man in America. We trace Howard Hughes from a father's drill bit and a mother's fear to the inheritance that gave him unlimited power and no one to stop him.
Ep 2:
Speed, Scandal, and the Spruce Goose
Hughes conquers Hollywood with burned films and scandalous stars, then shatters aviation records as the world's fastest flyer—until a catastrophic 1946 crash plants the seeds of his unraveling.
Ep 3:
Locked In: The Billionaire Who Disappeared
Behind locked doors and sealed windows, obsession swallows the man whole—four months hidden in darkness, then a secret stretcher ride to Las Vegas where he buys an empire he never sees.
Ep 4:
The Phantom Billionaire's Final Reckoning
Exiled abroad and vanishing from view, Hughes becomes a ghost exploited by hoaxers and spies alike—until his lonely death unleashes chaos over a fortune with no will and no heir.
Discussions (5)
Herman
Level 3 · 1 week agoHughes bought a whole casino just to unplug a sign lmaooo
Ellis
Level 2 · 1 week agoHughes watched Ice Station Zebra 150+ times confirmed by multiple aides
Sebastian
Level 8 · 1 week agoHughes's round-the-world record was 3 days, 19 hours, 14 minutes in 1938. Wiley Post's 1933 record was just under 8 days. That math checks out. He more than halved it.
