Question from Caycee L.:
I was watching that movie “The Aviator” about Howard Hughes. It looks like he was really smart, and he definitely did a lot for the aviation world, but also alot of his inventions failed. Do you know how many of his inventions received patents?
Howard Hughes formed the Hughes Aircraft Corporation to pursue his interest in aviation. Hughes Aircraft has 6054 U.S. patents.
The basis of Howard Hughes’ fortune was patents held by his father Howard Hughes Sr. On August 10, 1909, Howard Hughes Sr. was granted U.S. Patent 930,758 and U.S. Patent 930,759 for a two-cone roller bit. His bit allowed for drilling for oil in previously inaccessible places
Howard Hughes Jr.’s father passed away when he was only 18 and he acquired 75% of the Hughes Tool Company. Hughes took this inheritance worth one million dollars and turned into a two billion dollar fortune thanks in part to patent rights.