Who wants to be a billionaire? We might dream of extreme wealth, but the fate of America’s once-richest man suggests it can have damaging consequences.

Howard Hughes seemed to have it all: mountains of money, myriad talents and movie star looks. Yet he died an emaciated recluse, hiding away from a world he couldn’t trust and consumed by the same obsessive personality that drove him to succeed in everything from aviation to the film industry.

Read on to learn about the extraordinary life and legacy of Howard Hughes, one of America’s most enigmatic figures. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars.