In a penthouse bedroom in Las Vegas, a solitary man sits in a darkened room. He is eating chicken soup. It has taken him hours to consume half of the bowl as he is glued in front of his private screen watching his collection of old westerns. His aides come and reheat the bowl until there is no more. Once they exit, he covers the entire room with toilet paper in case germs have contaminated the room. Billionaire and business tycoon Howard Hughes has dined for the day. People always say it is good to be rich, however in Howard Hughes’s case it was a blessing and a curse. He lived his early life as a king and died a slave (Nicholas 48). Everything he touched turned into gold, whether it was movies, planes or people (Nicholas 48). Howard Hughes was one of the most successful aviators of his time. His investment in film and Hollywood starlets was legendary as well as his eccentric habits which ultimately led to his demise.
Howard Robert Hughes was born in Huston, Texas in 1905(Moore 92). His father, Robert Hughes, became well known for building oil drilling tools for major corporations such as Standard oil (Nicholas 48). His mother Jane was a frail woman who had a serious case of obsessive compulsive disorder towards hygiene and lived and made her son live in fear of germs for his whole life (Simikin 10). At the age of 52, Robert Hughes died of stomach cancer and left his company to his son Howard (Nicholas 48). Having no interest in the oil machinery business, Howard left the company to his cousins and left Texas.
At the age of 23, Howard Hughes came to Los Angeles, California to pursue his own dream in producing films. He started RKO pictures and produced award winning movies such as Scarface, a movie which was bas on the life of ...
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...close to the man sob because they have just realized that once again ladies and gentlemen, Howard Hughes has left the Building.
Work cited:
Drosnin, Michael. Citizen Hughes.1st ed.1st volume. New York,
NY: Bantam Books, PP6-539
King, Smith. “Aircrafts and Airfacts: Spruce Goose.” Evergreen Aviation.
Michael King Smith, 23/7/2004.Web. 21 Apr 2010. Http://www.sprucegoose.org/aircraft_airfacts/exhibits.html#
Moore, John.”Howard Hughes: a chronology.” Channel 4: History.
Channel 4, 29/3/2007.Web. 21 Apr 2010.Http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/e-h/hughes.html.
Nicholas, Margaret. The world’s wealthiest losers.1st edition. Volume 1.
New York, NY: Bounty Books (15 May 1997), 1997.169pp.
Siskin, John.”Howard Hughes: Biography.”Spartacus Educational. John Siskin,
12/6/2002.Web. 20 Apr 2010. Http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/author.htm.
The article “Luxury Shame,” written by Johnnie Roberts describes how and why the rich are scaling back on their extravagant expenditures. Initially, I was annoyed and shocked at how the very rich were assimilating their unfamiliar experiences of “recessionary times,” with those that experienced the emotions of poverty. Roberts explains the ostentatious life of multimillionaire Michael Hirtenstein, who would routinely and openly show off his profitable real estate collection. After the economy took a turbulent downfall, Hirstenstein and other wealthy Americans began to feel the shame or embarrassment of flaunting their wealth. Despite the “halt” to the economy, Hirstenstein became frugal with his money, even though he could have easily bought whatever he wanted.
The quests for gold at the end of the rainbow, the hopes of thousands to one day live the fabled American Dream. Worldwide, everyone who is capable looks for their chance to strike it rich. Some of the most successful people today, such as Apple’s Steve Jobs and OK! Magazine’s Richard Desmond, have risen from tough backgrounds (Serafina). Growing up in abject poverty, these individuals found ways to push past the glass ceiling in their respective fields. Interestingly, many of them share similar obstacles on their way to the top.
Another questionable hard workingman is that of John Davison Rockefeller. Rockefeller was born in R...
“Herbert already had what he wanted. He had had it long before the inheritance or I intruded. He had the respectability his mother had hammered into him. But just as priceless as that was an income not quite big enough to go around. It left him no alternative but… to play piano in a dive, and breathe smoke, and drink gin, to be
In ?A & P? John Updike gives a story of a man faced with two choices for his life in a seemingly unimportant circumstance. He can stand up for himself and for his rules, as his manager encourages him to do so. But as the story goes, he remains oblivious to the forces at work, and decides to bend his will to three girls in bathing suits, or more generally, to those who have the power and nobility of wealth behind them. Sam makes the wrong choice, and subsequently, makes the rest of his life more difficult, as he admits that he must life his life under another class of people, the wealthy, as though he is less than them. By admitting that he is less than them, Sam has started to live his life not for the happiness he can obtain, but for the wealth he can obtain.
Brian purchased the finest penthouse that his money could buy. After all, “I deserve it”, he would boast to friends. Expensive white Italian silk suits, alligator shoes, and a red Lamborghini sports car with license plates that read “MONEY” were his trademark. His penthouse apartment held a sweeping vista of the city along with elegantly appointed rooms, marble entry, a swimming pool and a sauna. Art work from the masters and rare collections were an impressive site to visitors. Brian had all the latest toys and electronics gadgets a young man could desire. A staff of servants cooked, cleaned and pampered him where ever he desired.
Ronald William Howard was born March 1st, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma. He is the older of two brothers. His parents, Rance Howard his father was an actor, director and writer, his mother Jean Howard was an actress, in 1959 his family relocated to Hollywood. Young Ron quickly joined the family business and his first television role was on an episode of "Playhouse 90" and was followed by an appearance on "The Red Skelton Show." He also was in four episodes of "Denis the Menace" and five shows of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." (Encarta)
In most people's lives, there comes a point in time where their perception changes abruptly; a single moment in their life when they come to a sudden realization. In Langston Hughes' 'Salvation', contrary to all expectations, a young Hughes is not saved by Jesus, but is saved from his own innocence.
...as had a short but unique life and has managed to push himself to attain the success that he always believed he was capable of. Like any other individual’s life he surely has had his ups and downs as everyone else. Within just the first half of his life his father abandoned him and continued to beat his mother, he began both using and dealing drugs, had accidentally shot himself and even had a daughter. The second half was any less eventful then the first. Since his first child he has had three more, picked up a couple more drug habits, has been to prison, attained his GED and has become worth over 100 million dollars.With the many different aspects to both his personality and behavior many different theories from various theorist can be applied to him.
Stanley, Thomas J., and William D Danko. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy. Atlanta, Ga.: Longstreet Press, 1996.
When reading the literature of Langston Hughes, I cant help but feeling energetically charged and inspired. Equality, freedom, empowerment, renaissance, justice and perseverance, are just a taste of the subject matter Hughes offers. He amplifies his voice and beliefs through his works which are firmly rooted in race pride and race feeling. Hughes committed himself both to writing and to writing mainly about African Americans. His early love for the “wonderful world of books” was sparked by loneliness and parental neglect. He would soon lose himself in the works of Walt Whitman, Paul Laurence, Carl Sandburg and other literary greats which would lead to enhancing his ever so growing style and grace of oeuvre. Such talent, character, and willpower could only come from one’s life experiences. Hughes had allot to owe to influences such as his grandmother and great uncle John Mercer Langston - a famous African American abolitionist. These influential individuals helped mold Hughes, and their affect shines brightly through his literary works of art.
James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin , Missouri . His parents divorced when he was a small child, and his father moved to Mexico . He was raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen, when he moved to Lincoln , Illinois , to live with his mother and her husband, before the family eventually settled in Cleveland , Ohio . It was in Lincoln , Illinois , that Hughes began writing poetry. Following graduation, he spent a year in Mexico and a year at Columbia University . During these years, he held odd jobs as an assistant cook, launderer, and a busboy, and travelled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman. In November 1924, he moved to Washington , D.C. Hughes's first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania three years later. In 1930 his first novel, Not Without Laughter, won the Harmon gold medal for literature.
A penny saved may be a penny earned, just as a penny spent may begin to better the world. Andrew Carnegie, a man known for his wealth, certainly knew the value of a dollar. His successful business ventures in the railroad industry, steel business, and in communications earned him his multimillion-dollar fortune. Much the opposite of greedy, Carnegie made sure he had what he needed to live a comfortable life, and put what remained of his fortune toward assistance for the general public and the betterment of their communities. He stressed the idea that generosity is superior to arrogance. Carnegie believes that for the wealthy to be generous to their community, rather than live an ostentatious lifestyle proves that they are truly rich in wealth and in heart. He also emphasized that money is most powerful in the hands of the earner, and not anyone else. In his retirement, Carnegie not only spent a great deal of time enriching his life by giving back; but also often wrote about business, money, and his stance on the importance of world peace. His essay “Wealth” presents what he believes are three common ways in which the wealthy typically distribute their money throughout their life and after death. Throughout his essay “Wealth”, Andrew Carnegie appeals to logos as he defines “rich” as having a great deal of wealth not only in materialistic terms, but also in leading an active philanthropic lifestyle. He solidifies this definition in his appeals to ethos and pathos with an emphasis on the rewards of philanthropy to the mind and body.
People with Obsessive Comlusive disorder see the effects daily, but it doesn't stop them from living a successful life. In Martin Scorcese's film, "The Aviator", a portion of Howard Hughes' life is portrayed accurately. Howard Hughes was a movie director and an aviator. As a film director he produced films such as "Hell's Angels" and "Scarface". As an aviator he bought Trans World Airlines, an aviation company. He set multiple flight speed records and built the world's largest airplane. At one point he was considered the richest man alive.
Sir Richard Branson was Born July 18, 1950 in Surry, England. At a young age what was most significant in Branson’s childhood was his struggle with dyslexia and hard time in educational institutions. He was born to a humble hard working middle class family that put him in It was Branson’s educational struggles that allowed him to persevere in athletics. He was captain of his school football team by the time he reached high school and was very social. He soon found that his academic struggles were due to dyslexia. Although sports became the highlight of Branson’s high school career, he dropped out by the age of 16 due to his struggles in academia. It was his leadership on the football team that served as a landscape for the beginning of his career. After leaving school, Branson started up his first business, which was called Student Magazine. The publication was run by students and sold to students. At the time, it sold 8,000 worth of advertising. In 1969, Mr. Branson was heavily inspired by the British pop scene and started in mail order record company called, “Virgin” to help him fund Student Magazine. The Virgin mail order business performed modestly and Richard expanded the movie from there.