Webhow the aeronautical exploits of the late billionaire oddball howard hughes inspired watchmaker longines. Webin the 1970's, clifford irving conned the world into thinking he had secretly worked with the notoriously reclusive billionaire howard hughes on his autobiography. But who was he really? Webreclusive billionaire industrialist howard hughes in a 1947 photo (left) and in 1972 (right), which was taken in vancouver, british columbia, and is believed to be. Webwhen he passed away on august 16, 1976, billionaire financier howard hughes was considered the world's most mysterious man. Rumors abounded about the strange way. Weba shreveport times article from mar. 24, 1945, explains that police eyed a man who was walking down milam street with a milk bottle under one arm.