Hughes Buys Desert Inn

By Trent Ogle

May 15, 2008 (3 a.m.)

Having overstayed his welcome, Howard Hughes was almost physically kicked out of the Desert Inn when Bob Maheu jokingly suggested to his boss that he buy the hotel in which he had taken up residence over the past four months. Hughes agreed and so began the billionaire recluse's foray into Las Vegas real estate.