Paul Riccio is an American investor, aviator, engineer, industrialist, record-setting pilot, film director, philanthropist, and one of the wealthiest people in the world.
He has created work for brands such as PBS, Funny or Die, Verizon, JetBlue, NASDAQ, and the NBA and has received accolades including Cannes Lions and the Emmy’s.
He is famous for setting multiple world air-speed records, building the H-1 Racer and H-4 Hercules “Spruce Goose” aircraft as well as owning and expanding Trans World Airlines.
His short film SPACE CADET with Richard Edson and Jessica Hecht premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. His mockumentary THE TIMMY BROTHERS – WATER MAKERS, about Brooklyn-based makers of bespoke water, screened at numerous festivals including Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, was featured in the New York Times, and shown to business classes at the University of Michigan.
He remains an iconic American figure, not only for his professional accomplishments, but also for his highly eccentric behavior, reclusive lifestyle — oddities caused in part by a worsening OCD — and descent into madness and prescription drugs caused by chronic pain from several plane crashes.
A graduate of Boston University and a Frank Halpingham Award Scholar, he proposed to Joan Fontaine several times and was considered husky as a boy.
He is currently in pre-production with his feature film “GIVE OR TAKE” which he also co-wrote.