{{Short description|American businessman (born 1944)}} {{about|the hotel and aerospace entrepreneur|the basketball player|Bob Bigelow}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}} {{use American English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Robert Bigelow | image = Robert Bigelow.jpg | caption = Bigelow in 2011 | birth_name = Robert Thomas Bigelow | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|5|12}} | education = University of Nevada, Reno<br>Arizona State University, Tempe (BA) | occupation = Businessman | spouse = {{marriage|Diane Mona Grammy|1965|2020|end=her death}} | children = 2 }}
'''Robert Thomas Bigelow'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lvhsaa.com/BIGELOW%20BIO.pdf|title=Las Vegas High School Alumni Association: Robert Thomas Bigelow - Class of 1962}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVV9-NVX|title=Nevada Marriage Index|website=FamilySearch}}</ref> (born May 12, 1944) is an American businessman. He owns Budget Suites of America and is the founder of Bigelow Aerospace.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pat |url=https://spacemonitor.blogspot.com/2007/02/money-backing-private-space-industry.html |title=Money Backing the Private Space Industry... Part 3--Robert Bigelow |date=February 11, 2007 |work=The Space Monitor |type=blog |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ewalt |first=David M. |authorlink=David M. Ewalt |date=June 8, 2011 |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0627/features-robert-bigelow-aerospace-real-estate-cosmic-landlord.html |title=Cosmic Landlord |work=Forbes |access-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref>
Bigelow has provided financial support for investigations of UFOs and parapsychological topics, including the continuation of consciousness after death.<ref name="BigelowNYT">{{cite news |last1=Blumenthal |first1=Ralph |title=Buying a peek at the hereafter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/style/robert-bigelow-UFOs-life-after-death.html |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=New York Times |date=24 January 2021}}</ref>
==Early life== Bigelow grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, attended Highland Elementary School. about {{convert|70|mi|km|sigfig=1}} from where nuclear weapons tests were conducted at the Nevada National Security Site nuclear weapons tests, northwest of the city.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mezrich|first=Ben|url={{GBurl|id=1I_tDAAAQBAJ|q=Robert+Bigelow+nuclear+tests|p=141}}|title=The 37th Parallel: The Secret Truth Behind America's UFO Highway|year=2016|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-5011-3552-1|language=en|via=Google Books}}</ref>
He enrolled in the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1962 to study banking and real estate, and he graduated from Arizona State University in 1967.<ref name=bw20130502>{{cite news |last=Higginbotham |first=Adam |title=Robert Bigelow plans a real estate empire in space |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-02/robert-bigelow-plans-a-real-estate-empire-in-space |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503062237/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-02/robert-bigelow-plans-a-real-estate-empire-in-space |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 3, 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2013 |magazine=BusinessWeek |date=May 2, 2013}}</ref>
==Career== ===Real estate=== From the late 1960s<ref name=bw20130502/> through the 1990s, Bigelow developed commercial real estate hotels, motels and apartments.<ref name=lvrj20130310/>
In his real estate career, Bigelow built approximately 15,000 units and purchased another 8,000. For most of his career, he held{{huh|date=April 2026}} on to almost everything he bought, but he did sell before the 2008 financial crisis. In 2013, Bigelow reflected on this: "People just really wanted to throw money away, so that was lucky."<ref name="bw20130502" />
====Budget Suites of America==== Bigelow owns '''Budget Suites of America''', an extended-stay apartment chain founded in 1987.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hennigan|first=W. J. |date=2010-11-26|title=NASA pushes for a green jetliner |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/technology-blog/story/2010-11-26/nasa-pushes-for-a-green-jetliner |access-date=2022-10-26|work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Its rooms are primarily suites featuring a full kitchen. Budget Suites owns three hotels in Phoenix, Arizona; five in Las Vegas, Nevada; ten in Dallas, Texas; and one in San Antonio, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Budget Suites of America|url=http://www.budgetsuites.com/locations.php|access-date=2022-10-26|website=www.budgetsuites.com}}</ref>
===Aerospace=== In 1999, Bigelow founded Bigelow Aerospace.<ref name=sf20060624>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacefellowship.com/News/?p=1596 |title=Bigelow Aerospace; Russian Dnepr rocket to launch a 1/3-scale Genesis model |first=Sigurd |last=De Keyser |work=Space Fellowship News |publisher=International Space Fellowship |date=June 4, 2006 |access-date=March 4, 2010}}</ref>
Bigelow had indicated he planned to spend up to US$500 million to develop the first commercial space station with a goal of the station costing 33% of the US$1.5 billion that NASA expended on a single Space Shuttle mission.<ref>[https://www.space.com/11358-nasa-space-shuttle-program-cost-30-years.html space.com]</ref><ref name=belfiore2007>{{cite book |last1=Belfiore |first1=Michael |title=Rocketeers: how a visionary band of business leaders, engineers and pilots is boldly privatizing space |date=2007 |publisher=Smithsonian Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06-114903-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rocketeershowvis00belf/page/ <!-- use 'rp' template following to allow multiple reference -->] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rocketeershowvis00belf/page/ }}</ref> Bigelow Aerospace has launched two experimental space modules, ''Genesis I'' in 2006 and ''Genesis II'' in 2007, and had planned for full-scale space habitats to be used as orbital hotels, research labs and factories.<ref name="space070628">{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070628_genesis2_update.html |title=Bigelow's second orbital module launches into space |work=Space.com |publisher=Purch |first1=Tariq |last1=Malik |first2=Leonard |last2=David |date=June 28, 2007 |access-date=December 26, 2009}}</ref>
In 2013, Bigelow indicated that the reason he went into the commercial real estate business was to obtain the requisite resources to be able to fund a team developing space destinations.<ref name="lvrj20130310">{{cite news |last=Robison |first=Jennifer |title=Nevadan at work: To the moon and beyond for Las Vegas developer |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/nevadan-work-moon-and-beyond-las-vegas-developer |access-date=June 16, 2014 |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> In October 2017, Bigelow announced that he planned to put an inflatable "space hotel" into orbit by 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cityam.com/274196/beware-vermicious-knids-us-billionaire-wants-launch |title=Beware Vermicious Knids: A US billionaire wants to launch an inflatable space hotel into lunar orbit by 2022 |work=City AM |last1=Haslet |first1=Emma |date=October 19, 2017}}</ref> The plan was part of a partnership with United Launch Alliance, and the project was estimated to cost US$2.3 billion in total. The cost of a three-day stay in this spatial hotel was estimated at 5 million dollars.<ref>Mark Whittington, [https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/543106-will-a-space-hotel-actually-be-open-for-business-in-2027 Will a space hotel actually be open for business in 2027?], ''Thehill.com'', 14 March 2021</ref>
In April 2016, Bigelow's BEAM module was launched to the International Space Station<ref name="lvrj20130310" /> on the eighth SpaceX cargo resupply mission.<ref name="nasa20160408">{{cite web |date=April 8, 2016 |editor-last=Northon |editor-first=Karen |title=NASA Cargo Headed to Space Station Includes Habitat Prototype, Medical Research |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-cargo-headed-to-space-station-includes-habitat-prototype-medical-research |access-date=April 11, 2016 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>
In March 2020, Bigelow Aerospace laid off all 88 members of staff and halted operations after over 20 years of business, in a move that was partially caused by the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-23 |title=Bigelow Aerospace lays off entire workforce |url=https://spacenews.com/bigelow-aerospace-lays-off-entire-workforce/ |access-date=2020-09-23 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>
In March 2021, he sued NASA for US$1.05 million, alleging he was not paid according to contract for product testing and development.<ref>Duncan Phenix, [https://www.8newsnow.com/news/robert-bigelow-comments-on-1-05-million-lawsuit-against-nasa/ Robert Bigelow comments on $1.05 million lawsuit against NASA], ''8newsroom.com'', 30 March 2021</ref>
===Anomalies research=== In 1995, Bigelow founded the National Institute for Discovery Science to fund the research and study of various fringe sciences and paranormal topics, most notably ufology.<ref name="dorio2005">{{cite book |title=Ufology: A Very Short Introduction |publisher=Trafford |location=Victoria, British Columbia |first=Mark |last=Dorio |date=2005 |isbn=1-4120-6473-2}}</ref> The organization researched cattle mutilation and black triangle reports, ultimately attributing the latter to secretive advanced aircraft operated by the military.<ref name="space20040902">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/302-silent-running-black-triangle-sightings-rise.html |title=Silent Running: 'Black Triangle' Sightings on the Rise |work=Space.com |first=Leonard |last=David |date=September 2, 2004 |access-date=June 30, 2007}}</ref> The institute was disbanded in 2004.
In 1996, Bigelow purchased Skinwalker Ranch, a {{convert|512|acre|ha|round=5|adj=on}} cattle ranch located in Utah that is the site of purported paranormal phenomena, such as inter-dimensional shape-shifters,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ewalt |first=David M. |title=Cosmic Landlord |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0627/features-robert-bigelow-aerospace-real-estate-cosmic-landlord.html |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> for $200,000. In 2016, Bigelow sold the ranch to Brandon Fugal for $4 million.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/style/robert-bigelow-UFOs-life-after-death.html |title=Robert Bigelow: Is There Life After Death? |last=Blumenthal |first=Ralph |date=2021-01-21 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2023-10-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In December 2017, Bigelow was reported by the ''New York Times'' to have urged Senator Harry Reid to initiate what became the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, a government study which operated from 2007 to 2012 tasked with the study of UFOs.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Helene |last1=Cooper |first2=Ralph |last2=Blumenthal |first3=Leslie |last3=Kean |title=Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program |date=December 16, 2017 |newspaper=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Bryan |last=Bender |title=The Pentagon's Secret Search for UFOs |newspaper=Politico |date=December 16, 2017 |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/16/pentagon-ufo-search-harry-reid-216111/ }}</ref> According to the ''New York Times'', Bigelow said he was “absolutely convinced” that extraterrestrial life exists and that extraterrestrials have visited Earth.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html |title=Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program |last1=Cooper |first1=Helene |date=2017-12-16 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2017-12-25 |last2=Blumenthal |first2=Ralph |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Kean |first3=Leslie}}</ref>
===Consciousness studies=== In June 2020, Bigelow founded the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) to support investigations into life after death.<ref name="BigelowNYT" /> In January 2021, the institute put up an award of US$1 million asking for essays arguing for existence of a life after death.<ref>George Knapp, [https://wreg.com/news/is-there-life-after-death-businessman-offers-nearly-1-million-to-find-out/ Is there life after death? Businessman offers nearly $1 million to find out], ''Wreg.com'', 23 January 2021</ref> The institute awarded the first-place $500,000 prize to Jeffrey Mishlove, the second-place prize to Pim van Lommel, and the third-place prize to Leo Ruickbie.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bigelowinstitute.org/index.php/essay-contest/ |title=Essay Contest - Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies |author=Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies |work=Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies |date=October 26, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601161043/https://www.bigelowinstitute.org/index.php/essay-contest/ |archivedate=2023-06-01 |accessdate=2023-10-30 }}</ref>
== Personal life == On February 4, 1965, he married Diane Mona Grammy (April 9, 1947 – February 19, 2020) of Camden, New Jersey.<ref name="dignitymemorial">{{cite web |title=OBITUARY Diane Mona Bigelow |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/diane-bigelow-9045811 |website=dignitymemorial.com |access-date=5 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="BigelowNYT" />
They had two children together, Robert Michael "Bobby" Bigelow, and Rod Lee Bigelow.<ref name="dignitymemorial" /> In 1992, Rod Lee Bigelow died by suicide, aged 24.<ref name="Toronto Sun">{{cite news |title=Proving there is life after death, or not, could win you $500K |url=https://torontosun.com/news/weird/proving-there-is-life-after-death-or-not-could-win-you-500k |access-date=5 August 2023 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> In 2011, Robert Bigelow's grandson, Rod Lee Bigelow II, died by suicide, having suffered from drug addiction.<ref name="Toronto Sun" />
Diane Bigelow died on February 19, 2020, of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).<ref name="dignitymemorial" /><ref name="BigelowNYT" />
===Political contributions=== Bigelow has made political donations to conservative Republican candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Casey |title=Nevada billionaire Bigelow opens wallet to back GOP causes here, across U.S. |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/oct/24/politics-nevada-billionaire-bigelow-opens-his-wall/ |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=24 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Golonka |first1=Sean |last2=Snyder |first2=Riley |title=Las Vegas hotel mogul Robert Bigelow spends nearly $50 million to support Lombardo, other Republicans |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/las-vegas-hotel-mogul-robert-bigelow-spends-nearly-50-million-to-support-lombardo-other-republicans |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=The Nevada Independent |date=25 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In July 2022, he donated $10 million to Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, which was the single biggest donation of his re-election bid.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wieder |first1=Ben |title=Birth of a mega-donor: Big DeSantis check part of surge in giving by Robert Bigelow |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article266417946.html |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=Miami Herald |date=3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |last2=Allison |first2=Bill |title=Ron DeSantis's Biggest Donor Is a Budget Hotel Tycoon With a Passion for UFOs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-25/desantis-s-biggest-donor-is-budget-hotel-tycoon-with-ufo-passion |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=Bloomberg News |date=25 October 2022}}</ref> Bigelow has contributed over $25 million<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Casey |date=2022-10-28 |title=Las Vegas billionaire in big leagues bankrolling GOP campaigns - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/oct/28/las-vegas-billionaire-in-big-leagues-bankrolling-g/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=lasvegassun.com |language=en}}</ref> to groups and causes supporting Joe Lombardo's candidacy for governor of Nevada. Campaign finance experts believe this may be the most a single donor has spent on a statewide race in modern history.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-04-21 |title=Top DeSantis Donor Says He'll Put Fortune Behind 2024 Bid |url=https://time.com/6273585/ron-desantis-donor-robert-bigelow/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> In January 2024 he stated in an interview that he had donated to Donald Trump, "I gave him $1 million towards his legal fees a few weeks ago. I made a promise to give him $20 million more, that will be to the super PAC..."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Alexandra |date=2024-01-30 |title=Exclusive: Hotelier Robert Bigelow gives Trump $1 million for legal fees |url= https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donor-bigelow-gave-trump-1-mln-legal-fees-donate-20-million-more-2024-01-30/|access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== *{{cite news |last=Sheaffer |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Sheaffer |url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/bigelows_aerospace_and_saucer_emporium/ |title=Bigelow's aerospace and saucer emporium |magazine=Skeptical Inquirer |volume=33 |issue=4 |date=July–August 2009}} *{{cite news |last=Kushner |first=David |authorlink= |url=http://discovermagazine.com/2011/jan-feb/73 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321062638/http://discovermagazine.com/2011/jan-feb/73 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |title=Robert Bigelow aims high—a private fleet of space taxis |magazine=Discover |at=Art. no. 73 |date=January–February 2011}}
==External links== *[http://www.bigelowinstitute.org/ Bigelow Institute] *{{IMDb name|5416681}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bigelow, Robert T}} Category:1944 births Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:American businesspeople in aerospace Category:American chief executives of travel and tourism industry companies Category:American company founders Category:American hoteliers Category:American businesspeople in the real estate industry Category:Arizona State University alumni Category:Bigelow Aerospace Category:Businesspeople from Las Vegas Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Republicans (United States) Category:University of Nevada, Reno alumni