Robert Bigelow
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A hotel billionaire used his own fortune to fund UFO research the government couldn't openly touch.
Who they are
Robert Bigelow, the billionaire behind Budget Suites, who founded a paranormal research group and bought Skinwalker Ranch in 1996.
What they do
He privately bankrolled investigations into UFOs and unexplained phenomena.
How it works
His company BAASS won a $22 million Defense Intelligence Agency contract as the only bidder (arranged by Senator Harry Reid) and produced 38 technical reports on ideas like wormholes and antigravity. Researchers even reported a 'Hitchhiker Effect' — strange phenomena seeming to follow them home. On 60 Minutes in 2017 he said he was 'absolutely convinced' aliens exist.
Why it matters
It shows private money stepping in to fund investigations that official military and intelligence budgets couldn't be seen paying for publicly.
The engine's record — word for word
Budget Suites billionaire. Founded NIDS, purchased Skinwalker Ranch (1996). BAASS received $22M DIA contract as sole bidder (Harry Reid). Produced 38 DIRDs (Puthoff, Eric Davis) on wormholes, antigravity, metamaterials. "Hitchhiker Effect": AAWSAP researchers reported phenomenon following them home — infectious cognitive/interdimensional variable. Stated on 60 Minutes (2017): "absolutely convinced" aliens exist. Private capital funding investigation military-intelligence budgets cannot publicly support.
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