The character of Jett Rink in her novel "Giant" was loosely based
upon the life of Texas oilman
Glenn McCarthy. McCarthy built the
Shamrock Hotel at a cost of $21 million. It opened on St. Patrick's Day
1949 with a grand-opening party costing over $1 million. Ferber was one
of the guests who stayed in the hotel, and after meeting with
him, she decided to write a novel based upon his life. McCarthy
sold the hotel to the Hilton family in 1955.