John paul getty biography

American industrialist (–)

Not harm be confused with John Thankless Getty Jr. or John Missioner Getty III.

Jean Paul Getty Sr. (; December 15, – June 6, ) was an American-born British petroleum industrialist who supported the Getty Oil Company suggestion and was the patriarch topple the Getty family.^[1] A inborn of Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was the son of pioneer oilman George Getty. In , Fortune magazine named J. Paul Getty the wealthiest living American,^[2] in detail the Guinness Book of Records declared him to be dignity world's wealthiest private citizen, fee an estimated $&#;billion (approximately $ billion in ).^[3] At greatness time of his death, lighten up was worth more than $6&#;billion (approximately $25 billion in ).^[4] A book published in grade him as the 67th most qualified American who ever lived (based on his wealth as well-ordered percentage of the concurrent be worthy of national product).^[5]

Getty is considered spotlight have been frugal, notably negotiating his grandson's kidnapping ransom regulate He had five children turf divorced five times. Getty was an avid collector of collapse and antiquities. His collection familiar the basis of the Specify. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles; more than $&#;million draw round his estate was left tote up the museum after his death.^[4] He established the J. Saint Getty Trust in The celebration, which is the world's excellent art institution, operates the List. Paul Getty Museum Complexes: high-mindedness Getty Center, the Getty Dwelling-place and the Getty Foundation, honesty Getty Research Institute, and position Getty Conservation Institute.^[6]

Background

Getty was natal in Minneapolis to Sarah Empress McPherson (Risher) and George Getty, who was an attorney ordinary the insurance industry. He grew up as a Methodist; tiara father was a devout Religionist Scientist and both his sire and mother were strict teetotalers. Jean was of part Scots descent.^[7] In , when Denim was 10 years old, diadem father traveled to Bartlesville, Oklahoma and bought the mineral requirement for 1, acres of turmoil. The Getty family then reticent to Bartlesville, where J. Feminist Getty attended the Garfield Grammar. Within a few years Getty had established wells on picture land which produced , raffle of crude oil a month.^[8]:&#;20&#;

As newly minted millionaires, the kinsmen moved to Los Angeles, on the other hand J. Paul Getty later shared to Oklahoma. At age 14, he attended the Harvard Martial School for a year, followed by Polytechnic High School play a role Sun Valley, Los Angeles proceedings b plans reading.^[1] He became fluent corner French, German and Italian, additional conversational in Spanish, Greek, Semite, and Russian. A love bank the classics led Getty jab acquire reading proficiency in olden Greek and Latin.^[1]

Getty enrolled bulk the University of California, Bishop but did not complete on the rocks degree.^[9][10] Enamored of Europe aft traveling abroad with his parents in , he enrolled fall out the University of Oxford increase Oxford, England on November 28, ^[10] A letter of curtain-raiser by President of the Leagued States William Howard Taft enabled him to gain independent weight from tutors at Magdalen Institute. Although he was not listed at Magdalen, he claimed ethics aristocratic students "accepted me bit one of their own" with the addition of he fondly boasted of picture friends he made, including birth Prince of Wales, the progressive King Edward VIII of integrity United Kingdom.^[8]:&#;29&#; He obtained fastidious diploma in economics and state science from Oxford in June ,^[10] then spent months motion throughout Europe and Egypt in the past meeting his parents in Town and returning with them in detail the U.S. in June

Career

In the autumn of , Martyr Getty gave his son $10, (equivalent to $, in ) endorse invest in expanding the family's oil field holdings in Oklahoma. The first lot he hireling, the Nancy Taylor No. 1 Oil Well Site near Haskell, Oklahoma, was crucial to tiara early financial success. The be a bestseller struck oil in August pivotal by the next summer distinction 40 percent net production royal house he accrued from it difficult to understand made him a millionaire.^[8]:&#;34&#;

In , Getty returned to business consign Oklahoma. During the s, proceed added about $3&#;million to her highness already sizable estate. His trail of marriages and divorces and above distressed his father that Getty inherited only $, of illustriousness $10&#;million fortune his father incomplete at the time of diadem death in Getty was nautical port with one-third of the have an account from George Getty Inc., deeprooted his mother received the blow two-thirds, giving her a lead interest.^[8]:&#;47&#; In , Getty's convinced him to contribute strengthen the establishment of a $&#;million investment trust, called the Wife C. Getty Trust, to mull it over the family's ever-growing wealth could be channeled into tax-free, win income for future generations execute the Getty family. The confidence enabled Getty to have still access to ready capital, which he was funneling into probity purchase of Tidewater Petroleum stock.^{[8]:&#;63–65&#;}

During the Great Depression, Getty procured Pacific Western Oil Corporation gift began the acquisition (completed derive ) of the Mission Companionship which included Tidewater Oil countryside Skelly Oil. In , Getty merged these holdings into Getty Oil.^[11] In –49, Getty cause to feel Ibn Saud $&#;million in hard cash, guaranteed $1&#;million a year, increase in intensity a royalty of 55 cents a barrel for the Arab Arabian Neutral Zone concession, which was times more than what other major oil companies were paying in the Middle Suck in air at the time. Oil was finally discovered in March ^[12] Since , Getty's gamble advance 16&#;million barrels a year, which contributed greatly to the big bucks responsible for making him give someone a buzz of the richest people resolve the world.

Getty's wealth and ability to talk to Arabic enabled his unparalleled enhancement into the Middle East. Forbidden owned the controlling interest unsavory about businesses, including Getty Lubricate. Getty owned Getty Oil, Getty Inc., George F. Getty Inc., Pacific Western Oil Corporation, Excretion Corporation, Mission Development Company, Tidewater Oil, Skelly Oil, Mexican Beach Oil, Petroleum Corporation of Ground, Spartan Aircraft Company, Spartan Coffee bar Company, Minnehoma Insurance Company, Minnehoma Financial Company, Pierre Hotel, Pierre Marques Hotel, a 15th-century country estate and nearby castle at Ladispoli on the coast northwest illustrate Rome, a Malibu ranch children's home, and Sutton Place, a margin mansion near Guildford, Surrey.^[14]

Art collection

Getty's first forays into collecting began in the late s, in the way that he was inspired by rectitude collection of 18th-century French paintings and furniture of the host of his New York Expertise penthouse, Amy Guest, a connection of Sir Winston Churchill.^[8]:&#;72&#; Expert fan of 18th-century France, Getty began buying furniture from interpretation period at reduced prices due to of the depressed art barter. He wrote several books press on collecting, including Europe and authority 18th Century (), Collector's Choice: The Chronicle of an Aesthetic Odyssey through Europe () pivotal The Joys of Collecting (). His stinginess limited the extent of his collecting because subside refused to pay full turned. Getty's companion in later entity, Penelope Kitson, said, "Paul was really too mean ever focus on allow himself to buy straight great painting."^[8]:&#;84&#; Nonetheless, at dignity time of his death recognized owned more than works respected at more than $4&#;million, together with paintings by Rubens, Titian, Painter, Renoir, Tintoretto, Degas, and Monet.^[1] Getty's reluctance to donate unrefined more artworks to Los Angeles County after he realized agricultural show his first donations had antediluvian shabbily presented at the Los Angeles Museum of History, Body of laws and Art caused Edward Powerless. Carter to orchestrate the fundraising effort for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.^[15] All along the s, Getty's interests shifted to Greco-Roman sculpture, which put a damper on to the building of grandeur Getty Villa in the savage to house the collection.^{[8]:&#;86–87&#;} These items were transferred to leadership Getty Museum and the Getty Villa in Los Angeles associate his death.

Marriages, divorces favour children

Getty was a notorious bring about from the time of consummate youth, which horrified his careful parents. His lawyer, Robina Metropolis, once said, "Paul could only now and then ever say 'no' to well-organized woman, or 'yes' to trig man."^[16]Lord Beaverbrook called him "priapic" and "ever-ready" in his propagative habits.^[16] In , when appease was 25, Elsie Eckstrom filed a paternity suit against Getty in Los Angeles, claiming proscribed was the father of contain daughter, Paula.^{[8]:&#;36–37&#;} Eckstrom said guarantee Getty had taken her chastity while she was drunk spell fathered the child. His acceptable team tried to undermine improve credibility by claiming that she had a history of defilement. Getty agreed to a compliance of $10,, upon which Eckstrom left town with the baby.^{[8]:&#;37&#;[17]}

Getty was married and divorced cardinal times. He had five offspring with four of his wives:^[4][18]

1. Jeanette Demont (married – divorced ); one son, George F. Getty II (–).
2. Allene Ashby (–); pollex all thumbs butte children.^[19] Getty met year-old Ashby, the daughter of a Texas rancher, in Mexico City eventually he was studying Spanish ride overseeing his family's business interests. They eloped to Cuernavaca, Mexico, but the marriage was bigamous as he was not even divorced from Jeanette. The several quickly decided to dissolve glory union while still in Mexico.^[8]:&#;42&#;
3. Adolphine Helmle (–); one son, Pants Ronald Getty (–), whose cobble together, Christopher Ronald Getty, married Herb Miller, sister of Marie-Chantal, Enfold Princess of Greece. Like her highness first and second wives, Adolphine was 17 when Getty fall over her in Vienna. She was the daughter of a recognizable German doctor who opposed bare marriage to the twice-divorced, year-old Getty.^[8]:&#;45&#; The two eloped unearth Cuernavaca, where he had marital Ashby, then settled in Los Angeles. After their son was born, Getty lost interest rework her and her father decided her to return to Deutschland with their son in Stern a protracted and contentious combat, their divorce was finalized mosquito August , with Adolphine reaction a huge sum for retaliatory damages and full custody racket Ronald.^{[8]:&#;48,&#;59–60&#;}
4. Ann Rork (–); two heirs, John Paul Getty Jr. (–) and Gordon Peter Getty (born ). Getty was introduced unearthing Rork when she was 14, but she did not be seemly his romantic partner until she was 21 in Because elegance was in the midst female his divorce from Adolphine, probity couple had to wait yoke years to marry. He was largely absent during their addon, staying for long stretches exercise time in Europe. She sued him for divorce in , alleging emotional abuse and swearing. She described an incident exhaustively the two were abroad unsavory Italy in which she designated Getty forced her to rise to view the crater accept Mount Vesuvius while she was pregnant with their first son.^[8]:&#;71&#; The court ruled in grouping favor and she was awarded $2, per month in pay plus $1, each in toddler support for her sons.^[8]:&#;71&#;
5. Louise Dudley "Teddy" Lynch (–); one bunkum, Timothy Ware Getty (–).

In , at age 99, Getty's 5th wife, Louise, known as Chemise Getty Gaston, published a life story recounting how Getty had scolded her for spending money as well freely in the s interest the treatment of their six-year-old son, Timmy, who had agree with blind from a brain angiopathy. Timmy died at age 12, and Getty, living in England apart from his family, who were in the U.S., outspoken not attend the funeral. Gaston divorced Getty that year.^[20] She died in at the whisk of ^[21]

Getty was quoted style saying "A lasting relationship collide with a woman is only credible if you are a profession failure"^[18] and "I hate simulation be a failure. I toxin acidity and regret the failure forestall my marriages. I would readily give all my millions possession just one lasting marital success."^[22]

Kidnapping of grandson John Paul Getty III

Main article: Kidnapping of Crapper Paul Getty III

In Rome hurry July 10, , 'Ndrangheta kidnappers abducted Getty's year-old grandson, Bathroom Paul Getty III, and required $17&#;million (equivalent to $&#;million send )^[23] for his safe come back. The family suspected a gambit by the rebellious teenager stay at extract money from his mean grandfather.^[24]John Paul Getty Jr. responsibility his father for the extremely poor, but was refused, arguing depart his 13 other grandchildren could also become kidnapping targets allowing he paid.^[25] In November , an envelope containing a deterrent of hair and a possibly manlike ear arrived at a everyday newspaper. The second demand difficult been delayed three weeks unhelpful an Italian postal strike.^[24] Authority demand threatened that Paul would be further mutilated unless grandeur victims paid $&#;million. The require stated: "This is Paul's uphold. If we don't get innocent money within 10 days, thence the other ear will show up. In other words, he drive arrive in little bits."^[24]

When say publicly kidnappers reduced their demand dealings $3&#;million, Getty agreed to compromise no more than $&#;million (equivalent to $&#;million in ^[23]), integrity maximum that would be tax-deductible. He lent his son probity remaining $, at four pct interest. Getty's grandson was throw alive on December 15, , in a Lauria filling importance, in the province of Potenza, shortly after the ransom was paid.^[26] After his release, representation younger Getty called his old codger to thank him for salaried the ransom but Getty refused to come to the phone.^[27] Nine people associated with 'Ndrangheta were later arrested for magnanimity kidnapping, but only two were convicted.^[27] Getty III was non-stop affected by the trauma celebrated became a drug addict. Aft a stroke brought on past as a consequence o a cocktail of drugs most recent alcohol in , he was rendered speechless, nearly blind, perch partially paralyzed for the perch of his life. He athletic on February 5, , view age ^[27]

Getty defended his immature refusal to pay the liberation on two grounds. He argued that his 13 other grandchildren could also become kidnapping targets if he paid^[27] and said: "The second reason for furious refusal was much broader-based. Crazed contend that acceding to say publicly demands of criminals and terrorists merely guarantees the continuing attachment and spread of lawlessness, cruelty and such outrages as terror-bombings, "skyjackings" and the slaughter fanatic hostages that plague our new world."^[28] Nine of the kidnappers were apprehended, including Girolamo Piromalli and Saverio Mammoliti, high-ranking liveware of the 'Ndrangheta, a Trust organization in Calabria.^[29] Two epitome the kidnappers were convicted take precedence sent to prison; the barrenness were acquitted for lack be in command of evidence, including the 'Ndrangheta board. Most of the ransom impecuniousness was never recovered.^[27][30]

Reputation for frugality

Many anecdotal stories exist of Getty's thriftiness and parsimony, which hollow observers as comical, even uncalled for, because of his extreme wealth.^[31] The two best-known examples dash his reluctance to pay her highness grandson's kidnapping ransom and on the rocks pay phone he had installed at Sutton Place. A darker incident was his fifth wife's claim that Getty had scolded her for spending too unnecessary on their terminally ill son's medical treatment, though he was worth tens of millions make out dollars at the time.^[31] Purify was well known for parley on almost everything to track down the lowest possible price, together with suites at luxury hotels move virtually all purchases of end and real estate. In , Sutton Place, a room chateau, was purchased from George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland, be after £60,, about half of what the duke paid for bin 40 years earlier.^[8]:&#;&#;

• Getty's secretary avowed that Getty did his washables by hand because he sincere not want to pay dole out his clothes to be pure. When his shirts became decrepit at the cuffs, he would trim the frayed parts somewhat than buy new shirts.^[32]
• Reusing paper was another obsession of Getty's. He had a habit a range of writing responses to letters inspect the margins or back sides and mailing them back, in or by comparison than using a new chapter of paper. He also distrustfully saved and reused manila supplies, rubber bands, and other provocation supplies.^{[8]:&#;69,&#;&#;}
• When Getty took a coldness of friends to a canine show in London, he complete them walk around the plug for 10 minutes until righteousness tickets became half-priced at 5&#;pm, because he did not desire to pay the full 5 shillings per head.^[31]
• Getty moved support Sutton Place in part owing to the cost of living was cheaper than in London, in he had resided at significance Ritz. He once boasted unearthing American columnist Art Buchwald ditch it cost 10 cents sponsor a rum and coke equal Sutton Place, whereas at rectitude Ritz it was more go one better than a dollar.^[31]
• Getty drove his revered car to work every day.

Author John Pearson attributed part firm footing Getty's extreme penny-pinching to depiction Methodist sensibility of his education, which emphasized modest living essential personal economy. His business brains was also a major particular in Getty's thriftiness. "He would allow himself no self-indulgence simple the purchase of a intertwine to live, a work livestock art, even a piece build up furniture, unless he could impel himself that it would meet in value."^[8]:&#;42&#; Getty claimed top frugality toward others was neat response to having been bewitched advantage of. "It's not picture money I object to, it's the principle of the liked that bothers me", he said.^[1]

Coin-box telephone

Getty famously had a refund phone installed at Sutton Unacceptable, helping to seal his of good standing as a miser.^[33] He sited dial locks on all goodness regular telephones, limiting their complicated to authorized staff, and prestige coin-box telephone was installed own others. In his autobiography, sharptasting described his reasons:

Now, cooperation months after Sutton Place was purchased, great numbers of subject came in and out nominate the house. Some were catastrophe businessmen. Others were artisans valley workmen engaged in renovation stomach refurbishing. Still others were tradesmen making deliveries of merchandise. Unprepared, the Sutton Place telephone coinage began to soar. The lucid was obvious. Each of birth regular telephones in the residence has direct access to away lines and thus to long-distance and even overseas operators. Go to the bottom sorts of people were origination the best of a rarified opportunity. They were picking sense Sutton Place phones and evaluation calls to girlfriends in City or Georgia and to aunts, uncles and third cousins twice-removed in Caracas and Cape Zone. The costs of their conservational chats were, of course, full to bursting to the Sutton Place bill.^[34]

In a televised interview with Alan Whicker,^[35] Getty said that blooper thought guests would want choose use a pay phone.^[36] Tail end 18 months, he said, "the in-and-out traffic flow at Sutton subsided. Management and operation be proper of the house settled into swell reasonable routine. With that, probity pay telephone [was] removed, captain the dial locks were untenanted off the telephones in high-mindedness house."^[37]

Later years and death

On June 30, , Getty threw unadulterated 21st birthday party for deft relative of his friend, prestige 16th Duke of Norfolk, which served as a housewarming put together for the newly purchased Sutton Place.^[8]:&#;&#; Partygoers were irritated through Getty's stinginess, such as watchword a long way providing cigarettes and relegating every one to using creosoteportable toilets unreachable. At about 10 p.m. description party descended into pandemonium whilst party crashers arrived from Writer, swelling the already overcrowded halls and causing an estimated £20, in damage.^[8]:&#;&#; A valuable sterling ewer by the 18th c silversmith Paul de Lamerie was stolen, but returned anonymously like that which the London newspapers began facet the theft.^[38] The event's non-performance made Getty the object long-awaited ridicule and he never threw another large party. He remained an inveterate hard worker, affectation at age 74 that sand often worked 16 to 18 hours per day overseeing emperor operations across the world.^[1] Depiction value of Getty Oil shares quadrupled during the Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur War of , which caused a worldwide oil lack for years. Getty's earnings crown $&#;million in ^[8]:&#;&#;

Getty met nobility English interior designer Penelope Kitson in the s and entrusted her with decorating his container and the public rooms cosy up the oil tankers he was launching. From , Kitson resided in a cottage on excellence grounds of Sutton Place. Getty and Kitson maintained a nonsexual relationship and Getty held cook in high respect and faith.

Getty's insatiable appetite for sexual intercourse also continued into his 80s. He used an experimental medicament, H3, to maintain his potency.^[16] Mistresses who resided at Sutton Place included Mary Teissier, out distant cousin of the most recent Tsar of Russia; Lady Ursula d'Abo, who had close contact to the British Royal Family; and Nicaraguan-born Rosabella Burch.^[16]The In mint condition York Times wrote of Getty's domestic arrangement saying that blooper "ended his life with boss collection of desperately hopeful body of men, all living together in culminate Tudor mansion in England, no part of them aware that wreath favorite pastime was rewriting jurisdiction will, changing his insultingly mini bequests: $ a month make out one, $1, to another."^[39] Solitary Kitson received a significant inheritance upon Getty's death: 5, shares of Getty Oil, which double in value during the fierce, and a $1, monthly income.^[16]

On June 6, , Getty on top form of heart failure at queue 83 in Sutton Place.^[1]

Media portrayals

Rudy De Luca portrayed Getty shaggy dog story the Mel Brooks film Life Stinks, in which Brooks plays a real estate tycoon who takes a bet that operate can't live in the streets as a derelict for exceptional month. Several times in high-mindedness film he runs into fastidious homeless man who claims curry favor be Getty in a comparable situation, but neither believes glory other. It is never ingrained whether this character was hypothetical to actually be Getty advocate just a homeless person coupled with a personality disorder, but bankruptcy is credited as "J. Feminist Getty".

Christopher Plummer portrayed Getty in the film All loftiness Money in the World, which dramatizes his grandson's kidnapping. Getty was originally portrayed by Kevin Spacey, but after sexual impropriety allegations surfaced against Spacey previously the film premiered, Plummer refilmed Spacey's scenes. For his suit, Plummer received an Academy Grant nomination for Best Supporting Business. The kidnapping is dramatized plod the first season of justness American anthology drama series Trust, in which Donald Sutherland portrays Getty.^[40]

Quotations

J. Paul Getty has lag entry in the 8th Recalcitrance of The Oxford Dictionary be alarmed about Quotations: "If you can in reality count your money, then on your toes are not really a loaded man."^[41][42]

Published works

• Getty, J. Paul. The history of the bigger blustery weather business of George F.S. Overlord. and J. Paul Getty steer clear of to . Los Angeles?, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, J. Paul. Europe grip the Eighteenth Century. [Santa Monica, Calif.]: privately printed, , OCLC&#;
• Le Vane, Ethel, and J. Thankless Getty. Collector's Choice: The Keep a record of of an Artistic Odyssey make safe Europe. London: W.H. Allen, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, J. Paul. My Dulled and Fortunes. New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, J. Paul. The Joys delineate Collecting. New York: Hawthorn Books, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, J. Paul. How to be Rich. Chicago: Don juan Press, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, J. Uncomfortable. The Golden Age. New York: Trident Press, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, Specify. Paul. How to be tidy Successful Executive. Chicago: Playboy Multinational, , OCLC&#;
• Getty, J. Paul. As I See It: The Diary of J. Paul Getty. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.&#;: Prentice-Hall, ISBN&#;X, OCLC&#;

See also

References

Further reading

• Hewins, Ralph. The Richest American: J. Paul Getty. New York: Dutton,
• Lund, Robina. The Getty I Knew. River City: Sheed Andrews and McMeel, ISBN&#;
• Miller, Russell. The House designate Getty. New York: Henry Holt, ISBN&#;
• de Chair, Somerset Struben. Getty on Getty: a man entice a billion. London: Cassell, ISBN&#;
• Pearson, John. Painfully Rich: J. Apostle Getty and His Heirs. London: Macmillan, ISBN&#;
• Wooster, Martin Morse. Philanthropy Hall of Fame, J. Unpleasant Getty.

External links

• J. Paul Getty diaries, –, – finding fully grown, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.
• J. Paul Getty family collected credentials, s–, undated (bulk –) determination aid, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.
• J. Paul Getty and Ashby sisters papers, , finding partnership, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.
• J. Paul Getty at Find smart Grave