John Paul Getty Jr.

Sir Paul Getty
Sir Paul Getty
Born	Eugene Paul Getty; Template:Birth date; Near Genoa, Kingdom of Italy
Died	April 17, 2003 (aged 70)
Occupation(s)	Businessman, philanthropist
Known for	Philanthropy, extensive book collection, involvement in Getty family oil business
Notable work	Restoration of Wormsley Park estate, patronage of cricket and arts

Sir Paul Getty (; originally named Eugene Paul Getty; 7 September 1932 – 17 April 2003), commonly referred to as John Paul Getty Jr., was a businessman of British-American heritage, known for his philanthropy and extensive book collection. He was the third son of J. Paul Getty (1892–1976), an American-born British oil magnate who was once considered the wealthiest individual worldwide. His mother, Ann Rork Light, was J. Paul Getty's fourth spouse. The substantial fortune of the Getty family stemmed from the oil enterprise established by George Franklin Getty. Among his children, Mark Getty went on to co-found the visual media company Getty Images.

Born as Eugene Paul Getty, he later adopted several names including Paul Getty and John Paul Getty II. In 1973, his son John Paul Getty III was abducted by the Italian mafia group 'Ndrangheta', yet his grandfather J. Paul Getty declined to meet the ransom demands.

In recognition of his support for cricket, patronage of the arts, and contributions to the Conservative Party, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother honored him with an honorary knighthood in 1986. He acquired British citizenship in 1997 and officially changed his name by deed poll to Sir Paul Getty KBE in 1998.

Early life

John Paul Jr. entered the world near Genoa, Kingdom of Italy, on 7 September 1932 during his parents' journey abroad. Due to a notary's misinterpretation, his birth was recorded in La Spezia as Eugene Paul Getty; he legally amended this to John Paul in 1958.

His upbringing began in Los Angeles, California, but following his parents' troubled marriage and eventual divorce in 1936, his mother received monthly child support of $1,000 for Paul Jr. and his brother Gordon. After Ann remarried Joseph Stanton McInerney in 1938, the family relocated to San Francisco. Paul Jr.'s education included attendance at Jesuit institutions such as St. Ignatius College Preparatory and the University of San Francisco. During the Korean War, he was drafted and served at the American headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea.

Following military service, he wed Abigail Harris early in 1956; their firstborn, John Paul Getty III, arrived later that year. In 1957, seeking work through his brother Gordon—then vice-president at Getty subsidiary Tidewater Petroleum—he began pumping fuel at a Tidewater station in Marin County. After approximately one year, his father summoned him to Paris and appointed him president of Getty Oil Italiana based in Rome, marking his official induction into the family enterprise.

Marriages

His initial marriage was to Abigail "Gail" Harris, a former water polo athlete. They parted ways in 1964 after having four children: John Paul Getty III, Mark Getty, Ariadne Getty, and Aileen Getty. John Paul Getty III remained in Italy with his mother and attended St. George's British International School in Rome.

On 10 December 1966, he married Dutch actress and fashion figure Talitha Pol. During the late 1960s, they adopted a hippie lifestyle, spending significant time between Great Britain and Morocco. A notable photograph taken by Patrick Lichfield in 1969 captures Talitha perched on a rooftop in Marrakesh wearing a hooded djellaba alongside Getty; this image was published in Vogue and is part of London's National Portrait Gallery collection. Talitha passed away from a heroin overdose on 11 July 1971. Their son Tara Gabriel Gramophone Galaxy Getty (born June 1968), who is involved in ecological conservation efforts across Africa, survived her. Tara attended Milton Abbey School in Dorset and married Victoria Holdsworth in 1994.

Personal challenges

Following his marriage to Talitha Pol in 1966, the couple embraced the countercultural lifestyle of the 1960s, dividing their time between Rome and Marrakesh. During a journey to Thailand, both developed severe heroin dependencies. Paul Getty Sr., strongly opposed to drug use, insisted that his son overcome his addiction; however, Paul Jr. declined and subsequently resigned from his position at Getty Oil Italiana. They subsisted on an annual family trust income of $100,000. By 1969, the couple separated as Talitha pursued sobriety. Getty acquired No. 16 Cheyne Walk in Chelsea for Talitha and their son Tara, while he continued residing in Rome.

Talitha's passing

After several years of living apart, a sober Talitha sought a divorce from Paul Jr. in early 1971. Still emotionally attached, he encouraged her to visit Rome in hopes of reconciliation. Acting on her attorney’s advice that this would simplify the divorce process, she traveled to Rome on 9 July. On 11 July 1971, she was discovered deceased in the Getty apartment located in Piazza d'Aracoeli. The autopsy identified alcohol and barbiturates in her system; nevertheless, speculation arose about a heroin relapse connected to Getty’s persistent addiction.

In December 1971, Italian officials announced an inquiry into Talitha’s death scheduled for March. They requested Getty’s cooperation, but apprehensive about potential charges related to his addiction, he fled to England and disregarded further summonses. Since he was not considered a suspect, no arrest warrant or extradition request was issued; however, he refrained from returning to Italy.

Kidnapping of son

Following the death of his second wife, Getty withdrew from public life and his heroin dependency intensified. On 10 July 1973, his sixteen-year-old son, John Paul Getty III, was abducted in Rome by members of the 'Ndrangheta' who demanded a ransom of $17 million (equivalent to $ in ). Initially, the family suspected the kidnapping might be a scheme orchestrated by the rebellious teenager himself. Getty III appealed directly to his grandfather, J. Paul Getty, who declined to pay out of concern that it would encourage additional kidnappings.

In November 1973, the kidnappers sent a lock of hair and a severed human ear to a newspaper along with a warning that they would inflict further mutilation unless their demand of $3.2 million was met. Eventually, J. Paul Getty consented to pay $2.2 million—the maximum amount deductible for tax purposes—and lent the remaining $800,000 at an interest rate of 4%. The grandson was found alive on 15 December 1973 at a gas station in Lauria, province of Potenza, shortly after the ransom was delivered.

Nine individuals were apprehended in connection with the kidnapping, including 'Ndrangheta leaders Girolamo Piromalli and Saverio Mammoliti. Two received convictions; others were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence. Most of the ransom money was never recovered.

The ordeal left Getty III with long-term consequences including drug and alcohol addictions. In 1981, an overdose resulted in liver failure and a stroke that rendered him quadriplegic, partially blind, and unable to communicate verbally. His mother assumed caregiving responsibilities and filed suit against his father seeking $28,000 per month for medical care expenses. He remained severely disabled until passing away on 5 February 2011 at age 54.

Subsequent years

Following the death of his father in 1976, Getty Jr. struggled with depression and voluntarily admitted himself to The London Clinic in 1984. During this period, then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visited him to express gratitude for his substantial donations to the National Gallery. In the 1970s, former England cricketer and MCC president Gubby Allen helped improve his morale; cricket had been introduced to him by Mick Jagger.

Paul III continued facing difficulties related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his kidnapping and battled substance abuse issues. A drug overdose in April 1981 left him paralyzed and nearly blind. His mother sought $25,000 monthly from his father for medical costs; despite earning over $20 million annually from the family trust, Paul II initially refused payment, leaving his brother Gordon responsible for covering expenses. A judge reprimanded Paul II for failing to fulfill his moral duties. After dispatching an attorney to verify Paul III’s condition firsthand, Paul II eventually agreed to finance his treatment.

Wormsley Park

While undergoing treatment at The London Clinic, Getty acquired the long-neglected Wormsley Park estate in Buckinghamshire following the recommendation of his friend Christopher Gibbs. After his release in 1986, he dedicated significant resources to revitalizing the 18th-century mansion and its expansive 3,000-acre grounds. His restoration efforts included establishing a deer park, replanting 1,500 acres with beech trees, and clearing a four-acre lake fed by a deep underground aquifer. The refurbishment encompassed renovating the Georgian mansion, adding a flint-constructed library wing, installing an indoor heated swimming pool, and creating a replica of The Oval cricket ground. Additionally, a nearby accessible cottage was constructed to facilitate water therapy for his disabled son. This extensive six-year undertaking amounted to roughly £60 million in expenses.

At Wormsley, Getty worked on mending relationships with both his family and former wife. In May 1992, he officially opened the professional cricket ground with a match led by captains Imran Khan and Bob Wyatt, an event attended by Prime Minister John Major and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The cricket team featured prominent players from various eras and was overseen by honorary managers Brian Johnston (1992–1993) and Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie (1994–2006).

Philanthropy

Getty contributed more than £140 million toward cultural and artistic initiatives, with £50 million specifically benefitting the National Gallery. Although he was named a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1986, his foreign nationality prevented him from using the honorific "Sir." He obtained British citizenship in December 1997, relinquishing his U.S. citizenship in the process. It was said that Queen Elizabeth II commented: "Now you can use your title. Isn't that nice?"

He held the position of president at Surrey County Cricket Club and financed construction of a new stand at Lord's Cricket Ground. Merging his passions for cricket and literature, Getty acquired ownership of Wisden, the publisher renowned for its cricket almanac. At Wormsley, he established a distinguished library housing rare volumes such as a first edition of Canterbury Tales, Ben Jonson's annotated copy of The Faerie Queene, and original Shakespearean Folios. As a member of the exclusive Roxburghe Club, he commissioned a facsimile edition of The Great Book of Thomas Trevilian.

His net worth was estimated around £1.6 billion. His charitable giving supported notable institutions including the National Gallery, British Museum, British Film Institute, Hereford Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, the Imperial War Museum, and St. James Catholic Church. Some donations—such as those toward acquiring Canova's The Three Graces for the National Galleries of Scotland and Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks—helped prevent these works from being obtained by the J. Paul Getty Museum. In June 2001, Getty contributed £5 million to the Conservative Party. He also established a £20 million charitable trust dedicated to supporting arts, conservation efforts, and social welfare programs.

Death

At the age of 70, Getty passed away on 17 April 2003, following hospitalization at The London Clinic due to a chest infection.

Media portrayals

In the dramatizations of Getty III's abduction in Italy, All the Money in the World features Andrew Buchan as Getty Jr., while the television series Trust casts Michael Esper in the same role.

External links

BBC News obituary for Paul Getty
New York Times obituary of J Paul Getty
Sir Paul Getty – Daily Telegraph obituary
Getty family genealogy