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Jean GettyAnglo-American industrialist
Date of Birth: 15.12.1892
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- J. Paul Getty: An Eccentric Oil Baron
- Building an Empire
- Eccentricities and Personal Life
- Philanthropy and Controversy
- The Kidnapping of Jean Paul Getty III
- Death and Legacy
J. Paul Getty: An Eccentric Oil Baron
Early Life and Business SuccessJean Paul Getty, the American oil tycoon who became the world's richest man at the time of his death, was born on December 15, 1892, in Minneapolis, USA, to George Getty, a petroleum industrialist. After graduating from Oxford in 1913, Getty began trading oil in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By 1916, he had made his first million dollars and relocated his company to California.
Building an Empire
In the 1920s, Getty acquired several oil companies, laying the foundation for his financial empire. A pivotal acquisition was the purchase of a concession in Saudi Arabia in 1949, which yielded billions in profits throughout the 1950s. By 1957, Getty had amassed an unparalleled fortune and was declared the wealthiest individual on Earth, a title he maintained until his death. In 1968, he became a billionaire.
Eccentricities and Personal Life
Getty's eccentricity extended beyond his wealth. He married five times and had a strained relationship with each of his sons. After World War II, he moved to England, where he resided in Sutton Place, Surrey, a fortified estate guarded by a large security force and trained dogs.
Philanthropy and Controversy
In his later years, Getty became involved in philanthropy. He established the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu in 1953, showcasing his extensive art collection. The museum relocated to larger premises in 1974. Getty bequeathed a substantial portion of his fortune to the Getty Trust, which oversees both the museum and the Getty Center in Los Angeles, completed in 1997.
The Kidnapping of Jean Paul Getty III
In 1973, Getty's grandson, Jean Paul Getty III, was abducted in Italy. The kidnappers demanded $3.2 million for the child's release. Getty initially refused to negotiate, citing his strained relationship with his family and his notorious frugality. However, after receiving a severed ear in the mail, he relented and paid $2.9 million for his grandson's safe return.
Death and Legacy
Jean Paul Getty passed away on June 6, 1976, at the age of 83. His legacy as an oil magnate, philanthropist, and collector remains complex and captivating. Despite his immense wealth, he lived a singularly eccentric life, leaving a lasting impact on the business and art worlds.