John Paul Getty III | |
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![]() Getty in 2003 | |
Born | Eugene Paul Getty II November 4, 1956 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | February 5, 2011 Wormsley Park, Buckinghamshire, England | (aged 54)
Known for | Grandson of J. Paul Getty, victim of kidnapping |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | Balthazar Getty |
Parent(s) | Sir John Paul Getty Abigail Harris |
Relatives | Mark Getty (brother) Ariadne Getty (sister) J. Paul Getty (paternal grandfather) Ann Rork Light (paternal grandmother) George Getty (paternal great-grandfather) Sam E. Rork (maternal great-grandfather) Gordon Getty (paternal uncle) |
John Paul Getty III (/ˈɡɛti/; born Eugene Paul Getty II; November 4, 1956 – February 5, 2011)[1] was the grandson of American oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, who was once the richest man in the world. While living in Rome in 1973, he was kidnapped by the 'Ndrangheta and held for a $17 million ransom. His grandfather was reluctant to pay, but, after his severed ear was received by a newspaper, he negotiated a payment of $2.2 million, and Getty was released five months after being kidnapped. Getty developed an addiction to drugs and alcohol soon after, eventually leading to an overdose and stroke which left him severely disabled for the rest of his life.