John Paul Getty III | |
|---|---|
 Getty in 1976 | |
| Born | Eugene Paul Getty II November 4, 1956 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 2011 (aged 54) Wormsley Park, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Known for |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | Balthazar Getty |
| Parents |
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| Family | Getty |
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 John Paul Getty III's severed ear was received by a newspaper, the grandfather negotiated a payment of $2.2 million, and Getty was released five months after being kidnapped. Getty subsequently developed an addiction to alcohol and other drugs, leading to an overdose and stroke in 1981 which left him severely disabled for the rest of his life.
- ^ Eszterhas, Joe (March 21, 2018). "J. Paul Getty III: Exclusive 1974 Interview with Kidnapped Oil Heir". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 1, 2021.