With their vast fortune, it seemed they had it all—but behind the glamour was a tale of unbelievable penny-pinching, affairs, and acrimonious divorces. Follow their captivating journey and uncover the truth about a family with “all the money in the world.”

J. Paul used his upbringing to build an empire and establish a legacy as one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures of the 20th century. A true success story, J. Paul Getty’s journey is an inspiring reminder of how ambition and hard work can lead to a lasting legacy.

His great foresight and ambition enabled him to become one of the most successful oil magnates in history and to provide his family with a life of wealth and privilege. George Getty’s story is a testament to the power of vision and entrepreneurship.

After graduating in 1914, Getty had a strong background in economics and petroleum geology, as well as fluency in multiple foreign languages. His hard work and determination resulted in an incredible career that would make him one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. This is the inspiring story of J. Paul Getty.

Driven by ambition, J. Paul sold the leases at a massive profit, laying the foundations for his incredible success. With his goal of amassing his own fortune achieved, J. Paul Getty went on to make history.

By the end of the 1920s, the oil tycoon had increased his wealth to a staggering $3 million. From zero to millionaire in just a few short years, it was an incredible journey of business savvy, ambition, and luck.

His numerous divorces have been attributed to his preference for business over family, often putting in 18-hour days and working even on weekends and vacations. Getty’s love life was far from ordinary, and his marriages could not compete with his passion for work.

In an effort to protect the family company from his son’s scandalous behaviour, George left J. Paul with just $500,000 of his $10 million estate, while the majority went to his mother. It was a striking reminder that George did not trust J. Paul to continue his legacy.

His gamble paid off, leading him to the acquisition of the Pacific Western Oil Corporation and eventually the Mission Corporation, parent of Skelly Oil and Tidewater Oil, which went on to form Getty Oil. Thanks to J. Paul’s midas touch, he was able to make a fortune even in the midst of economic hardship.

Together, they had two children: John Paul Jr., the father of future kidnap victim John Paul Getty III, and Gordon Peter. Unfortunately, the couple parted ways in 1936; yet, their love still remains a shining example of what can be achieved when two hearts meet!

Unfortunately, the joy of parenthood was short-lived, as Timothy succumbed to a brain tumor at just 12 years old. Louise later recounted how J. Paul had scolded her for spending too much money on the boy’s cancer treatment, an event that marked the beginning of a series of unfortunate events for the Getty family.

This courageous act of patriotism inspired many others to follow in his footsteps and join the fight against the Axis powers. Through his tremendous efforts, J. Paul Getty helped pave the way for a victorious end to the war.

His nomadic lifestyle allowed the billionaire to keep up with his business dealings, while also enjoying the best of European culture. With a life of luxury, J. Paul Getty showed us that no matter how far you go, home is always where the heart is.

To sweeten the deal, he agreed to pay an additional $1 million a year for the duration of the lease. Little did he know that the investment would become an incredibly lucrative one!

That same year, he finally took control of the Mission Corporation and its subsidiaries, such as Skelly Oil and Tidewater Oil. Not content with his success, Getty also convinced his mother to let him run the family’s oil business. With his Midas touch, Getty was able to turn anything he touched into gold.

Despite this, he was never without female companionship, being seen with Hollywood stars such as Zsa Zsa Gabor. His life thereafter was marked by loneliness and a lack of true companionship. Although he was surrounded by people, J. Paul Getty was never able to fully recover from the devastating loss of his son.

While he relished the limelight and enjoyed the adoration of the public, Getty was also well aware of the drawbacks that came with his newfound celebrity status. He was a man of paradoxes, and his story of great wealth and fame will continue to fascinate for generations to come.

An ex-employee once described Getty as if he was “attending his own funeral,” such was his despair. Even in his luxurious lifestyle, the tycoon continually moaned about the struggles of being a billionaire. It’s sad to think such a successful man was weighed down by his own wealth.

Notorious for his tight-fistedness, Getty even installed a coin-operated telephone to prevent guests from running up the bills. In addition, he owned a villa in Malibu, California; a 15th-century palace near Rome; and a mansion in Kuwait, making him one of the wealthiest people of his time.

When it came to his fifth wife, he insisted she pay back every cent of the acting lessons he bought her should she land a paid role. In addition, he once reportedly forced a group of friends to wait to get into the Crufts dog show to qualify for cheaper tickets. Truly, J. Paul Getty was a millionaire with a frugal heart.

To make matters worse, his eldest son George’s death in 1973 was believed to be a suicide. It was a difficult time for the extended Getty family, yet even in the midst of such despair, they still managed to press on.

It was a huge sum for the time, fit for a king! Thankfully, after months of negotiation, John Paul was released mostly unharmed. Yet the episode left a lasting impression and remains an iconic reminder of the world’s first trillionaire’s vast fortune.

After months of negotiation, J. Paul eventually agreed to pay part of the reduced ransom of $2.9 million, equivalent to $16 million in today’s money. He also lent his son John Paul Getty Jr. the remaining money, to be paid back with interest. Such was the price of J. Paul Getty’s miserly act.

Sadly, John Paul Getty III died in 2011 at the age of 54 after a long period of ill health. His story serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of kidnapping and other forms of exploitation.

He was so passionate about his art that he eventually opened the Getty Museum in California to house his beloved pieces. To this day, the museum stands as a testament to the unparalleled artistic taste of this legendary business mogul.

Adjusted for inflation, that’s a staggering $17.3 billion! The majority of this impressive sum was donated to the J. Paul Getty Trust, making it the world’s wealthiest art institution. In this way, Getty’s legacy continues to shape the future of the art world.

Seen here with his daughter Ivy, John Gilbert was the second son of businessman and composer Gordon Getty, whose eldest, Andrew, passed away at 47 from an intestinal ulcer, with toxic levels of methamphetamine present in his body. Gordon Getty’s remaining living children are Peter and Billy, along with their three half-sisters born from his affair. As the Gettys continue to suffer heartbreaking losses, their sorrowful story remains an ongoing tragedy.