Grace Thompson
The Getty family is an American dynasty known for its immense wealth and involvement in the oil industry, media, and arts. The family patriarchs, George Franklin Getty and his son Jean Paul Getty, were pioneers in the oil industry, and their descendants expanded the family's wealth and influence over subsequent generations. The Getty family has had notable ties to San Francisco, with several members residing and establishing themselves in the city. One notable member, Gordon Getty, was raised in San Francisco and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory and the University of San Francisco. Gordon's father, J. Paul Getty, was an oil tycoon known as the richest man in America at one time. While the religious affiliations of the Getty family are not explicitly stated, it is known that Gordon Getty spent time during his youth in an Irish-Catholic household, that of his close friend William Bill Newsom III, and attended the St. Ignatius Catholic prep school in San Francisco.
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What You'll Learn
Gordon Getty's second family
Gordon Getty, the American businessman and classical music composer, is the fourth child of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. Gordon was raised in San Francisco, California, and has four sons with his wife Ann Gilbert: Gordon Peter Getty Jr, William Paul Getty, Andrew Rork Getty, and John Gilbert Getty.
In 1999, it was revealed that Getty had been keeping a second family in Los Angeles with his longtime companion, Cynthia Beck. The existence of this second family, which included three daughters—Nicolette, Kendalle, and Alexandra—was a secret for over a decade. The daughters filed documents in Los Angeles Superior Court requesting a name change, and Getty acknowledged his relationship with them in a public statement.
Getty's wife, Ann, and their four sons were reportedly aware of the affair and described it as an unspoken arrangement between the couple. Ann Gilbert Getty was often absent from their home in San Francisco due to her various interests, including a publishing company and archaeology studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Despite the scandal, the Gettys maintained their close relationships with prominent figures such as Governor Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
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The Getty family's San Francisco mansion
The Getty family is an American dynasty that built its fortune in the oil industry. The family patriarch, George Getty, was a pioneer oilman, and his son, J. Paul Getty, founded the Getty Oil Company in 1942. Over the years, the Getty family has owned several opulent properties across the United States.
One of the most famous Getty family homes is the San Francisco mansion located in the Pacific Heights neighbourhood. This lavish five-story Italianate mansion was once the residence of Gordon Getty, his wife Ann, and their four sons. Gordon, the fourth child of J. Paul Getty, joined the oil business to please his father but eventually sold Getty Oil to Texaco in 1986. In 1983, Forbes magazine ranked him the richest person in America. Gordon was also a classical music composer and a patron of the arts.
The San Francisco mansion was originally built in 1912 by Bay Area architect Louis M. Upton. It boasts luxurious amenities, including an elevator, wine cellar, basement with a gym and sauna, and a four-car garage with a hydraulic lift. The home was purchased by Gordon Getty and his wife Ann in 2002 for $11.5 million and underwent substantial renovations. They later sold it in 2015 for $12.5 million. The new owners further renovated the property and put it back on the market in 2019 with an asking price of $29 million, making it the most expensive listing in San Francisco at the time. The mansion eventually sold for $27 million, making it the biggest sale of that year.
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The Getty family's wealth
The Getty family is an American family that began with George Franklin Getty and his son Jean Paul Getty as their patriarchs. In the 20th century, they were heavily involved in the petroleum industry and in mass media. The Getty family is of Scots-Irish ancestry from their patrilineal lineage, with ancestors who immigrated to North America from County Londonderry, Ireland.
George Getty (1855-1930) was a lawyer who became an independent oilman in 1904. He lent his son Jean Paul money to invest in oil wells, and in 1916, they incorporated the Getty Oil Company. Jean Paul Getty (J. Paul Getty) founded the Getty Oil Company in 1942 and became the richest man in the world. In 1957, Fortune magazine named him the wealthiest living American, and the 1966 Guinness Book of Records declared him the world's wealthiest private citizen, worth an estimated $1.2 billion (approximately $8.6 billion in 2023). At the time of his death in 1976, he was worth more than $6 billion (approximately $25 billion in 2023). He was known for his frugality, even haggling over the ransom when his grandson was kidnapped in 1973.
J. Paul Getty had five sons with five different wives. One of his sons, Sir Paul Getty (also known as John Paul Getty Jr. or II), was the father of Gordon Getty, an American businessman and classical music composer. Gordon Getty assumed control of his father's $2 billion trust when he died in 1976. Forbes magazine ranked him the richest person in America in 1983, with a net worth of over $2 billion. In 1986, he sold the family's Getty Oil to Texaco for US$10 billion. His net worth was $2.1 billion in 2020, making him the 391st richest person in the United States.
The Getty family has had close ties with prominent political figures such as Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Nancy Pelosi. They have also experienced tragedies and scandals, including the death of Gordon Getty's son, Andrew, and the revelation of his secret second family in Los Angeles. Ivy Getty, the great-granddaughter of J. Paul Getty, is a prominent member of the family who has made public appearances and been featured in publications like Vogue and Town & Country.
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The Getty family's tragedies
The Getty family, one of the richest dynasties in American history, has a long and tragic history that has been well-documented over the years. The family's story is filled with wealth, privilege, and tragedy, and their Catholic faith has often been a topic of interest and debate.
J. Paul's grandson, John Paul Getty III, was kidnapped in 1973 at the age of 16. The kidnappers demanded a $17 million ransom, but J. Paul initially refused to pay, suspecting that his grandson had staged his own kidnapping. After the kidnappers cut off John Paul's ear and sent it to a newspaper, J. Paul negotiated the ransom down to $2.2 million, the maximum amount that was tax-deductible. John Paul Getty III was eventually released, but the trauma of the event left him struggling with addiction and mental health issues for the rest of his life.
Another of J. Paul's sons, Gordon Getty, caused a scandal when it was revealed that he had a secret second family. He had a long-term relationship with Cynthia Beck, with whom he had three children, while still married to his wife, Ann. This affair caused a rift in the family and added to the public perception of the Gettys as a troubled dynasty.
In addition to these well-known tragedies, there have been numerous other incidents of drug abuse, mental illness, and early deaths within the Getty family. Several members of the family have struggled with addiction and depression, and some have died young due to drug overdoses or suicide. The immense wealth and privilege of the Gettys have not been able to shield them from these personal tragedies.
The Catholic faith of the Getty family has been a topic of interest, especially given the contrast between their religious beliefs and the often-scandalous nature of their personal lives. While the family has not publicly spoken much about their religious practices, it is known that J. Paul Getty was raised a Presbyterian and later joined the Episcopal Church, and his children were raised Episcopalian. However, the family's religious beliefs and how they may have influenced their lives and decisions remain a private matter for the Gettys.
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The Getty family's ties with the Newsoms
The Getty family is of Scots-Irish ancestry, with ancestors immigrating to North America from County Londonderry, Ireland. The Getty family dynasty began with George Franklin Getty and his son, Jean Paul Getty, as their patriarchs. In the 20th century, they were heavily involved in the petroleum industry and mass media.
The Getty family has had close ties with the Newsoms, a prominent political family in California. William Alfred Newsom III, the father of California Governor Gavin Newsom, was a close friend of Gordon Getty, son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. William A. Newsom II, Gavin's grandfather, was a surrogate father to J. Paul Getty's sons, John Paul Jr. and Gordon. William "Bill" Newsom III and his five siblings grew up in a lively Irish-Catholic household in San Francisco. Gordon and his brother, Paul Jr., spent a lot of time at the Newsoms' home as their father was often absent. The intimate family friendship between the Gettys and the Newsoms spanned generations, with Gordon's four sons—Peter, Andrew, John, and Billy—and Bill's son, Gavin.
William A. Newsom II was a real estate developer and campaign manager for Edmund G. Brown, who served as Governor of California from 1959 to 1967. His son, Jerry Brown, later became governor himself, serving four terms beginning in 1974. William A. Newsom III was an administrator of the Getty family trust and worked as a legal advisor to the Italian division of Getty Oil. He also served as a financial advisor for the Getty family businesses, directly managing the Gordon P. Getty Family Trust. Additionally, he helped deliver the ransom money for the release of John Paul Getty III when he was kidnapped.
Over the years, the Gettys have contributed financially to Gavin Newsom's political campaigns, although other San Francisco families have also provided significant support. The two families have been described as being like family to each other, with Gavin Newsom and Billy Getty even serving as best man at each other's weddings. However, their friendship later ruptured due to disagreements between Gavin and Billy's wife, Vanessa Jarman.
The Gettys have also been close to other prominent California politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The interweaving of these families has led to accusations of cronyism and privilege.
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Frequently asked questions
The San Francisco Getty family is of Scots-Irish ancestry. William Alfred Newsom III, a close friend of Gordon Getty and a member of an Irish-Catholic household, became a surrogate father figure to Gordon and his brother Paul Jr.
Gordon Getty, an American businessman and classical music composer, is a notable member of the San Francisco Getty family. Gordon's father, J. Paul Getty, was also a prominent member, known as an oil tycoon and the founder of Getty Oil. Gordon's wife, Ann Gilbert, is another notable member, known for her philanthropic and interior design work.
William Alfred Newsom III, also known as Bill, was a close friend of Gordon Getty and his brother Paul Jr. Gordon and Paul Jr. spent a significant amount of time at the Newsom household, and Bill served as a financial advisor and managed the Gordon P. Getty Family Trust. The intimate family friendship between the Gettys and the Newsoms spanned generations.
