Balthazar Getty's Father, J. Paul Getty III, Dies at 54

[The Straight Story]

Balthazar Getty's Father, J. Paul Getty III, Dies at 54

NEW YORK (CBS) J. Paul Getty III, the grandson of American oil magnate J. Paul Getty, is dead at age 54.


He died on Saturday in Buckinghamshire, England, after a long illness, according to a statement from his son, actor Balthazar Getty, obtained by the Los Angeles Times.


Getty was well known for his public misfortunes. The most sensational event in the family's history occurred in July 1973, when he was kidnapped from a piazza in Rome at the age of 16. When his billionaire grandfather refused to pay the requested ransom, the kidnappers severed Getty's right ear. He was released after five months in captivity.


According to reports, the elder Getty contributed $2.2 million toward the more than $3 million demanded in ransom, and charged his son - J. Paul Getty II - interest on the rest.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20030972-10391698.html

[gateley]

1. That family has had their share of tragedies and sorrow. A friend of mine

worked with one of the Gettys (I think he'd be about JPG III's age, so maybe a cousin?) who was seriously "off". When my friend would gripe about the goings on, I couldn't help but feel bad for this guy.

The curse of great wealth.

[hlthe2b]

2. That elder Getty was quite the "sweetheart," wasn't he..

Refusing to pay ransom, then paying part of it and charging the victim interest on a loan for the rest. No wonder JPGIII was so screwed up.

[enlightenment]

3. Presumably, the elder Getty put a pay phone

into his manse at one point - and insisted that guests had to use it if they needed to make a call. I think his parsimony went beyond just being stingy, though; refusing to help his son pay his grandson's ransom for five months (basically until his rotting ear turned up in the mail) seems to me more evidence of a mental disease.