Paul Getty

Sir John Paul Getty (September 7, 1932 – April 17, 2003) was a wealthy American-born British philanthropist and book-collector. He was the son of Jean Paul Getty, Sr. (1892-1976), one of the richest men in the world, and of his wife Anne Rork. The family's wealth was the result of the oil business founded by George Franklin Getty. At birth he was given the name Eugene Paul Getty, but in later life he adopted, and was better known by, the names Paul Getty, John Paul Getty and Jean Paul Getty, Jr.

Philanthropy

Getty gave over £140m to the cause of culture. The National Gallery alone received £50m from him. He was awarded a KBE in 1987, but as a foreign national could not use the title "Sir". In December 1997 he was granted British citizenship and immediately renounced his US nationality. The Queen is reported to have commented: 'Now you can use your title, that's nice.' In 1994 he married his third wife, Victoria Holdsworth, who had helped him conquer his drug addiction.

Related Topics:
National Gallery - KBE - 1987 - 1997 - The Queen - 1994 - Victoria Holdsworth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He became greatly interested in cricket after being introduced to the sport by Mick Jagger, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. He developed a great passion for the game. He even built a cricket ground at Wormsley Park, his 2,500 acre (10 km²) Buckinghamshire estate. Getty also built a large library, collecting such treasures as a first edition of Chaucer, Ben Jonson's annotated copy of Spenser, and Shakespeare's First, Second, Third, and Fourth Folios. He also was President of Surrey County Cricket Club for one year, and gave money to Lord's cricket ground to build a new stand. Combining his loves of cricket and books, Getty purchased ownership of Wisden, the famous cricketing almanack.

Related Topics:
Cricket - Sport - Mick Jagger - Rolling Stones - Wormsley Park - Buckinghamshire - Chaucer - Ben Jonson - Spenser - Shakespeare - First - Second - Third - Fourth Folios - Surrey County Cricket Club - Lord's cricket ground - Wisden

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His personal fortune was estimated as about £1.6 billion. He donated significant support for the National Gallery, the British Museum, the British Film Institute, Hereford Cathedral, and the Imperial War Museum. Some of his donations, especially a contribution towards the purchases of Canova's "The Three Graces" by The National Galleries of Scotland and "The Madonna of the Pinks" by Raphael, foiled acquisition efforts by The Getty Foundation endowed by his father. In June, 2001, he gave £5 million to the Conservative Party. Getty also endowed a charitable trust that supports projects that promote the arts, conservation and social welfare.

Related Topics:
National Gallery - British Museum - British Film Institute - Hereford Cathedral - Imperial War Museum - The Three Graces - The National Galleries of Scotland - The Madonna of the Pinks - Raphael - The Getty Foundation - 2001 - Conservative Party

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died in the London Clinic, after being admitted for treatment for a recurrent chest infection.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~