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The House of Getty
The tormented saga of the Getty family reads like the script for Dynasty, interweaving boardroom battles, sex, money, drugs, power, crime, tragedy, and family intrigue.
At the center stands the figure of John Paul Getty, the grandfather, an eccentric oil billionaire believed to have been the richest man in the world. Married and divorced five times, he had five sons, and yet was cheated of his dearest ambition-to found an oil dynasty. His angelic youngest son died at age twelve after years of illness. Of the remaining four sons, three proved to be hopeless businessmen and, one by one, dropped out of Getty Oil. Only one had the talent to take the helm of the family business, and he was groomed for the part. And then he killed himself.
With his cherished hopes of a family dynasty crushed, John Paul built a magnificent museum as a monument for all time to his success. But money tainted even his philanthropy; the Getty Museum has become feared for its wealth and ability to pillage the art market. In the maneuvering that followed John Paul's death, Getty Oil was sold; Texaco acquired it for $9.9 billion, the biggest corporate takeover in history.
Award-winning journalist and writer Russell Miller has broken the embargo of silence that has surrounded the Gettys to bring us the extraordinary and often disturbing story of a unique American family. From the pioneering days in the Oklahoma oil fields to the bitter struggles over Getty Oil, we follow the rise and fall of three generations-all apparently cursed with the Midas touch.
At the center stands the figure of John Paul Getty, the grandfather, an eccentric oil billionaire believed to have been the richest man in the world. Married and divorced five times, he had five sons, and yet was cheated of his dearest ambition-to found an oil dynasty. His angelic youngest son died at age twelve after years of illness. Of the remaining four sons, three proved to be hopeless businessmen and, one by one, dropped out of Getty Oil. Only one had the talent to take the helm of the family business, and he was groomed for the part. And then he killed himself.
With his cherished hopes of a family dynasty crushed, John Paul built a magnificent museum as a monument for all time to his success. But money tainted even his philanthropy; the Getty Museum has become feared for its wealth and ability to pillage the art market. In the maneuvering that followed John Paul's death, Getty Oil was sold; Texaco acquired it for $9.9 billion, the biggest corporate takeover in history.
Award-winning journalist and writer Russell Miller has broken the embargo of silence that has surrounded the Gettys to bring us the extraordinary and often disturbing story of a unique American family. From the pioneering days in the Oklahoma oil fields to the bitter struggles over Getty Oil, we follow the rise and fall of three generations-all apparently cursed with the Midas touch.
550 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
181 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Russell Miller
55 books37 followersRussell Miller (born c. 1938) is a British journalist and author of fifteen books, including biographies of Hugh Hefner, J. Paul Getty and L. Ron Hubbard. While under contract to The Sunday Times Magazine he won four press awards and was voted Writer of the Year by the Society of British Magazine Editors.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 17, 2018
Interesting read
This is a good book for a rainy day on the couch. A self-absorbed guy makes billions, completely detaches himself emotionally from his series of wives and kids, and fills his days with business and sex. His kids are screwed up, even unto the next generation. And they all sue each other.
Crazy people with more money than brains, and little connection to life as most people live it. Kind of a fun read.
I believe it first came out in 1984. No photos in the Kindle version.
This is a good book for a rainy day on the couch. A self-absorbed guy makes billions, completely detaches himself emotionally from his series of wives and kids, and fills his days with business and sex. His kids are screwed up, even unto the next generation. And they all sue each other.
Crazy people with more money than brains, and little connection to life as most people live it. Kind of a fun read.
I believe it first came out in 1984. No photos in the Kindle version.
March 12, 2018
A real page turner!
This book was extremely well-researched. Kind of changed the narrative style a little bit from the beginning to the end but that was probably due to more available research material as the years progressed. This was written very well and kept my interest through the whole book.
This book was extremely well-researched. Kind of changed the narrative style a little bit from the beginning to the end but that was probably due to more available research material as the years progressed. This was written very well and kept my interest through the whole book.
June 18, 2018
Very interesting read
Fascinating read, well put together. Would recommend, held my interest from the beginning to the end. Author did a great job in writing.
Fascinating read, well put together. Would recommend, held my interest from the beginning to the end. Author did a great job in writing.
February 23, 2020
More Like the Getty Circus
This was an interesting book about J. Paul Getty, at one time the richest man in the world. It is very telling that the author mentions in a dedication that he is glad his family is not named Getty. After reading this book you can see why. George Getty became an oil man by accident and grew his business carefully. His son followed in his footsteps after some forays into other interests. While I Paul Getty was a shrewd businessman, had a mind for figures, and intimate knowledge of the oil business, his private life was something else. He loved women and sex just as much, probably even moreso. He married five women, go them all pregnant, then divorced them when things didn't work out and took little interest in his children. He never stopped affairs with women during his life and kept a harem in an English estate.
His behavior affected his kids, who had little contact with him while growing up. This well written account of the family often sounds like a soap opera, only reality is far stranger than fiction. The different generations of Harry's don't get along and spend more time filing lawsuits against each other. Several lives were ruined. Little Timmy Getty just wanted to see his father while very ill and Getty couldn't make time to see him, not attend his funeral despite claiming to love him. His oldest son killed himself, another became a drug addict and his grandson was kidnapped and had his ear cut off before the ransom was paid. It was more like a circus. In the end, money didn't buy these people happiness. Undoubtedly the most dysfunctional family I've ever heard of.
I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book version. The British narrator does a good job with the story. It may make you feel fortunate that you aren't a part of this circus.
This was an interesting book about J. Paul Getty, at one time the richest man in the world. It is very telling that the author mentions in a dedication that he is glad his family is not named Getty. After reading this book you can see why. George Getty became an oil man by accident and grew his business carefully. His son followed in his footsteps after some forays into other interests. While I Paul Getty was a shrewd businessman, had a mind for figures, and intimate knowledge of the oil business, his private life was something else. He loved women and sex just as much, probably even moreso. He married five women, go them all pregnant, then divorced them when things didn't work out and took little interest in his children. He never stopped affairs with women during his life and kept a harem in an English estate.
His behavior affected his kids, who had little contact with him while growing up. This well written account of the family often sounds like a soap opera, only reality is far stranger than fiction. The different generations of Harry's don't get along and spend more time filing lawsuits against each other. Several lives were ruined. Little Timmy Getty just wanted to see his father while very ill and Getty couldn't make time to see him, not attend his funeral despite claiming to love him. His oldest son killed himself, another became a drug addict and his grandson was kidnapped and had his ear cut off before the ransom was paid. It was more like a circus. In the end, money didn't buy these people happiness. Undoubtedly the most dysfunctional family I've ever heard of.
I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book version. The British narrator does a good job with the story. It may make you feel fortunate that you aren't a part of this circus.
November 13, 2025
Oil, Intrigue, and the Shadow Empire: The Secret Life of J. Paul Getty still undiscovered...
Russell Miller’s biography lifts the curtain — but behind Getty’s wealth lies an engineered empire built on oil, probable shady connections, and covert loyalties
The House of Getty is a meticulously researched biography of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty — the man who made billions while pinching pennies and giving his kidnapped grandson the cold shoulder. But Miller, whether by his own choice or publisher pressure, leaves out the most electrifying threads — the ones woven into the fabric of intelligence, warfare, and global control.
Getty: Oilman or OSS Cutout?
When you start researching and profiling man like J. Paul Getty he and his ventures ticks all the boxes off a highly possible intelligence asset.
Founded in 1942 by J. Paul Getty, Getty Oil emerged as a significant player in the global oil industry. Getty’s initial ventures included investments in Oklahoma oil fields, leading to substantial wealth accumulation.
Over time, he expanded his holdings, acquiring companies like Pacific Western Oil Corporation, Tidewater Oil, and Skelly Oil. In 1967, these entities were consolidated to form Getty Oil Company.
Middle Eastern Ventures
A pivotal moment in Getty Oil’s history was the acquisition of a 60-year oil concession in the Saudi-Kuwaiti Neutral Zone in 1949. Getty paid $9.5 million upfront, with additional annual payments and royalties. Despite initial skepticism due to the area’s barren reputation, oil was discovered in 1953, eventually producing 16 million barrels annually, significantly boosting Getty’s wealth.
Global Operations
Beyond the Middle East, Getty Oil’s operations spanned various regions:
• United States: Significant reserves in the Kern River field in California, representing 35% of Getty’s oil reserves.
• North Sea: Interests in the Piper and Claymore fields, with substantial recoverable oil reserves.
• Other Regions: Holdings in Spain, Sumatra, the South China Sea, Algeria, Iran, and offshore interests in the Persian Gulf.
It’s highly probable that Getty’s rise wasn’t just about sharp business deals and good timing. His pivotal 60-year oil concession in Saudi Arabia didn’t fall into his lap by accident. Enter St. John Philby, a known MI6 asset who converted to Islam and positioned himself as a “trusted” advisor to Ibn Saud. Classic British intelligence camouflage: appear loyal to locals, while serving the “Crown” (read the City).
What was Philby’s real mission? Probably to shape the Arabian Peninsula into a Western-controlled oil hub.
J. Paul Getty’s role? Highly probable that he wasn’t just an opportunist, but part of a deeper plan. According to several independent researchers, Getty was introduced to Philby by “Wild” Bill Donovan, founder of the OSS and probable MI6 collaborator. Donovan’s wartime network included using private businessmen as unofficial intelligence assets. Getty fit the profile perfectly — discreet, powerful, and positioned in the right theatre.
The Grandson Kidnapping: A Message?
The official story: Getty’s grandson was kidnapped by the Italian mafia in 1973 for ransom. Getty stalled, negotiated like a miser, and finally paid — famously deducting it from his son’s inheritance.
But let’s rewind.
It’s highly probable that by the 1970s, Getty had become a liability. He knew too much. The CIA, OSS remnants, and MI6 had their fingerprints all over his earlier moves in the Middle East.
Maybe he was holding back. Maybe he had leverage.
Who knows? A kidnapping can be a message, a warning, or even a payback. Classic intelligence tactic: hit where it hurts without leaving fingerprints.
The Getty Foundation & Museum — A Sanitized Legacy?
Public image:
• One of the largest art institutions in the world.
• Focused on conservation, culture, philanthropy.
But… look closer:
• Enormous wealth was channeled into the Getty Trust, now run by boards filled with ex-bankers, art world elites, and policy influencers.
• Art “conservation” is a classic front for money laundering, influence peddling, and even intelligence drops — art moves easily across borders, with inflated valuations and diplomatic protection.
• The Getty Villa mimics ancient temples — and has been called out for occult symbolism and questionable gatherings.
Who controls it now?
• Not the Getty family. Control shifted to “professionalized” boards, many with links to intelligence-connected institutions, big banks, and think tanks.
• Its grants and cultural initiatives quietly shape global narratives about “Western civilization,” often in lockstep with NATO-aligned cultural policy.
Secret brotherhoods, Nazi Archives & Gorby’s “Peace Offering”
Getty’s circles weren’t just oilmen — they were elite, international, and highly probable masonic brotherhoods. Nazi Germany uncovered vast Masonic archives during WWII — linking high-ranking business, political, and intelligence figures in Britain and the US.
Soviets seized many of these documents. In the late ‘80s, Gorbachev handed some back to the West as a goodwill gesture. But that was no simple handshake — it was a highly probable archival trade to seal inconvenient truths and keep names out of history books. Getty’s likely on a few of those pages.
When Ridley Scott directed "All the Money in the World" (2017), telling the story of Getty’s kidnapped grandson, many thought it would go deep.
It didn’t.
Instead, we got a stylish drama that almost willfully ignored Getty’s geopolitical connections, his probable OSS ties, or the intelligence backdrop of his fortune. Coincidence? Maybe. But when Hollywood keeps calling the same director to make CIA, MI6, and war-gloss films (Body of Lies, Black Hawk Down, Michael Clayton, etc.), the pattern starts humming.
Final Word
The House of Getty is a smart, structured biography — but what it doesn’t say is louder than what it does. Getty wasn’t just a titan of oil. He was (highly probably) a shadow asset, protected by intelligence ties, woven into global networks, and playing both sides of the power game.
Read Miller’s book — then read between every line.
Russell Miller’s biography lifts the curtain — but behind Getty’s wealth lies an engineered empire built on oil, probable shady connections, and covert loyalties
The House of Getty is a meticulously researched biography of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty — the man who made billions while pinching pennies and giving his kidnapped grandson the cold shoulder. But Miller, whether by his own choice or publisher pressure, leaves out the most electrifying threads — the ones woven into the fabric of intelligence, warfare, and global control.
Getty: Oilman or OSS Cutout?
When you start researching and profiling man like J. Paul Getty he and his ventures ticks all the boxes off a highly possible intelligence asset.
Founded in 1942 by J. Paul Getty, Getty Oil emerged as a significant player in the global oil industry. Getty’s initial ventures included investments in Oklahoma oil fields, leading to substantial wealth accumulation.
Over time, he expanded his holdings, acquiring companies like Pacific Western Oil Corporation, Tidewater Oil, and Skelly Oil. In 1967, these entities were consolidated to form Getty Oil Company.
Middle Eastern Ventures
A pivotal moment in Getty Oil’s history was the acquisition of a 60-year oil concession in the Saudi-Kuwaiti Neutral Zone in 1949. Getty paid $9.5 million upfront, with additional annual payments and royalties. Despite initial skepticism due to the area’s barren reputation, oil was discovered in 1953, eventually producing 16 million barrels annually, significantly boosting Getty’s wealth.
Global Operations
Beyond the Middle East, Getty Oil’s operations spanned various regions:
• United States: Significant reserves in the Kern River field in California, representing 35% of Getty’s oil reserves.
• North Sea: Interests in the Piper and Claymore fields, with substantial recoverable oil reserves.
• Other Regions: Holdings in Spain, Sumatra, the South China Sea, Algeria, Iran, and offshore interests in the Persian Gulf.
It’s highly probable that Getty’s rise wasn’t just about sharp business deals and good timing. His pivotal 60-year oil concession in Saudi Arabia didn’t fall into his lap by accident. Enter St. John Philby, a known MI6 asset who converted to Islam and positioned himself as a “trusted” advisor to Ibn Saud. Classic British intelligence camouflage: appear loyal to locals, while serving the “Crown” (read the City).
What was Philby’s real mission? Probably to shape the Arabian Peninsula into a Western-controlled oil hub.
J. Paul Getty’s role? Highly probable that he wasn’t just an opportunist, but part of a deeper plan. According to several independent researchers, Getty was introduced to Philby by “Wild” Bill Donovan, founder of the OSS and probable MI6 collaborator. Donovan’s wartime network included using private businessmen as unofficial intelligence assets. Getty fit the profile perfectly — discreet, powerful, and positioned in the right theatre.
The Grandson Kidnapping: A Message?
The official story: Getty’s grandson was kidnapped by the Italian mafia in 1973 for ransom. Getty stalled, negotiated like a miser, and finally paid — famously deducting it from his son’s inheritance.
But let’s rewind.
It’s highly probable that by the 1970s, Getty had become a liability. He knew too much. The CIA, OSS remnants, and MI6 had their fingerprints all over his earlier moves in the Middle East.
Maybe he was holding back. Maybe he had leverage.
Who knows? A kidnapping can be a message, a warning, or even a payback. Classic intelligence tactic: hit where it hurts without leaving fingerprints.
The Getty Foundation & Museum — A Sanitized Legacy?
Public image:
• One of the largest art institutions in the world.
• Focused on conservation, culture, philanthropy.
But… look closer:
• Enormous wealth was channeled into the Getty Trust, now run by boards filled with ex-bankers, art world elites, and policy influencers.
• Art “conservation” is a classic front for money laundering, influence peddling, and even intelligence drops — art moves easily across borders, with inflated valuations and diplomatic protection.
• The Getty Villa mimics ancient temples — and has been called out for occult symbolism and questionable gatherings.
Who controls it now?
• Not the Getty family. Control shifted to “professionalized” boards, many with links to intelligence-connected institutions, big banks, and think tanks.
• Its grants and cultural initiatives quietly shape global narratives about “Western civilization,” often in lockstep with NATO-aligned cultural policy.
Secret brotherhoods, Nazi Archives & Gorby’s “Peace Offering”
Getty’s circles weren’t just oilmen — they were elite, international, and highly probable masonic brotherhoods. Nazi Germany uncovered vast Masonic archives during WWII — linking high-ranking business, political, and intelligence figures in Britain and the US.
Soviets seized many of these documents. In the late ‘80s, Gorbachev handed some back to the West as a goodwill gesture. But that was no simple handshake — it was a highly probable archival trade to seal inconvenient truths and keep names out of history books. Getty’s likely on a few of those pages.
When Ridley Scott directed "All the Money in the World" (2017), telling the story of Getty’s kidnapped grandson, many thought it would go deep.
It didn’t.
Instead, we got a stylish drama that almost willfully ignored Getty’s geopolitical connections, his probable OSS ties, or the intelligence backdrop of his fortune. Coincidence? Maybe. But when Hollywood keeps calling the same director to make CIA, MI6, and war-gloss films (Body of Lies, Black Hawk Down, Michael Clayton, etc.), the pattern starts humming.
Final Word
The House of Getty is a smart, structured biography — but what it doesn’t say is louder than what it does. Getty wasn’t just a titan of oil. He was (highly probably) a shadow asset, protected by intelligence ties, woven into global networks, and playing both sides of the power game.
Read Miller’s book — then read between every line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2023
Interesting history of the Getty family and business empire and just how incredibly dysfunctional he was as a human being.
J Paul Getty comes off looking like an absolute sociopath who only cares about business and money. He cheats his friends, and had a sad miserly existence even when he was the richest person on the planet.
He ditched wife after wife to marry inappropriately young women, well into middle age, and Cheated constantly. He’d lavish more money and attention on his girlfriends than any of his wives or kids.
His own kids barely even knew him growing up. A couple would only call him “Mr Getty” instead of dad, because he was a stranger to them.
Kinda sad to read what happened to all the different kids and grandkids and wives. Incredibly dysfunctional people litter the whole story, starting with the old lecher and cheater J Paul, who ditched wife after wife to marry yet another incredibly young woman, and then eventually ditch her too.
J Paul Getty comes off looking like an absolute sociopath who only cares about business and money. He cheats his friends, and had a sad miserly existence even when he was the richest person on the planet.
He ditched wife after wife to marry inappropriately young women, well into middle age, and Cheated constantly. He’d lavish more money and attention on his girlfriends than any of his wives or kids.
His own kids barely even knew him growing up. A couple would only call him “Mr Getty” instead of dad, because he was a stranger to them.
Kinda sad to read what happened to all the different kids and grandkids and wives. Incredibly dysfunctional people litter the whole story, starting with the old lecher and cheater J Paul, who ditched wife after wife to marry yet another incredibly young woman, and then eventually ditch her too.
January 13, 2019
I read this book after watching the show “Trust” because I wanted to learn more about this huge figure of mid-century life who has left almost no imprint on popular culture 50 years after his death.
A competent, if workmanlike biography of the Getty family. I found parts slow, as the author focused minutely on seemingly minor points, like a party gone awry. The narrative leaves one with a probably too positive view of John Paul Getty. The author wasn’t shy about his vices, but portrayed them as more quirky than malevolent. The popular view of Getty seems, for once, more accurate; a womanizing and greedy man who scarcely took notice of the wreckage he left in his wake.
A competent, if workmanlike biography of the Getty family. I found parts slow, as the author focused minutely on seemingly minor points, like a party gone awry. The narrative leaves one with a probably too positive view of John Paul Getty. The author wasn’t shy about his vices, but portrayed them as more quirky than malevolent. The popular view of Getty seems, for once, more accurate; a womanizing and greedy man who scarcely took notice of the wreckage he left in his wake.
December 13, 2020
What a great read about the wonderfully dysfunctional family in the world. Really, all the money won't be able to buy them happiness or peace. Lawsuits, slandering, you name it and they did it. J.Paul Getty was the 20th century version of Ebenezer Scrooge. Skinflint to the bone. Didn't see or care about his children nor grandchildren. Excuse was " too much at work ". Famously, refused to pay the $ 1 million ransom on his grandson until the Italian kidnappers sincerely mailed back his grandson's ear. All the way down the Getty lineage, the " apple doesn't fall far from the tree " can be applied to the Getty heirs. My famous quote is, " Eat the Rich " !
June 27, 2021
This book proves that old adage "if you're in the oil business you're obviously evil to the core". This guy Getty was the richest man in the world for a couple of decades but in his personal life he was everything one should despise. Married and divorced 5 times, 5 kids who he never saw, sued by his own mother, had affairs with his friends' wives, cut his children out of his will, I could go on for pages. After reading this number I had to take a long bath just to get clean again (yes, I put in bubbles). Very entertaining however.
The House of Getty....four stars.
The House of Getty....four stars.
June 20, 2020
Fascinating combo of business acumen, workaholic/Aspberger personality traits, celebrity intrigue, family fights over fortunes and how his Getty Museum trumped even family. Was especially surprised by the 1949 oil agreement with the House of Saud where by Getty Oil provided what we might consider socialist benefits to Saudi citizens in the oilfields.
Published in 1985 with that perspective on social issues.
Published in 1985 with that perspective on social issues.
April 6, 2020
Well researched - The areas that were very focused weren’t always the parts I was interested in, and then some of the interesting areas didn’t have enough emphasis - maybe that was on purpose? I did like the book - he was quite a character and the family life was very sad - however, he is completely to blame for that.
January 4, 2018
Great read
April 29, 2018
Brilliant read
Loved this book all that money and not much happiness just greed. But to start from nothing and be so rich is amazing
Loved this book all that money and not much happiness just greed. But to start from nothing and be so rich is amazing
May 22, 2018
Thorough, and interesting, sometimes fascinating, to a point (the minutiae of Getty's deals the family's legal squabbles I couldn't stick with). The e-copy contained no notes or photos.
October 31, 2018
My copy is a bit odd. It appears to be a printed version of the electronic version and contains no pictures. I don't know if it's supposed to
January 5, 2019
Wow just a outstanding read!
It has everything happiness, sadness, tragedy and greed! I couldn't put the book down really fantastic. Thank you Martin Russel.
It has everything happiness, sadness, tragedy and greed! I couldn't put the book down really fantastic. Thank you Martin Russel.
January 9, 2020
Comprehensive history of the J. Paul Getty's story, and how this ultra-rich, powerful, and greedy man destroyed his family.
August 23, 2023
It strange how the wealthy how an incredibly weird take on the world. This book by Miller shows how messed up a family can become.
October 31, 2022
The book traces what happens to the Getty family over three generations, as the build up, and then sell, Getty Oil. The book mostly focuses on J Paul Getty but looks at his father, and children too.
It wasn't the greatest book if I'm honest. It was balanced enough, but it felt a little too hagiographic with respect to J Paul Getty, with the only real criticism focusing on how he handled his grandson's kidnapping (which was spectacularly ungracious of him).
The greatest criticism in the book focuses on the grandchildren. Money always brings out the worst in people I suspect, and this book pretty much proves it. If there was ever a more dubious example of people grubbing for money, I've yet to read it.
It wasn't the greatest book if I'm honest. It was balanced enough, but it felt a little too hagiographic with respect to J Paul Getty, with the only real criticism focusing on how he handled his grandson's kidnapping (which was spectacularly ungracious of him).
The greatest criticism in the book focuses on the grandchildren. Money always brings out the worst in people I suspect, and this book pretty much proves it. If there was ever a more dubious example of people grubbing for money, I've yet to read it.
February 28, 2011
This book seemed more accurate than The Great Getty. Includes the most detailed account that I've ever read of the kidnapping of Paul Getty III. I also liked the fact that they interviewed his ex-wife. I think the author sums it up well in his dedication saying, something to the extent of I dedicate this to my loved ones, being ever so thankful our name is not Getty.
February 10, 2013
A fascinating look into the private lives of the Getty family members, from the parents of J Paul Getty to the many neglected offspring of the famous oil tycoon. The book covers the beginning of the Getty family business until the corporate takeover of Getty Oil by Texaco.
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March 11, 2016paperback 4x6
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews