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J. Paul Getty Iii

February 8, 2011 by · Comments Off on J. Paul Getty Iii 

J. Paul Getty Iii, (CP) – J. Paul Getty III, the grandson of a troubled multimillionaire oil tycoon who has lost an ear in a macabre kidnapping, has died. He was 54. His son, Belshazzar, was confirmed dead by a publicist. The statement says J. Paul Getty III died Saturday in England, surrounded by his family.

Born into wealth, J. Paul Getty III gained notoriety when he was kidnapped in Rome in 1973. When the family would have foundered on the payment of a ransom, the kidnappers cut off part of his ear, sending the body to cut a log to prove they had taken captive.

The oil heir, then 16, was freed after five months of captivity and a payment of 2.7 million.

He then suffered a stroke during treatment for alcohol abuse in 1981.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Balthazar Getty

February 8, 2011 by · Comments Off on Balthazar Getty 

Balthazar Getty, (AP) – J. Paul Getty III, the grand-son of a troubled multimillionaire oilman who once lost an ear in a kidnapping macabre, died at the age of 54. His son, actor Balthazar Getty has confirmed Tuesday that his father died Saturday, surrounded by his family in his English manor in Buckinghamshire, northwest London. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born into wealth, J. Paul Getty III gained notoriety when he was kidnapped in Rome in 1973. When the family would have foundered on the payment of a ransom, the kidnappers cut off part of his ear, sending the body to cut a log to prove they had taken captive.

The oil heir, then 16, was freed after five months of captivity and a payment of 2.7 million.

He then suffered a stroke during treatment for alcohol abuse in 1981 and had to use a wheelchair ever since.

The father of two children and grandfather of six “never let his disability prevent him from living a full life and was an inspiration to us all, showing us how to resist adversity,” Balthazar Getty, said in a statement released by his publicist. “We will miss him terribly.”

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(CBS) J. Paul Getty III, the grandson of oil magnate J. American Paul Getty, died at the age of 54.

He died 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 best known for his public misfortunes. The most sensational story of the family took place in July 1973, when he was removed from a place in Rome at the age of 16. When his grandfather billionaire refused to pay the ransom, the kidnappers cut off the right ear of Getty. He was released after five months in captivity.

According to reports, the elder Getty and contributed 2.2 million to over $ 3 million and demanded a ransom, and accused his son – J. Paul Getty II – interest on the rest.

A decade after the incident, Getty fell into drugs and alcohol, and was left almost blind and quadriplegic after a stroke in 1981. He had two children and six grandchildren.

Balthazar Getty said his father “taught us to live our lives and overcome extreme adversity and will be sorely missed.”

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