R.I.P. J.P.G.3

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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:59 pm

Man. That family is cursed...

Quote:

J. PAUL GETTY III, the grandson of the American millionaire oil tycoon of the same name, has died in England aged 54.

J. PAUL GETTY III, better known as 'The Golden Hippie' for his long red locks, left-wing views and bohemian lifestyle, passed away on Saturday (5th February 2011) aged 54, reports Time Magazine. Getty rose to fame in 1973 when he was kidnapped in Italy and had his severed ear mailed to a national newspaper requesting $17 million in ransom. The accompanying letter from his captors read, "This is Paul's ear. If we don't get some money within 10 days, the other ear will arrive. In other words he will arrive in little pieces". Although initially reluctant to pay the random, Getty's grandfather reportedly gave the captors $3 million for his grandson's release. After payment had been made, Getty was dropped off at a gas station after being held captive for five months. Upon his release, he began mixing with Andy Warhol's art friends in New York and in 1981 he overdosed on drugs leaving him paralyzed, partially blind and unable to speak properly.
Getty is survived by his son, the Hollywood actor Balthazar Getty, as well as his mother, brother, two sisters, stepdaughter and six grandchildren.

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:22 pm

Born with a golden spoon in his mouth and partied so hard that he fucked himself up.
There's a moral in there somewhere.

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:59 pm

Quote:

in 1981 he overdosed on drugs leaving him paralyzed, partially blind and unable to speak properly

At least his good ear was still OK. Must've been quite a party.

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:01 pm

I see he leaves behind a son, Balthazar.

Incoming "I am in need your assistance in respect of my late father's funds" scripts in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:04 am

Wow. Is this baiter cynicism at work? Let's try a little humanity shall we?

To recap. This man, at the tender age of 16, already living with his parents divorce and stepmother's 'mysterious' death, was kidnapped, held prisoner chained to a metal stake in a cave, tortured, physically disfigured, and finally released with the knowledge that it took his family, the richest in the world at the time, a whole 5 months to put aside their petty squabbling and agree to pay a ransom just to get him back in something resembling one piece. Horrific. I can understand how an experience like that might throw him 'off the rails' and lead him to drugs. And then in his early twenties, when he should be enjoying life, an overdose (accidental? or deliberate?) robs him of movement, coherent speech and sight. What a horrible kick in the teeth.

He may have had money, but I don't envy him his life one bit. Hopefully he can find the peace in death that his family and name didn't allow him to have in life.

Umm. I seem to have rambled on a bit. I guess this one just got to me. Sorry.

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:39 am

I agree with Cougar on this one. I remember his grandfather saying something like "I have xxxx grandchildren and if I pay for this one, I'll have to pay for them all." Dysfunctional family to the nth degree. He didn't ask to be born with that golden spoon. He suffered because of it, and I am glad he has had release from it. RIP.

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:58 am

Thank you, Cougar and Fae. He really did live through a horrific life that I can't begin to imagine surviving.

RIP.

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:59 am

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:52 am

Cougar wrote:

I can understand how an experience like that might throw him 'off the rails' and lead him to drugs.

Actually, you're wrong. He was already "off the rails" long before the kidnapping experience.

Part of the reason that the ransom wasn't paid quickly was because he was such a fuck-up, it was believed that he'd kidnapped himself. He'd even mentioned staging his own kidnap to extort money from his grandfather.

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:18 pm

^^^^ I remember reading about that; that he was messed up and it was thought he staged his own kidnapping.

Being raised with money doesn't mean you will have a great life.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

Like other RIP threads in the past, let's please let this be an RIP thread and not a judgement of his life thread.

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:36 pm

I recall the kidnapping incident. The people responsible cut off his right ear and mailed it to the authorities in Rome. It took eighteen days for the gruesome package to reach Rome (phew!) A biting commentary on the Italian postal system.

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:43 am

^^^

Yeah, these days they would just overnight the ear. Very Happy

Seriously though, bottom line here, J.Paul Getty was a fellow human being. Flawed. As we all are. He didn't chose what he was born into. The circumstances under which he grew up. Being kidnapped? That whole experience? Horrendous. Yes, he made some choices that weren't conducive to a healthy lifestyle. He was human, right? Flawed. As we all are. He lived a tragic life. Hopefully, he is resting in peace now.