Kidnapping of John Paul Getty III | 1973 | Historical Event

OVERVIEW

In 1973, 16-year-old John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in Rome by the 'Ndrangheta mafia. His grandfather, billionaire J. Paul Getty Sr., famously refused the $17M ransom, fearing it would endanger his other 14 grandchildren. After five months, the captors mailed Paul’s severed ear to a newspaper. The patriarch finally paid a reduced $2.9M—loaning the bulk to his son at 4% interest. Paul was released, but the trauma and later addiction left him paralyzed until his death in 2011.

The 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III is chronicled in the FX series Trust, highlighting the dysfunctional Getty dynasty and their immense wealth. The story centers on J. Paul Getty Sr., the world's richest man, who resided in a 72-room English mansion, while his grandson was held by the Italian mafia. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• The Kidnapping: John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in Rome in 1973, with a $17 million ransom demanded.

• The Patriarch's Response: J. Paul Getty Sr., based at his Sutton Place estate in England, initially refused to pay the ransom, stating he had 14 other grandchildren and paying would make them targets.

• The Turning Point: After a severed ear and a lock of hair from the grandson were sent to a newspaper, Getty Sr. agreed to pay a reduced amount, partly structured as a loan to his son with 4% interest.

• The Family Dynamics: The story, also depicted in the movie All the Money in the World, explores the intense, often toxic, family dynamics. The 2018 television series Trust, which you can find on Apple TV, provides a detailed portrayal of these events, as does the Wikipedia article on the series.

• Related Tragedy: The same year also saw the suspicious, violent death of George Getty, which is explored in this article on Vanity Fair. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

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TIMELINE

The 1973 Getty kidnapping unfolded over five grueling months, marked by the grandfather's refusal to pay and the kidnappers' escalating brutality. [1, 2, 3, 4]

1973 Timeline of Events

• July 10: At 3 a.m., 16-year-old John Paul Getty III is abducted from the Piazza Farnese in Rome by members of the 'Ndrangheta mafia.

• July 12: Paul’s mother, Abigail Harris, receives a ransom note demanding $17 million for his safe return.

• Late July – August: J. Paul Getty Sr. famously refuses to pay, stating that doing so would put his other 14 grandchildren at risk. Public and family suspicion grows that the rebellious teen may have staged the kidnapping himself.

• September – October: Negotiations stall. An Italian postal strike further delays communication between the captors and the family. Paul's treatment in captivity worsens; he is moved between isolated caves in the Calabrian mountains.

• November 8: A Roman newspaper receives an envelope containing a lock of hair and a severed human ear. A note threatens that Paul will continue to arrive "in little bits" if $3.2 million isn't paid within 10 days.

• December: Under immense public pressure, Getty Sr. finally agrees to a negotiated ransom of approximately $2.9 million.

  • He pays $2.2 million himself—the maximum amount that was then tax-deductible.

  • He loans the remaining amount to his son (Paul’s father) at a 4% interest rate.

• December 15: After five months of captivity, John Paul Getty III is found alive at a snow-covered petrol station in Lauria, Italy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]

Aftermath

• 1974: Paul marries his girlfriend, Gisela Schmidt, at age 18.

• 1977: He undergoes several surgeries to reconstruct his ear.

• 1981: Paul suffers a near-fatal stroke following a drug overdose, which leaves him quadriplegic and partially blind for the remainder of his life.

• 2011: John Paul Getty III dies at the age of 54. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]