The House of Getty

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 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.

A fantastic read. An incredible story of a brilliant man who lived to make money and bed women, and he wildly succeeded in both, but failed miserably in connecting with or seemingly to even remotely care about anyone else in his life other than his father and mother. He just didn’t seem to need people unless he could use them someway. The research done for this book is amazing. Before reading this I only remembered him from his picture of a dour looking humourless old man and could not have imagined his extraordinary story. You will not finish the book liking him by any means, but you will surely be in awe of his life.

I found the book boring and in too much detail with how the fortune was made with oil. The most interesting part, and the reason I bought it, was when the grandson was kidnapped and the reactions of the family. Even after the elder Getty's death, the book went on and on about lawsuits. I wish the book had included pictures of the family and of the others that were talked about in the book. Perhaps it is just me but I thought the book was too long with too much detail. The author did have to do a lot of research to write it, however, and I applaud him for that.

After reading this book it proves that money cannot buy happiness. This was such a messed up family. All the heirs had issues such as drug and alcohol abuse and sadly, so many of them have died as a result. Such a cliché not to mention the kidnapping of J Paul Getty III.

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 is the second Russell Miller book I have read but not the last. I picked up this book and stayed interested even through the financial details of Getty’s life. Miller shows Getty as the narcissist he was but he also shows Getty in a soft light- masterful writing to be able to combine those two.Can’t wait to find my next Miller book...

Having seen the movie "All the Money in the World" and the TV series "Trust," I wanted to read this biography of the Getty family. It's fascinating and well researched and helps to fill in the blanks of the movie and series.My reason for the 4-star rating is the lack of photos. Too bad the author didn't think to include any relevant pictures of the cast of characters in his book.

As this was quite a long book I have been reading it in 'stops & starts' and reading other matter inbetween & picking it up again later. Quite often the chapters regarding investments & the economics of sale and purchases of oil wells become rather heavy going so it is nice to have a break. The chapters regarding Mr Getty's private life are quite intriguing as are the relationships he had with the mother's of his children & with his children themselves. On the whole, a very good read.

Once you pick it up it's hard to put down. A man of dual personality, brilliant businessman but a terrible person!

Loved this book all that money and not much happiness just greed. But to start from nothing and be so rich is amazing

A must for those interested in knowing more about the Getty family, its fortunes and misfortunes

Fascinating life well told.