The Paradox of John Paul Getty's Frugality: Extreme Wealth, Extreme Thrift, and Complex Personal Relationships
Updated: 9 hours ago
John Paul Getty, one of the wealthiest men in the 20th century, amassed a fortune estimated at around $2 billion, a figure that would amount to billions more in today's terms. Despite his extraordinary wealth, Getty became infamous for his extreme frugality and relentless cost-cutting. His life was filled with instances of thrift that were both amusing and puzzling, yet a closer look reveals a man who blended his economic principles with an unconventional approach to personal relationships, Getty's personal life was as paradoxical as his approach to money.
Getty’s Frugality in Action: Humorous, Puzzling, and Dark Instances
One of the most iconic examples of Getty’s thriftiness—and possibly the most infamous—was his response to the kidnapping of his grandson, John Paul Getty III. When the boy was abducted in 1973, the kidnappers demanded $17 million in ransom. Despite his fortune, Getty initially refused to pay, suspecting a scam. Even when the captors sent a piece of the boy's ear to prove their seriousness, Getty only agreed to a reduced ransom, reportedly loaning the amount to his son at a 4% interest rate. This decision shocked the public and solidified Getty’s reputation as a wealthy yet famously parsimonious figure.
Another instance of Getty’s thriftiness was his installation of a coin-operated telephone at Sutton Place, his vast English estate. Guests were baffled by the need to pay for calls in the home of a billionaire, but Getty explained that it was necessary to curb high phone bills. In his autobiography, he described his reasons:
Now, for months after Sutton Place was purchased, great numbers of people came in and out of the house. Some were visiting businessmen. Others were artisans or workmen engaged in renovation and refurbishing. Still others were tradesmen making deliveries of merchandise.
Suddenly, the Sutton Place telephone bills began to soar. The reason was obvious. Each of the regular telephones in the house has direct access to outside lines and thus to long-distance and even overseas operators.
All sorts of people were making the best of a rare opportunity. They were picking up Sutton Place phones and placing calls to girlfriends in Geneva or Georgia and to aunts, uncles and third cousins twice-removed in Caracas and Cape Town. The costs of their friendly chats were, of course, charged to the Sutton Place bill.
Thus, the pay phone became a symbol of Getty's frugality and a memorable image of his wealth management.
The Women of Sutton Place: Mistresses and a Trusted Friend
Getty’s later years were marked by a unique domestic arrangement, with several women living with him at Sutton Place. The most prominent of these was Penelope Kitson, an English interior designer whom he met in the 1950s. Kitson was highly respected by Getty and tasked with decorating his homes and even the public rooms on his oil tankers. In 1960, Getty arranged for Kitson to reside in a cottage on the estate grounds, and the two maintained a close but platonic relationship. Unlike his romantic partners, Kitson became a lifelong confidante, enjoying Getty's trust and receiving a significant inheritance upon his death, including 5,000 shares in Getty Oil and a monthly stipend that grew significantly in value.
Beyond Kitson, Getty's life at Sutton Place also included a series of mistresses, reflecting his enduring appetite for romance and companionship. Among them were Mary Teissier, a distant cousin of the last Tsar of Russia; Lady Ursula d'Abo, a woman with close ties to the British Royal Family; and Rosabella Burch, originally from Nicaragua. These women shared his home but also experienced the complicated reality of Getty's life, one in which affections and loyalties were often conditional. In his final years, Getty’s arrangement at Sutton Place was described by The New York Times as "a collection of desperately hopeful women, all living together in his Tudor mansion in England, none of them aware that his favorite pastime was rewriting his will, changing his insultingly small bequests: $209 a month to one, $1,167 to another."
Only Kitson received a significant bequest upon Getty's death: 5,000 shares of Getty Oil, which doubled in value during the 1980s, and a $1,167 monthly income.
Everyday Economies: From Frayed Shirts to Half-Price Dog Show Tickets
Getty’s careful control over expenses extended to his personal belongings. His secretary once noted that Getty hand-washed his clothes rather than paying for laundering services. Instead of replacing frayed shirts, he would simply trim the cuffs, thus avoiding what he saw as unnecessary expenses. Getty was equally prudent with office supplies, often writing responses to letters on the backs of the original pages and saving every envelope, rubber band, and other item he could reuse.
Perhaps one of the more humorous examples of his thriftiness occurred at a London dog show. Getty took a group of friends to the event but made them wait outside until the ticket price dropped at 5 pm to half the original rate. Such actions painted a picture of a man who found satisfaction in saving at every opportunity, even on minor expenses, regardless of the scale of his wealth.
The Economics of Luxury: Bargaining for Mansions and Art Collections
Getty’s thriftiness wasn’t limited to everyday expenses; it extended to large-scale purchases in real estate and art. In 1959, he purchased Sutton Place, a 72-room mansion, from the Duke of Sutherland for £60,000, nearly half of what the Duke had paid. His preference for bargaining also influenced his extensive art collection, as he meticulously ensured that each acquisition would likely appreciate over time. Even during his residence in London at the Ritz, Getty carefully compared costs, boasting that a rum and coke at Sutton Place cost just 10 cents, a fraction of the price at the Ritz.
Influence of Methodism and ‘The Principle of the Thing’
Getty's biographer, John Pearson, suggested that his penny-pinching might have stemmed from his Methodist upbringing, which emphasised modest living. Getty himself claimed that he had become cautious due to his early business experiences, believing that he had been taken advantage of. For him, frugality was about more than saving money; it was a principle he upheld. His approach to others, then, was governed less by the expense itself than by what he saw as fair treatment and fiscal self-sufficiency.
During a 1963 interview with journalist Alan Whicker, Getty defended his financial practices, including the infamous pay phone at Sutton Place. Over time, however, as the estate's traffic waned, Getty removed the pay phone, but its legacy endures as part of his reputation.
Getty’s Legacy: Wealth, Frugality, and an Intricate Personal Life
John Paul Getty’s life was a testament to his unusual approach to wealth, defined by thrift and an eccentric mix of relationships. His complex domestic life, with his loyal confidante Kitson and his rotating group of mistresses, added an additional layer to his already perplexing personality. Despite his reluctance to spend freely, Getty’s arrangements with these women highlight his desire for companionship while still maintaining his principles of economy. Kitson stands out as the exception in a life marked by transactional relationships.
