But the story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III was about to take a grisly turn. After months of wrangling, including numerous phone calls between Gail and her son’s captors, a local Italian newspaper received a horrifying parcel: a human ear. It was assumed to be the teenager’s, showing that the kidnappers were indeed dangerous and willing to do Getty III harm. The severed appendage was accompanied by a new demand — the gang wanted the money within 10 days, or the boy would be killed.
Read Related Also: The Biggest News Stories Of 2023
In many ways, what happened next went down in history as J. Paul Getty Sr.’s epitaph, rounding off the crisis that would come to define his life and character despite his immeasurable success in the world of business and finance. In the days that followed, the patriarch struck a deal with the kidnappers for a new sum, $3 million — $14 million less than they had originally demanded, though perhaps they hadn’t considered just how hard-nosed Getty Sr. could be. Of the $3 million, it emerged that just $2.2 million would be paid directly by the billionaire Getty, with the rest being paid by the kidnapped boy’s father, who would himself receive the money in the form of a loan — with interest — from Getty Sr. The eldest Getty, meanwhile, would be able to write the $2.2 million off his tax bill, the maximum amount he was able to in the circumstances.
