The House of Getty - Premium Home Decor & Unique Gifts for Modern Living | Perfect for Housewarming, Wedding Gifts & Interior Design

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.