Grandson Kidnapped by Mafia, World's Richest Man Refuses to Pay £145 Million Ransom

Being the grandson of the world’s richest man does not always guarantee a safe life. This was the reality for John Paul Getty III in 1973, when he was kidnapped by the Italian mafia and used as a tool to extort his family.

At the time, 16-year-old Getty III was abducted in Rome on 10 July 1973 by the Italian criminal group known as the ’Ndrangheta. Shortly after the kidnapping, the perpetrators contacted his family demanding a ransom of US$17 million, which equates to approximately £145 million in today’s value.

However, the demand was rejected by his grandfather, J. Paul Getty, the American oil tycoon who was then recognised as the wealthiest person in the world. According to various reports, Getty believed that paying the ransom would only trigger similar kidnappings against other family members. Due to this refusal, negotiations reached a deadlock, and Getty III remained in captivity for several months.

The kidnappers subsequently increased the pressure on the family. In November 1973, they sent a package to the offices of the Il Messaggero newspaper in Rome. The contents shocked the public: inside the package were a piece of a human ear, a bloodstained lock of hair, and a threatening message.

“This is Paul’s ear. If we do not receive the money within 10 days, the other ear will follow. After that, he will be sent in small pieces,” the kidnappers’ message stated, as quoted by The Washington Post.

This threat left the Getty family in a state of terror, eventually forcing them to meet the kidnappers’ demands. On 15 December 1973, Getty III was found after being held hostage for almost six months, though he was in critical condition.

The case gained worldwide attention due to the involvement of a super-wealthy family. J. Paul Getty was the founder of the Getty Oil Company, having built his fortune from the oil business since the early 20th century. Through aggressive business expansion and surging oil prices, he was once named the richest man in the world by Fortune magazine.

Although he survived, Getty III never truly recovered from the trauma of the kidnapping. According to the book ‘Kidnapped: The Tragic Life of J. Paul Getty III’ (2018), the horrific experience left a lasting scar on his life. He later struggled with drug addiction and suffered a stroke in 1981. Getty III passed away in London on 5 February 2011 at the age of 54. His story serves as a testament that immense wealth cannot always protect an individual from tragedy.