Gordon Getty
Encyclopedia
Gordon Peter Getty was born on December 20, 1934. He is the fourth child of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty
. His mother, Ann Rork, was his father's third wife. When his father died in 1976, Gordon assumed control of Getty's
US$
2 billion trust. According to the Forbes 400
, as of September 2011 his net worth is $2 billion, making him number 212 on the list of the richest Americans.
, attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory
, and earned a B.A. in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
. He married Ann Gilbert in Las Vegas, Nevada
, on Christmas Day, 1964. The wedding was witnessed by William Newsom
, Gordon's longtime friend, and father of Gavin Newsom
.
He joined the oil business to please his father; however, he eventually sold the family's Getty Oil
to Texaco
in 1986 for US$10 billion. In 1983, Forbes magazine ranked him the richest person in America with a net worth little over $2 billion.
His current net worth is cited as US$2 billion, making him the 212th richest person in the United States. Getty helped finance Gavin Newsom
's PlumpJack Group businesses, including five restaurants, a Napa Valley
winery
, a Squaw Valley hotel and resort, and two retail clothing stores. Of Newsom’s 11 enterprises, Gordon Getty was the lead investor in 10.
Getty is one of the nation's leading venture capitalists and philanthropists. In 2002, he donated US$3 million to the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, a charitable trust. Though a Republican, he is a major fundraiser for local and national Democratic Party candidates, and has contributed to the campaigns of Nancy Pelosi
, Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom
, and John Kerry
.
Among a number of professions, Getty is a classical music composer, whose compositions include the opera Plump Jack, Joan and the Bells, and a collection of choral works. Aspiring to become an opera singer, Getty studied in the mid-1970s with Louise Caselotti
, a mezzo soprano who had been Maria Callas
' voice teacher (1946-47). He and his wife have supported the fine arts, especially underwriting productions of the San Francisco Opera
and the Russian National Orchestra
.
In 2002, Getty founded ReFlow, a company which temporarily purchases shares in mutual funds to save funds taxes and commissions.
J. Paul Getty
Jean Paul Getty was an American industrialist. He founded the Getty Oil Company, and in 1957 Fortune magazine named him the richest living American, whilst the 1966 Guinness Book of Records named him as the world's richest private citizen, worth an estimated $1,200 million. At his death, he was...
. His mother, Ann Rork, was his father's third wife. When his father died in 1976, Gordon assumed control of Getty's
Getty family
The Getty family of the United States made its money in oil in the 20th century. As a family involved in the oil business, members of the Getty family identify with George Franklin Getty and his son Jean Paul Getty as their patriarchs...
US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2 billion trust. According to the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
, as of September 2011 his net worth is $2 billion, making him number 212 on the list of the richest Americans.
Biography
Getty was raised in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
St. Ignatius College Preparatory is a preparatory school in the Jesuit tradition serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1855. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, in the Sunset District of San Francisco, St. Ignatius is one of the oldest secondary schools in the U.S. state...
, and earned a B.A. in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, formerly the California Conservatory of Music, founded in 1917, is a music school, with an enrollment of about 400 students. It was launched by Ada Clement and Lillian Hodgehead in the remodeled home of Lillian's parents on Sacramento Street. It was called the...
. He married Ann Gilbert in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, on Christmas Day, 1964. The wedding was witnessed by William Newsom
William Newsom
William Alfred Newsom III is a retired state appeals court judge, administrator of the Getty family trust, and the father of former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom....
, Gordon's longtime friend, and father of Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
.
He joined the oil business to please his father; however, he eventually sold the family's Getty Oil
Getty Oil
Getty Oil is an oil company founded by J. Paul Getty. It was at its height during the 1960s. In 1971, the Getty Realty division was formed to manage the real estate needs of Getty stations. The division was later spun off, but now owns the rights to the Getty brand...
to Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
in 1986 for US$10 billion. In 1983, Forbes magazine ranked him the richest person in America with a net worth little over $2 billion.
His current net worth is cited as US$2 billion, making him the 212th richest person in the United States. Getty helped finance Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
's PlumpJack Group businesses, including five restaurants, a Napa Valley
Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States...
winery
PlumpJack Winery
PlumpJack Winery is a boutique winery in Oakville, California specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon wines. PlumpJack was the first winery in Napa Valley to use screwcaps as a wine closure on super premium wines. The winery is one of several businesses operated by the PlumpJack Group...
, a Squaw Valley hotel and resort, and two retail clothing stores. Of Newsom’s 11 enterprises, Gordon Getty was the lead investor in 10.
Getty is one of the nation's leading venture capitalists and philanthropists. In 2002, he donated US$3 million to the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, a charitable trust. Though a Republican, he is a major fundraiser for local and national Democratic Party candidates, and has contributed to the campaigns of Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
, Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
, and John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
.
Among a number of professions, Getty is a classical music composer, whose compositions include the opera Plump Jack, Joan and the Bells, and a collection of choral works. Aspiring to become an opera singer, Getty studied in the mid-1970s with Louise Caselotti
Louise Caselotti
Louise Caselotti was an American mezzo soprano or contralto.-Biography:Caselotti sang in various operatic productions, as well as performing on radio and even experimental television broadcasts in the 1930s for CBS. She dubbed the voices of several leading Hollywood actresses in the late 1930s...
, a mezzo soprano who had been Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
' voice teacher (1946-47). He and his wife have supported the fine arts, especially underwriting productions of the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
and the Russian National Orchestra
Russian National Orchestra
The Russian National Orchestra premiered in Moscow in 1990.It was the first Russian orchestra to perform at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican and in Israel....
.
In 2002, Getty founded ReFlow, a company which temporarily purchases shares in mutual funds to save funds taxes and commissions.