The Kidnapping of John Paul Getty, III

In 1973 in Italy, John Paul Getty, III, heir to the Getty fortune, was kidnapped by several members of the 'Ndrangheta gang. He was held captive for about 5 months while his kidnappers negotiated a ransom amount with his family. They wanted $17,000,000 but his grandfather, the family patriarch, would only concede to $3,000,000 after the kidnappers sliced off his grandson's ear and mailed it to a local newspaper.


Sources for this episode:
Town & Country - The Tragic True Story of John Paul Getty III's Kidnapping
All That's Interesting - The True Story Of The John Paul Getty III Kidnapping
People - John Paul Getty III After the Kidnapping: How Drugs and Torment Destroyed Billionaire Heir
Wanted in Rome - The story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in Rome
Rolling Stone - John Paul Getty III: The True Story Behind 'Trust'
Rolling Stone - J. Paul Getty III: Exclusive 1974 Interview with Kidnapped Oil Heir