Gordon Getty & family

$5.49 B

Ranked #738 in World

About Gordon Getty & family

Gordon Peter Getty, renowned American businessman, classical composer, and son of J. Paul Getty, has had an influential presence in both the oil industry and the arts. Born into wealth, Getty inherited the $2 billion trust from his father in 1976, ranking him among the wealthiest with a net worth of $2.1 billion by Forbes in 2020. He founded ReFlow in 2002 and has made significant contributions to classical music, notably through operas like "The Canterville Ghost." However, the Getty family has also faced legal disputes, including a lawsuit against their ex-financial advisor Marlena Sonn. Getty's life and works, including his philanthropy to institutions like the University of San Francisco, have been captured in the documentary "Gordon Getty: There Will be Music."

Born

December 20, 1933 in Los Angeles, California

Age

92 years

Source Of Wealth

Getty Oil

Industries

Energy

Citizenship

United States

Residence

San Francisco, California

Education

Bachelor of Arts/Science, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Spouse

Ann Gilbert (Married: 1964–died 2020), Cynthia Beck

Children

7, including Andrew

Parent

J. Paul GettyAnn Rork Light

Gordon Peter Getty, born on December 20, 1933, is an American businessman and classical music composer. He is the fourth child of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. Raised in San Francisco, California, Gordon attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory and the University of San Francisco. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Gordon Getty & family: Family

Gordon Getty married Ann Gilbert in 1964. They lived in a yellow Italianate mansion in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. The couple hosted charity events, opera stars, and fundraisers for politicians. They had seven children together, three of whom are from Gordon's former mistress, Cynthia Beck. Sadly, two of Gordon's sons, Andrew Rork Getty and John Gilbert Getty, passed away in 2015 and 2021, respectively.

Gordon Getty & family: Career Highlights

Gordon Getty initially joined the oil business to please his father. However, he later sold Getty Oil to Texaco in 1986 for a whopping $10 billion. This transaction ranked him as the richest person in America by Forbes magazine in 1983, with a net worth exceeding $2 billion. In 2002, he founded ReFlow, a company that temporarily purchases shares in mutual funds to save funds taxes and commissions.

Gordon Getty & family: Companies

Gordon Getty has been involved with several companies throughout his career. He was the chairman of the board of Getty Oil until its sale in 1986. He also founded ReFlow in 2002 and served as its chairman and CEO. Additionally, he has been involved with various other businesses, including investments, real estate, and philanthropy.

Gordon Getty & family: Major Achievements

Gordon Getty has achieved significant success in both business and music. He is known for his role in the oil industry, particularly the sale of Getty Oil, which was a major financial transaction. As a classical music composer, he has composed operas, cantatas, choral works, and instrumental pieces.

His compositions have been performed by renowned orchestras and opera companies.

Gordon Getty & family: Awards & Achievements

Gordon Getty has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to music and philanthropy. Some of his notable honors include the Outstanding American Composer award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1986, the Gold Baton from the League of American Orchestras in 2003, and the University of San Francisco Alumnus of the Year award in 2015.

Gordon Getty & family: Personal Life & Legacy

Gordon Getty's personal life has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. He has been actively involved in supporting the fine arts, particularly through his underwriting of productions at the San Francisco Opera and the Russian National Orchestra. However, he has also faced legal battles involving his daughters Sarah and Kendalle, who are suing their former financial advisor for "unjust enrichment." Despite these challenges, Gordon Getty's legacy as a successful businessman and accomplished composer remains significant.

Gordon Getty & family: Trivia

Gordon Getty's life as a composer was chronicled in the documentary "Gordon Getty: There Will be Music," which premiered in 2016. The documentary was broadcast on PBS in the U.S. and Europe on ARTE, as well as at film festivals and programs across the country.

Wealth History

Timeline

December 20, 1933

Gordon Peter Getty is born in San Francisco, California.

1976

Gordon Getty assumes control of his father J. Paul Getty's US$ 2 billion trust after his father's death.

1983

Gordon Getty is ranked the richest person in America by Forbes magazine with a net worth of over $2 billion.

1986

Gordon Getty sells Getty Oil to Texaco for US$10 billion.

2002

Gordon Getty founds ReFlow, a company that temporarily purchases shares in mutual funds to save funds taxes and commissions.

2003

Gordon Getty receives the Gold Baton award from the League of American Orchestras.

2015

Gordon Getty's one-act opera Usher House is performed by the San Francisco Opera.

2015

Gordon Getty's opera The Canterville Ghost premieres at the Leipzig Opera.

2015

Gordon Getty's son Andrew Rork Getty dies from methamphetamine intoxication, heart disease, and bleeding linked to an ulcer.

2016

The documentary Gordon Getty: There Will be Music, chronicling Gordon Getty's life as a composer, premieres.

2021

Gordon Getty's son John Gilbert Getty dies.

Gordon Getty & family : FAQs

What is Gordon Getty's current net worth?

Gordon Getty's current net worth is $5.49 billion.

What is Gordon Getty's current global rank among billionaires?

Gordon Getty holds the 738th position globally among billionaires.

What is Gordon Getty's current ranking within the United States?

Gordon Getty holds the 276th position in United States.

What was the change in Gordon Getty's net worth compared to the previous year?

Gordon Getty's net worth decreased by 0 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 5.49 billion dollars.

What are Gordon Getty's main sources of wealth?

Gordon Getty's main source of income comes from Getty Oil.

In which industry does Gordon Getty primarily operate?

Gordon Getty is primarily involved in the Energy industry.

What is Gordon Getty educational background?

Gordon Getty holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

How old is Gordon Getty?

Gordon Getty is 92 years old.

How many children does Gordon Getty have?

Gordon Getty has 7 children.

Who is Gordon Peter Getty and what is his association with classical music?

Gordon Peter Getty is an American businessman and classical music composer, known as the fourth child of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. Alongside his business pursuits, Getty has contributed to the world of classical music with compositions including operas like 'Plump Jack' and 'The Canterville Ghost', piano pieces, and choral works.

What role did Gordon Getty play in the oil industry and what is his business legacy?

Gordon Getty joined the oil business, eventually taking control of Getty's US$2 billion trust after his father's death in 1976. He was instrumental in the sale of Getty Oil to Texaco in 1986 for US$10 billion and was named the richest person in America by Forbes in 1983. Additionally, he founded ReFlow in 2002, a company designed to assist mutual funds in reducing taxes and commissions.

What aspects of Gordon Getty's personal life have attracted public attention?

Gordon Getty's personal life has been marked by his marriage to Ann Gilbert in 1964, his residence in a stately Italianate mansion in San Francisco, and philanthropy. He faced personal tragedy with the deaths of two sons, Andrew Rork Getty and John Gilbert Getty. Also notable are the legal disputes involving his children from former mistress Cynthia Beck, and his support for educational institutions like the University of San Francisco.

Can you detail some of Gordon Getty's contributions to culture and the arts?

Gordon Getty has significantly impacted culture and the arts as a composer of operas, choral works, and piano music, and through his generous support of institutions like the San Francisco Opera and the Russian National Orchestra. His life and work in music have been showcased in the documentary 'Gordon Getty: There Will be Music', emphasizing his patronage of the fine arts.

What recognitions has Gordon Getty received for his work in music, and what are some notable pieces from his repertoire?

Gordon Getty has been honored with awards such as the 1986 Outstanding American Composer from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Gold Baton in 2003 from the League of American Orchestras. His extensive repertoire includes works like 'The Canterville Ghost', Usher House', and 'Joan and the Bells', highlighting his contributions to American classical music.