Recommended by: WiseSuit Staff  

In 1957, Fortune magazine published a list of the wealthiest people in the United States of America, and J. Paul Getty headed that list. From that point on, he would come to be known as the multi-billionaire who was the world's richest man.

A lot has been written and said about the personal and business life of J. Paul Getty but there's nothing that can replace reading the words written by the man himself. The oil tycoon was born in 1892, and after many unsuccessful oil wildcatting attempts, he became a millionaire at age 23 from a successful oil deal, and decided to retire. His parents were completely and utterly aghast.

But after two years of living the lavish life of a young and wealthy playboy in California, he got bored and, to his parents' relief, returned to business. However, he soon faced the unfortunate death of his beloved father and business mentor, George Getty. His father had build up a fortune of just about $500,000 in the early 1900's, so in addition to his own money, J. Paul Getty had a financial foundation on which to express his own big business ambitions. 

He took over the family assets, famously set them up in a trust in his mother's (Sarah Getty's) name, and he went on to build an immense business empire over the next six decades. In his business life, this empire consisted of over 200 companies but the bulk of his wealth lay in the oil and gas sector with the flagship Getty Oil company. It is worth noting that he accomplished this amazing feat through two world wars.

In this autobiography, Getty speaks candidly about how he built his staggering wealth, including detailed accounts of his business dealings. He also talks about his love of art, the challenges faced by people with his level of wealth, and he even delves into his inability to nurture a successful marriage: he was married five times.

Getty's businesses spanned the globe with interests in North America, Europe and oil partnerships in the Middle East, which took him around the world regularly. And although he was born in America where he spent his early years, he felt most comfortable in England and lived the majority of his adult life there from which he oversaw his vast empire.

J. Paul Getty passed away in 1976 but his impact can be felt in our world to this day. Many major businesses, philanthropic endeavours, and even museums, have benefited from the time, knowledge and money of J. Paul Getty. His inheritors did sell the family's stake in Getty Oil but the Getty Museum and Getty Oil still bear his name.

Thankfully, just before he passed on, Getty distilled over eight decades of wisdom into this book for the rest of us to absorb and apply to our own lives.

Reviews:

"Essential reading for anyone who enjoys learning the personalities of people in the public eye." - Library Journal 

"Getty writes as one full of ideas on all subjects... He boasts about... political prescience and friendships with royalty... he dispenses wisdom about the sexes... he almost convinces us that he was never the lonely recluse he was so long depicted as in the envious media." - New York Times

About the Author:

Famously known as "the world's richest man," J. Paul Getty built a vast business empire of over 200 companies during a business life that spanned six decades. His most notable businesses were in the oil sector with Getty Oil. He spent a large part of his adult life in England from which he controlled his global business interests. His love of art was legendary and culminated in his creation of the J. Paul Getty Museum in California. He passed away in 1976.

Categories:  Biography,  Leadership