 sir john paul getty, kbe (7 september 1932 â 17 april 2003), born eugene paul getty, was a wealthy american-born british philanthropist and book collector. he was the elder son of jean paul getty, sr. (1892â1976), one of the richest men in the world at the time, and his wife anne rork. the getty family's wealth was the result of the oil business founded by george franklin getty. at birth he was given the name eugene paul getty, but in later life he adopted other names, including paul getty, john paul getty, jean paul getty, jr. and john paul getty ii. a long-time anglophile, he became a british citizen in 1997. in 1986, he was awarded an honorary knighthood for services to causes ranging from cricket (a sport he came to love despite his american upbringing), to art and to the conservative party. his honorary knighthood became substantive when he became a british citizen. in 1998 he changed his name by deed poll when he renounced the first name eugene and wished to be known as sir paul getty, kbe. =
1932_births 2003_deaths American_billionaires American_emigrants_to_England American_philanthropists Disease-related_deaths_in_England English_billionaires English_philanthropists Getty_family Knights_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire Naturalised_citizens_of_the_United_Kingdom People_associated_with_the_National_Gallery,_London People_from_California Presidents_of_Surrey_CCC University_of_San_Francisco_alumni