Billionaire philanthropist Getty dies in London Clinic

RECLUSIVE US billionaire John Paul Getty II has died at a London hospital at the age of 70. He was admitted to the London Clinic on Monday for treatment for a recurrent chest infection but died on Thursday, said consultant Dr John Goldstone.

In a short statement issued on behalf of the Getty family and the London Clinic, Dr Goldstone said: “Sadly Sir Paul passed away at 10.40am today.

“His family would like to extend their thanks to all those who have expressed their sympathy, which is greatly appreciated.”

Getty was a staunch Anglophile and donated millions of pounds in support of the arts in Britain.

He gave away at least £120m, including large sums to the National Gallery, the British Film Institute, and donations to keep other works of art in the country.

The heir to what was once the world’s largest private oil fortune, endured a series of family tragedies, including the death of his second wife from a drug overdose and the kidnap of his son Paul.

The boys’ grandfather, oil baron John Paul Getty, initially refused to help pay the $3m ransom. The Italian kidnappers the cut off the boy’s ear and sent it to his family.

Getty, who lived a hippie lifestyle in the 1960s, moved to Britain where he received treatment for his drug addiction. He lived as a recluse but was willing to use his vast fortune to the benefit of his adopted country.

In a rare public statement after subsidising the families of striking miners in 1985, Getty said he was “privileged to be the heir to huge wealth and I regard myself as custodian of that money for the benefit of people who need it more than I do”.

His philanthropy earned him an honorary knighthood from the queen of England in 1986.

As an American citizen he was not entitled to be called sir. But in December 1997 he was granted British citizenship, allowing him to be knighted by the queen a few months later and use his title.