J. Paul Getty Life and Legacy

September 27, 2016—Ongoing,GETTY CENTER

This permanent installation tells the story of J. Paul Getty, the businessman and art collector who used the bulk of his wealth to create the arts institution that bears his name. Considered the world’s richest man in the 1950s and 60s, Getty made his fortune in the oil business. Upon his death in 1976 he bequeathed his estate to his small namesake museum, along with a remarkably broad directive. Accordingly, the J. Paul Getty Trust was created, the world’s largest cultural and philanthropic organization dedicated to the visual arts. The installation includes objects that Getty collected personally, and a digital interactive experience that visitors can use to learn about his life, business dealings, and establishment of the Trust and the Museum.