The Wealthiest American Dynasties, Ranked

The Getty family’s story began in the rugged oil fields of Oklahoma, where George Franklin Getty and his ambitious son, J. Paul Getty, laid the groundwork for a petroleum dynasty. After George’s passing, J. Paul took a $500,000 inheritance and turned it into one of the 20th century’s most successful oil empires—Getty Oil.

Known for his frugality and flair, J. Paul became the world’s richest man at one point, even as family drama and financial shifts loomed. Despite Getty Oil’s 2011 bankruptcy, the family’s wealth endures. Today, the Gettys still command a fortune of $5.4 billion, with their legacy stretching from oil to art.