In 1973 in Italy, John Paul Getty, III, heir to the Getty fortune, was kidnapped by several members of the 'Ndrangheta gang. He was held captive for about 5 months while his kidnappers negotiated a ransom amount with his family. They wanted $17,000,000 but his grandfather, the family patriarch, would only concede to $3,000,000 after the kidnappers sliced off his grandson's ear and mailed it to a local newspaper.


Sources for this episode:
Town & Country - The Tragic True Story of John Paul Getty III's Kidnapping
All That's Interesting - The True Story Of The John Paul Getty III Kidnapping
People - John Paul Getty III After the Kidnapping: How Drugs and Torment Destroyed Billionaire Heir
Wanted in Rome - The story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in Rome
Rolling Stone - John Paul Getty III: The True Story Behind 'Trust'
Rolling Stone - J. Paul Getty III: Exclusive 1974 Interview with Kidnapped Oil Heir