Sir Paul Getty: Philanthropist and Cricket Patron Dies at 70

Sir John Paul Getty II was an American-born British philanthropist and book collector, the son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. Born on September 7, 1932, aboard a ship near Genoa, Italy, he was registered at birth as Eugene Paul Getty.

He led his father's Italian oil subsidiary and later became one of Britain's most generous philanthropists, giving more than 140 million pounds to the arts and culture, including 50 million pounds to the National Gallery. He was knighted (KBE) in 1986 and became a British citizen in 1997.

Getty was a lover of cricket, serving as president of Surrey County Cricket Club and owning the Wisden almanack, and he built a cricket ground at his Wormsley estate. He had five children and three marriages. He died at The London Clinic in London on April 17, 2003, at age 70, after a chest infection.

Achievements: Knighted (KBE) in 1986, donated more than 140 million pounds to arts and culture, president of Surrey County Cricket Club.

Birth: September 7, 1932 - near Genoa, Italy.

Profession: Philanthropist and book collector.

Interesting Facts: His Wormsley library holds treasures including Shakespeare folios. His son Mark co-founded Getty Images.