J. Paul Getty - Check Signed 04/14/1943

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About J. Paul Getty - Check Signed 04/14/1943

J. PAUL GETTY The oil tycoon signs this check for $15.60 made out to Byrnes Brothers Warehouses, Inc. Check signed: "J. Paul Getty", 8½x3¼. Check No. 2817 drawn on Getty's personal account at Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, 1943 April 14, payable to Byrnes Brothers Warehouses, Inc. for $15.60. In 1916, Jean Paul Getty and his father, George, had incorporated the Getty Oil Company, an early precursor to the great conglomerate. His multistate operation went international in 1949, when he completed a deal to lease oil fields in Saudi Arabia. During the Depression Era, he had bought extensive quantities of stock and in 1956 he gained control of Pacific Western, which he renamed Getty Oil, ending a 19-year stock battle with Standard Oil. The significantly larger Getty Oil Company became the world's largest privately owned business and made the enterprising Getty a billionaire. Although he was one of the world's richest men, Getty had a legendary reputation for miserliness. However, he shared his multimillion dollar collection of art and antiquities with the public by establishing the J. Paul Getty Museum--the largest endowment granted to an art museum at that time. Vertical fold. File holes at upper margin, cancellation holes and bank stamps, not near signature. Otherwise, fine condition. - Please contact us if you have any questions or require additional information. HFSID 265097