George was forced to work at a young age until his uncle, Joseph Getty, provided funds for him to attend school.

In 1884, George F. Getty moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he specialized in insurance and corporate law and made a good living in what was the "flour capital" of America.

Within two years, he had amassed a fortune from his Minnehoma Oil Company and moved his family to Los Angeles, California.

In 1913, George lent his son Jean Paul (then aged 21) money to invest in oil wells.

He was an executive in the Getty Oil company until his death, which the L.A. County coroner ruled a probable suicide.