"Mercy No More On The Getty Pedophiles and Getty Enablers," says Steven D. Kelley

Overview of the Getty Family’s Private Trusts

The Getty family’s private trusts are financial vehicles established to manage and preserve the wealth derived from J. Paul Getty’s oil empire, primarily through Getty Oil, founded in 1942. These trusts are separate from the J. Paul Getty Trust, a public charitable foundation focused on the arts. The private trusts, rooted in the Sarah C. Getty Trust established in 1934 by J. Paul Getty’s mother, have been central to the family’s wealth management, tax strategies, and dynastic succession. They are managed by family offices like Vallejo Investments and have been the subject of legal disputes and public scrutiny, particularly for tax avoidance tactics.
Key Historical Context

Sarah C. Getty Trust (1934): Created by Sarah C. Getty, J. Paul’s mother, this trust held a significant stake in Getty Oil (40% by 1985) and was designed to channel tax-free, secure income for future generations. By J. Paul’s death in 1976, it was valued at $2 billion, with Gordon Getty as the sole trustee.

1976 Bequest and Growth: J. Paul Getty left the bulk of his estate, including $660 million in Getty Oil stock, to the J. Paul Getty Museum (now part of the J. Paul Getty Trust). His children inherited billions through the Sarah C. Getty Trust, which grew significantly after the 1984 sale of Getty Oil to Texaco for $10 billion.1985 Division: Due to family disputes, the $4 billion Sarah C. Getty Trust was split into four smaller trusts of $750 million each, resolving conflicts among heirs, including Gordon Getty, Eugene Paul Getty Jr., and Jean Ronald Getty’s descendants. An additional $1 billion was set aside for taxes. Gordon relinquished his role as sole trustee, and the trusts were restructured to balance income for living heirs and principal for future generations.

Major Private Trusts

Pleiades Trust:
Purpose: Established by Gordon Getty for his three daughters (Kendalle, Alexandra “Sarah,” and Nicolette) from an extramarital affair with Cynthia Beck. It is designed to benefit them after Gordon’s death, with Gordon as the principal beneficiary during his lifetime.

Administration: Officially based in Reno, Nevada, at Airport Gardens, a location chosen for its proximity to a private jet terminal to facilitate visits from California-based Gettys, minimizing state income tax exposure (Nevada has no individual income tax, unlike California’s up to 13%).Controversy: Wealth manager Marlena Sonn, who advised Kendalle and Sarah from 2013–2020, alleged in a 2021 lawsuit that the Pleiades Trust was part of a “dubious tax avoidance scheme” to save up to $300 million in California taxes. Sonn claimed the trust’s Nevada domicile was a pretense, as the sisters primarily lived in California, violating the state’s “throwback” rule, which taxes trust income for resident beneficiaries. She was fired after urging compliance with California tax law, prompting a wrongful termination lawsuit. The Getty heirs countersued, accusing Sonn of “unjust enrichment” and coercion for bonuses.Financials: Gordon received $176 million from the Pleiades Trust between 2015–2020, while the sisters received modest fees and loans from their father. Kendalle’s initial $5 million portfolio, managed by Sonn, grew significantly, reflecting the trust’s wealth.Getty Investments L.L.C. Trusts:

Structure: Four trusts—Cheyne Walk Trust, Ronald Family Trust A, Ronald Family Trust B, and Gordon P. Getty Family Trust—own 100% of Getty Investments L.L.C., a vehicle formed to invest in Getty Communications (predecessor to Getty Images). Ownership stakes are 47.4%, 21%, 17.6%, and 14%, respectively.

Purpose: These trusts manage investments in Getty Images and other ventures, with a 2003 redemption of Transon’s interest funded by additional capital contributions from the trusts (e.g., $19.8 million from Cheyne Walk and Ronald Family Trust B).Governance: Governed by a board of seven directors, with each trust appointing directors based on ownership, ensuring family control.Other Family Trusts:

Gordon Getty’s Trusts: Gordon, with a net worth of $2.1 billion in 2020, managed multiple trusts, including those for his four sons with Ann Getty (Gordon Jr., William, Andrew, John) and the Pleiades Trust for his daughters. His wealth was restructured after the 1985 division, with $750 million allocated to his branch.

Jean Ronald Getty’s Trust: Jean Ronald, J. Paul’s eldest son, received only $3,000 annually, but his descendants shared a $750 million trust, subdivided among other beneficiaries.Eugene Paul Getty Jr.’s Trust: Eugene (also known as John Paul Getty Jr.) received a $750 million trust, benefiting his children, including Mark Getty (founder of Getty Images) and John Paul Getty III.
Tax Avoidance Strategies

The Getty family’s private trusts have been criticized for exploiting U.S. trust law to minimize taxes, particularly through Nevada-based trusts. Key strategies include:

Nevada Domicile: Nevada’s lack of state income tax, extended rule against perpetuities (allowing trusts to last 375 years), and minimal disclosure requirements make it a tax haven. The Pleiades Trust’s Reno office was allegedly a front, with trust business conducted minimally in Nevada (e.g., annual Las Vegas meetings) to maintain the fiction that the Gettys were not California residents.

Dynasty Trusts: By placing assets in long-term trusts (e.g., $12.9 million tax-free per trust), the Gettys avoided the 40% federal estate tax across generations. For example, $12.9 million in a Nevada trust could grow to $502 million in 75 years, per Northern Trust Institute calculations.Family Offices: Vallejo Investments, the Getty family office, employs specialized attorneys and accountants to manage trusts and obscure transactions, reducing public visibility and tax liability.Legal Challenges: Marlena Sonn’s lawsuit exposed these tactics, alleging the Gettys used corporate entities (e.g., KPG Investments for Kendalle, ASG Investments for Sarah) to further distance trust activities from California. The lawsuit remains unresolved, but it highlights tensions between wealth preservation and legal compliance.
Family Dynamics and Disputes

The private trusts have fueled family conflicts:

1983–1985 Feud: Tara Getty’s attorney, Seth Hufstedler, opposed the trust division, arguing it favored living heirs over future generations. The dispute was settled after adding provisions for unborn heirs, facilitated by a new California law allowing trust divisions.

Sonn Lawsuit (2021): Kendalle and Sarah Getty’s reliance on Sonn as a confidante (handling art projects, real estate, and family dynamics) soured when she challenged their tax strategies. The public airing of family emails and texts in the lawsuit was a rare breach of privacy for the secretive Gettys.Dysfunction: The trusts exacerbated tensions, with heirs like Kendalle lamenting the emotional cost of wealth: “In exchange for the love I didn’t receive in my life, I got money.” Gordon’s extramarital affair and the unequal treatment of Jean Ronald Getty underscored familial strife.
Connection to Usha Vance and the Getty Foundation
Usha Vance

There is no direct evidence linking Usha Vance to the Getty family’s private trusts. Potential indirect connections include:

Legal Career: Usha’s work at Munger, Tolles & Olson involved clients in higher education and entertainment, sectors where the Gettys have influence (e.g., Gordon Getty’s philanthropy at UC campuses). However, no records suggest she handled cases tied to Getty trusts or Vallejo Investments. Her resignation in 2024 further limits recent ties.

Usha Vance

Arts Involvement: Usha’s 2025 appointment to the Kennedy Center board and prior roles with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera align with the Getty family’s arts patronage (e.g., Gordon and Ann Getty’s support for San Francisco Opera). However, these are distinct organizations, and no Getty trust grants or investments mention Usha or her affiliated boards.Political Connections: The Gettys have ties to California Democrats like Gavin Newsom, whose father, William Newsom, managed the Getty family trust and was a lifelong friend of Gordon Getty. Usha, as a Republican Second Lady, has no documented interactions with Newsom or Getty political networks, making this a tenuous link.Speculative Overlap: Usha’s Indian heritage and focus on progressive causes (via her firm’s culture) could align with the Getty sisters’ socially responsible investments under Sonn, but this is a broad thematic connection, not evidence of involvement.
Getty Foundation

The Getty Foundation, part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, is a public charitable entity, not a private family trust. It has no direct connection to the Getty family’s private trusts, though both stem from J. Paul Getty’s wealth:

Distinction: The J. Paul Getty Trust, funded by J. Paul’s 1976 bequest ($660 million, growing to $1.2 billion by 1982), operates the Getty Museum, Foundation, Research Institute, and Conservation Institute. The private trusts, like the Sarah C. Getty Trust and Pleiades Trust, are managed separately for family wealth, not public philanthropy.

Potential Overlap: The Getty Foundation’s grants (e.g., to California universities or arts organizations) could intersect with institutions the Gettys support privately, but no evidence links these to the private trusts’ activities or Usha Vance. For example, Gordon Getty’s philanthropy in San Francisco’s arts scene is personal or through Vallejo Investments, not the Foundation.Tax Context: J. Paul Getty’s donation of art and stock to the J. Paul Getty Trust was a tax avoidance strategy, reducing estate taxes, similar to the private trusts’ tactics. However, the Foundation’s operations are transparent, with public Form 990-PF filings, unlike the opaque private trusts.