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How did the Newsom family connect to the Getty family?
Executive summary
Gavin Newsom’s family connection to the Gettys is longstanding and personal: his father, William “Bill” Newsom III, was a close friend, legal adviser and trustee for the Getty family and even delivered ransom money during the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III [1] [2]. Gordon Getty later invested in Gavin Newsom’s early business ventures — notably PlumpJack — and Getty family members have attended family events and acted as godparents, tying the families socially and financially over decades [3] [4].
1. A friendship forged at St. Ignatius — how the link began
The Newsom–Getty relationship traces to schooldays: Gordon Getty and siblings attended St. Ignatius with members of the Newsom family, creating intergenerational ties between the clans [2] [5]. That early personal rapport matured into professional trust: William Newsom worked as a legal adviser to Getty Oil and later managed Getty family interests, anchoring the families’ relationship in both friendship and fiduciary roles [1] [2].
2. The judge who became a trusted Getty adviser
William A. Newsom III served as an attorney and financial manager for the Gettys, acting as a trustee of family trusts and a longtime adviser after his judicial career [1] [2]. Reporting describes him as “a trusted family adviser” and notes he “served as a trustee for the Getty family,” responsibilities that moved the connection beyond casual social acquaintance into stewardship of Getty assets [2] [1].
3. The kidnapping episode that cemented intimacy
Accounts repeatedly note William Newsom’s role in the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III: Newsom is described as the person charged with delivering ransom money, a highly personal and sensitive duty that signifies deep family trust [4] [2]. Contemporary and retrospective profiles emphasize this episode as emblematic of the close, often private, ties between Newsoms and Gettys [4] [2].
4. From family friend to investor in Gavin Newsom’s ventures
Gordon Getty’s support extended to the next generation: he invested in Gavin Newsom’s first business ventures, including the founding of PlumpJack Winery and affiliated businesses, with several sources saying Getty was a principal early investor [3] [6]. Profiles and campaign reporting list Getty as a “family friend” and a significant backer whose investments helped bootstrap Newsom’s private-sector success [7] [6].
5. Social ties: godparenting, weddings and public visibility
Beyond money and legal work, the relationship is social and interwoven: Newsoms, Gettys, Pelosis and Harrises have been described as godparents to one another’s children and regular attendees at significant family events, illustrating a network of elite San Francisco families that overlap personally and politically [4] [8]. Coverage of Getty weddings and social functions frequently names Gavin Newsom among attendees, underscoring the families’ public interconnections [9] [8].
6. Diverging portrayals: “like family” vs. political talking points
Narratives differ on motive and meaning. Getty biographers and feature writers characterize the ties as affectionate and non‑transactional — “like family” — stressing long-standing personal bonds [8]. Critics and some political opponents, however, have used the connection to question Newsom’s claims about modest origins or to portray him as the beneficiary of elite patronage; reporting notes opponents “weaponized” Getty ties during campaigns [4] [10]. Both perspectives appear in the reporting provided [4] [8].
7. What the sources do not settle
Available sources document legal, financial and social ties, but they do not provide a complete accounting of all Getty financial contributions to Newsom campaigns or a detailed ledgers-style breakdown of investments and returns; those specifics are not found in current reporting provided here (not found in current reporting). Likewise, while some sources characterize the relationships as non‑transactional, available reporting does not comprehensively adjudicate whether any individual policy decisions were influenced by the Gettys (not found in current reporting).
8. Bottom line for readers
The linkage between the Newsom and Getty families is multifaceted: school‑era friendships evolved into legal and fiduciary roles for William Newsom, which in turn produced personal closeness and financial backing for Gavin Newsom’s early businesses — a pattern confirmed across multiple profiles and local reporting [2] [1] [3]. Interpretations diverge: some sources frame the relationship as warm and familial [8], while political opponents highlight the advantages it conferred [4]. Readers should weigh both the documented facts of trust and investment [1] [3] and the contested narratives about privilege and influence [4] [10].