J. PAUL GETTY - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED CHECK 11/24/1944 CO-SIGNED BY: ANN RORK GETTY - HFSID 177119

J. PAUL GETTY, CO-SIGNED BY ANN RORK
This signed check is endorsed by the oil tycoon's fourth wife with her married name, dated nine years after their divorce
Check signed: "J Paul Getty", 8½x3½. Los Angeles, California, 1944 November 24. Check No. 1740, drawn on his personal account at Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, payable to Helen Ann Rork Getty for $1,000. Endorsed: "Helen Ann Rork Getty" and "Ann R. Getty" on verso. ANN RORK GETTY (1908-1988) was the fourth of Getty's five wives. The couple, married from 1932-1935, had two sons, Eugene Paul and Gordon Peter Getty. Gordon Peter later had to sue his father for access to the family's billions. In 1916, JEAN PAUL GETTY (1892-1976) 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. Lightly creased with folds, light vertical fold at the "P" of Paul. Bank stamp on front nicks the "y" of Getty. Cancellation holes, not at signatures. 2 file holes at upper blank margin, pencil notes (unknown hand) beneath signature. Perforated lower edge. Otherwise, fine condition.