He was admitted to the London Clinic on Monday for treatment to a recurrent chest infection but died on Thursday.

Sir Paul was a staunch Anglophile and donated millions of pounds in support of the arts in Britain.

He was awarded an honorary knighthood in 1986 and became a British citizen in 1997 after living in England for 25 years.

Thank you for your tributes to Sir John Paul Getty II. Read a selection of your comments below.

The world needs more men like him Olisa Igwegbe, Nigeria

I consider him a man with a heart for humanity going by his works. The world needs more men like him. May his good soul rest in perfect peace.
Olisa Igwegbe, Nigeria

He gave to what he believed in. He also did a great deal for, without spoiling or over-indulging in, his local community in South Oxfordshire and was greatly liked, revered and respected by all who had any contact, direct or indirect, with him. I, for one, would like to pass on my sincere condolences to his family and close friends. God rest his soul.
Ally, UK

What a man....It's just a pity that some of our more 'nouveau riche' members of British society do not follow in his footsteps.....
Rachel Fernandez, UK

I was a 'product' of the over indulged 60s so I do know where he was coming from but he really has and had quite an appalling upbringing everything to excess and then everything being taken away and he still MADE IT!!!!! Thank you Paul Getty.
Carol, Australia

I've heard it said of Mr. Getty that when he was asked how much is enough he replied, "Just a little bit more."
Richard Hicks, USA

Sir John's support of the Conservative Party in the UK is of much greater significance than his other ventures. It showed his independence and thoughtful repentance of the leftist, liberal lifestyle he once held dear. It takes guts and a continuing education from life's realties to do that. Farewell.
Thomas, Akron, USA

He was obviously a mixed up guy. Who wouldn't be with all that wealth? Let's face it. He gave money to striking miners, then money to the Thatcher government, which kind of defeated the purpose really.
Jonothon, England

Spike sent him a framed �1 note Steve Knight, UK

A great Briton who loved all aspects of British life, with a great sense of humour too. When he made a rare public appearance on Spike Milligan's This Is Your Life, he reminded Spike: "When we first met, you described me as 'The poor man's Howard Hughes'!" After Getty made a large donation to a charity Milligan was involved with, Spike sent him a framed �1 note with the legend "In case of bankruptcy - break glass." Let's hope his heirs continue to make such a generous contribution to good causes in this country.
Steve Knight, UK

He had more commitment to preserving our film heritage than any over-privileged rich Brit. I wish our aristocratic families contributed half as much to this nation as he did. (I'll even forgive him for donating money to the Tories).
David Absalom, UK

I have no insight into the spread of Mr Getty's charitable donations but I would argue that high level arts projects are often an easy 'package' for charitable engagement - rather than social projects. It's a similar dynamic with the Sainsbury family's approach to wealth and society - the arts and academia seem more comfortable for them. RIP Sir JP!
Chris, UK

His life reads like a fable Bernard, UK

His life reads like a fable: The rich man who only found happiness by giving his money away.
Bernard, UK

Since money cannot bring happiness, he found a country, a cause and personal character that did. I am pleased for a man I will never know. God bless and rest in peace.
Tonya, USA

It's great to see such a person realising the responsibility to those less fortunate. Having been to his father's free museum at his house in California, it was amazing to see such amazing art on view for the rest of us. Sir John Paul Getty II gave millions to charities and this illuminates the character of the man.
Zubs, London, UK

Sir J P Getty's donations to the arts have helped to enrich our cultural heritage. Had such people not existed in the past, many great artworks would not have been commissioned, many composers would not have had the support they needed to produce their masterpieces. Not only would 'the poor' still be poor but humanity as a whole would be poorer.
Kevin, England

He understood the duties that come with wealth James, UK

Sir Paul's death is a great loss to his adopted country. He understood the duties that come with wealth and had a keen sense of the good which his wealth enabled him to do. His death is a great loss to Britain; there are few like him left.
James, UK

It must be noted that he did so much more than just support the arts - it is said he anonymously supported many individual common causes that moved him.
Bruce Elrick, Aberdeen, Scotland

What a great example he has been to the privileged rich. It is a pity that we do not see more generosity from a lot of our "home grown" mega rich. He may have inherited great wealth, but he can be proud of his achievements.
Peter, UK

I think it was great of him to give so much to a country that he loved and adopted as his own. He found much happiness in England and it's a testimony to him that others can appreciate the arts thanks to his generosity. May he rest in peace.
PF Heller, USA

What a wonderful man. I admire his kindness to the people he loved and adopted. His family should be proud of him.
Geoff, UK

It is a shame the donations he made were used for the maintainence of the arts rather than the everyday needs of the common individual man - the perennial despair of the poor, and the sophistic indulgence of the rich.
Lawrence Curtin, USA

To have wealth but share it with a nation takes a special quality. Thanks to his generosity future generations will enjoy great art.
TR Asvestopoulou, UK

I am sure he had a good heart and was a decent chap - but if only people who are blessed with such large amounts of economic clout would stop patronising the arts and start being patrons of our planet.
Mandy Fisher, US

He was very strict with the way he spent his money Saqib Khan, London,UK

He was not only very generous donor to charities but also very strict with the way he spent his money. It is known to many that he had a paid telephone box intalled in his mansion for the guests who wanted to make phone calls. It said that he found it annoying if someone transgressed his hospitality, and rightly so.
Saqib Khan, London,UK It was not John Paul Getty but his father Paul who installed the coin-operated telephone in his house for guests.
Dale, New Zealand

J P Getty II gave away �120m of his personal fortune in his lifetime which is a hell of a lot of money. However, his personal fortune was greater than the GDP of most African countries.

He also made his money from oil, exploiting workers and the environment and he inherited from his father without ever having to work. And he gave �5m to the Tory party. Yes the Tory party, those stalwarts of public services such as museums, galleries and libraries!
Arkady, UK

A sad loss to the world, a good example of a man that didn't believe that because he had money, he was better. No wonder he did not want to mix with his peers.
Simon Doderer, England