HOW
TO BE
RICH
J.
PAUL
GETTY
, CONTENTS
PREFACE By J. Paul Getty vi
PART ONE: Becoming a Millionaire
How I Made My First Billion 1
You Can Make a Million Today 31
The Millionaire Mentality 48
PART TWO: How to Succeed in Business by Really Trying
What Makes an Executive? 59
The Force of Habit 70
Business Blunders and Booby Traps 82
The Psychology of Sound Personnel Management 98
Living with Labor 110
The Businessman at Bay 123
The Imp of the Impossible 139
PART THREE: The Value of Dissent, Culture and
Nonconformity
The Vanishing Americans 151
The Educated Barbarians 163
The Homogenized Man 180
PART FOUR: The Art of Investment
The Wall Street Investor 194
,A Real Approach to Real Estate 215
Fine Art: The Finest Investment 228
PART FIVE: Of Money and Values
The Morals of Money 242
The Art of Individuality 252
A Sense of Values 262
, PREFACE
In 1960, the editors of playboy magazine approached me
with a request that I prepare a series of articles based on
the theme: "Men, Money and Values in Today's Society."
Admittedly, I found the proposal flattering—as who
would not? On the other hand, I seriously questioned my
qualifications for the task. My entire adult life had been
devoted to building and operating business enterprises. I
doubted that this experience equipped me to hold forth on a
variety of subjects before an audience of millions.
Besides, I was—and, for that matter, still am—active in
business. I was far from certain that I would have the time
necessary to write. Finally, I wasn't at all convinced that
the magazine's readers would be very interested in what I
had to say.
But my doubts and reservations were overcome by what,
to me, seemed valid and convincing considerations and
arguments.
First of all, I had long been aware that American
business and businessmen and the entire free-enterprise
system were very often the targets of severe criticism—and
even abuse. Few, indeed, were the reasoned replies and
rebuttals which reached the eyes and ears of the general
public.
Then, as I—and so many other successful businessmen
of my acquaintance—have so frequently noted, many young
people today enter upon business careers without sufficient
grounding and preparation. By this, I do not mean that
they lack specialized training. Rather, it is that they fail to
vi
TO BE
RICH
J.
PAUL
GETTY
, CONTENTS
PREFACE By J. Paul Getty vi
PART ONE: Becoming a Millionaire
How I Made My First Billion 1
You Can Make a Million Today 31
The Millionaire Mentality 48
PART TWO: How to Succeed in Business by Really Trying
What Makes an Executive? 59
The Force of Habit 70
Business Blunders and Booby Traps 82
The Psychology of Sound Personnel Management 98
Living with Labor 110
The Businessman at Bay 123
The Imp of the Impossible 139
PART THREE: The Value of Dissent, Culture and
Nonconformity
The Vanishing Americans 151
The Educated Barbarians 163
The Homogenized Man 180
PART FOUR: The Art of Investment
The Wall Street Investor 194
,A Real Approach to Real Estate 215
Fine Art: The Finest Investment 228
PART FIVE: Of Money and Values
The Morals of Money 242
The Art of Individuality 252
A Sense of Values 262
, PREFACE
In 1960, the editors of playboy magazine approached me
with a request that I prepare a series of articles based on
the theme: "Men, Money and Values in Today's Society."
Admittedly, I found the proposal flattering—as who
would not? On the other hand, I seriously questioned my
qualifications for the task. My entire adult life had been
devoted to building and operating business enterprises. I
doubted that this experience equipped me to hold forth on a
variety of subjects before an audience of millions.
Besides, I was—and, for that matter, still am—active in
business. I was far from certain that I would have the time
necessary to write. Finally, I wasn't at all convinced that
the magazine's readers would be very interested in what I
had to say.
But my doubts and reservations were overcome by what,
to me, seemed valid and convincing considerations and
arguments.
First of all, I had long been aware that American
business and businessmen and the entire free-enterprise
system were very often the targets of severe criticism—and
even abuse. Few, indeed, were the reasoned replies and
rebuttals which reached the eyes and ears of the general
public.
Then, as I—and so many other successful businessmen
of my acquaintance—have so frequently noted, many young
people today enter upon business careers without sufficient
grounding and preparation. By this, I do not mean that
they lack specialized training. Rather, it is that they fail to
vi
