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Andrew Getty, grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, dies at 47

Posted at 1:29 PM, Apr 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-01 13:29:02-04

Andrew Getty, the 47-year-old grandson of J. Paul Getty, died Tuesday afternoon in his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his mother and father.

Ann and Gordon Getty also “requested that members of the media and the public respect (the family’s) privacy during this extremely difficult time,” the statement added.

Getty’s death “appears to be natural (causes) or an accident,” Ed Winter, assistant chief in the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, told CNN affiliate KTLA Tuesday night.

Some medication had also been recovered from Getty’s home, though investigators don’t know if Getty was currently taking it or what his medical history was, Winter said.

A female friend was at the home where Getty died and is cooperating with investigators, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. William Hayes said. KTLA reported that Getty was found on his side near a bathroom in his home.

Gordon Getty is one of three sons of J. Paul Getty, the oil tycoon who was thought to be the richest man in the world at the time of his death in 1976. Gordon Getty, 81, has a net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Forbes.

Court records show Andrew Getty had recently filed to get a restraining order against a woman. A hearing in the case was scheduled for next week. CNN’s attempt to reach Getty’s attorney was not immediately successful.