Oil Heir Peter Getty Embroiled in Nasty Divorce

May 28, 2010 — -- The heir of the Getty oil fortune is embroiled in a bitter divorce with his wife, who alleges he abused her to the point of breaking her arm and locked her in their multi-million dollar Los Angeles mansion for hours on Christmas Eve.

The court documents in the long running divorce pits Jacqueline Getty, 44, against Peter Getty, 45, her husband of nearly nine years. The documents describe a life of luxury – private jets and couture clothing galore – until the marriage hit bottom in June 2008.

The divorce proceedings, which began in January, are still underway in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Jacqueline Getty – who is known as Jacqui – is requesting Peter Getty pay $1 million a month spousal support and that the court order him to stay 100 feet away from her.

The written testimony by Jacqui Getty also requests that the court order her soon-to-be former husband to pay her enough money that would "allow her to live a reasonable and comfortable lifestyle that is at or close to the lifestyle" that the couple enjoyed when they were married.

She has gotten used to a very comfortable lifestyle.

Her description of the beginning of her relationship with Peter Getty includes being a member of what she calls "one of the wealthiest and most socially prominent families in the United States."

Peter Getty's father, Gordon Peter Getty, annually makes it on to the Forbes 400 list of the nation's richest people every year, and topped it the first year it was compiled. His approximate net worth is about $2 billion, thanks to the 1986 sale of Getty to Texaco and several other lucrative investments, according to the magazine.