Oil heiress and model Ivy Getty has filed for divorce from her husband Tobias Engel. It's been a little over two years since the couple hosted a lavish wedding at the San Francisco home of the bride's grandmother, Ann Getty. Themed costumes, designer dresses and star-studded guest list all combined to create a spectacle that was breathlessly covered by the fashion press.
Here's what we know about the couple's split so far.
Who is Ivy Getty?
Ivy Love Getty is the great-granddaughter of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty and the only daughter of musician John Gilbert Getty and jewelry designer Alyssa Boothby. After her father passed away in 2020, Ms. Getty paid tribute to her father through an Instagram post, calling him “the most wonderful person to ever land on this earth.”
Ms. Getty is not only an heiress, but also a fashion model representing Ford Models. (She appeared on the May 2022 cover of Town & Country.) Like her grandmother, publisher and interior designer Ann Getty, who passed away in 2020, Ivy is also a philanthropist. In 2022 she hosted her charity dinner in Venice to raise funds for Ukraine. “Philanthropy is the most important thing to me,” she told L’Officiel, adding, “It’s important to stay informed of what’s going on in the world.”
Ms. Getty, a fashion darling, wore a custom Oscar de la Renta in 2022 and attended the Met Gala at Maison Margiela in 2023. She is a staple at New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks.
Who is her husband Tobias Engel?
Tobias Engel is the son of photographer and Austrian businessman Peter Engel and British actress Cheryl Prime. Ms. Getty told Vogue that the pair first met through a relative and met again at Paris Fashion Week.
“I saw a cute guy taking pictures of the event and me,” she said. “I naturally approached him and started talking.”
What's the latest news about their marriage?
In January, after three years of marriage, Mr. Getty filed for divorce from Mr. Engel in New York County Supreme Court. (The couple married in a private ceremony in December 2020, about 11 months before their wedding in San Francisco.) Mr. Engel, who responded to the complaint on March 25, is contesting the divorce, according to court records.
What is a contested divorce?
Court records show that the couple's divorce is being contested, meaning either one spouse does not want a divorce or the spouses do not agree on the grounds for divorce or what will happen to the children, finances or property after the divorce. Division. (New York state has a separate process for uncontested, or amicable, divorces.) Mr. Getty's spokeswoman, Claire O'Connor, declined to comment on the reason for the divorce or why it was being contested.
Perhaps their wedding was an understated affair. Isn't that right?
not quite. Rather, the wedding was as extravagant as one would expect from the great-granddaughter of an oil tycoon who was once the richest man in the world. Back then, billions of dollars still meant something.
Actress Anya Taylor-Joy was her maid of honor, and the ceremony was presided over by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Ms. Getty grew up in San Francisco, Ms. Pelosi's congressional district and home base.) Ms. Getty's 16-foot veil and mirrored wedding dress was designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela. Ms. Galliano not only designed Ms. Getty's dress, but also dresses for all 14 bridesmaids. He told Vogue that he was “fascinated” by Ms. Getty, even though it wasn’t something he normally did.
Who was there?
Earth, Wind & Fire performed at a 1960s-style welcome party, the first of the three-day celebration. Mayor London Breed and Gov. Gavin Newsom were in attendance as Ms. Pelosi officiated at San Francisco's transformed City Hall. Fashion designer Wes Gordon is pictured with Mr. Getty's aunt, Vanessa Getty. The Crown Princess of Greece rubbed shoulders with social media star Ricky Thompson. Princess Olympia of Greece and Denmark shared the dance floor with pop star Olivia Rodrigo and YouTuber Gigi Gorgeous.
Had her family done anything noteworthy before this union?
In particular, the Getty family has made billions of dollars thanks to patriarch J. Paul Getty, who founded Getty Oil. In 1974, his fortune was estimated at between $2 and $4 billion. Mr. Getty also famously refused to pay $16 million in ransom for his grandson, who was kidnapped by an Italian crime syndicate in 1973.
“I have 14 more grandchildren, and if you pay me one penny now, that would be 14 kidnapped grandchildren,” Getty said at the time.
Only after his grandson's ear was mailed to an Italian newspaper did he relent and the family reportedly paid a ransom of $2.8 million.
Mark Getty, Ivy Getty's second cousin, is one of the founders of photo licensing giant Getty Images.
kitty bennett contributed to the research.