Who was the richest man in the world in 1972?

In 1972, the richest man in the world was often considered to be John Paul Getty, an American oil tycoon. He made his fortune through oil exploration and production, becoming one of the first billionaires. His wealth was derived from the Getty Oil Company, which was highly profitable during that era. Other notable wealthy individuals at the time included Howard Hughes and the members of the Rockefeller family.