"In an annual performance for their single mom, Newsom and his sister would pretend to find problems with the fancy clothes his dad's friends, the heirs of ruthless oil baron J. Paul Getty, sent for Christmas. Poor fit. Wrong color. Not my style. The ritual gave her an excuse to return the gifts and use the store credit on presents for her children she placed under the tree."
"California's 41st governor, a possible suitor for the White House, opens up about the duality of his upbringing in his new book. Newsom details the everyday struggle living with his mom after his parents divorced and occasional interludes into his father's life charmed by the Gettys' affluence, including that day when the Gettys outfitted him in designer clothes at a luxury department store."
Gavin Newsom experienced two contrasting worlds: modest daily life with his single mother and occasional immersion in wealthy circles tied to his father's friends. He and his sister performed a ritual to return expensive gifts so their mother could convert them to practical presents. He also received designer clothing and was flown to elite social events by the Getty family, creating stark class contrasts. He recognizes a split identity between those experiences and disputes a one-dimensional public portrayal as solely privileged, projecting a more nuanced personal history while pursuing broader political ambitions.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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