In 1973, Paul Getty III, the teenage grandson of the world's wealthiest man, oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, is kidnapped in Rome by an organized crime ring. The kidnappers demand a $17 million ransom for his release. Paul's desperate mother, Gail Harris, who is estranged from the Getty fortune due to a divorce settlement that left her with custody of her children but no share of the wealth, attempts to negotiate with her former father-in-law to pay the ransom. Getty, infamous for his miserliness and indifference to his family's personal struggles, refuses to part with any of his billions to save his grandson, believing that paying the ransom will make his other family members targets for extortion.

Getty assigns his security advisor, Fletcher Chase, a former CIA operative, to investigate and handle the situation. While Gail and Fletcher work together to secure Paul's release, they face a series of bureaucratic and criminal obstacles. They navigate the complexities of the kidnapping case, including uncooperative authorities and the media frenzy, while forming an uneasy alliance. Gail's resolve hardens as she fights to convince Getty to change his mind and save her son, confronting both the rigid mindset of a man who values wealth over family and the increasingly brutal tactics of the kidnappers, who begin to doubt they will receive their pay. Gail's unwavering dedication is put to the test as she seeks to bring her son home against staggering odds.