Getty Images is no longer under the direct private ownership or operational control of the Getty family, having transitioned through various private equity acquisitions over the years. Founded originally by Mark Getty and Jonathan Klein, the company has since undergone major corporate restructurings, including being taken public via a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GETY. While the family name remains permanently attached to the brand's historic identity and heritage, contemporary ownership is distributed broadly among institutional investors, mutual funds, and public shareholders.