Opened in 1997, the centre is the flagship venue of the J Paul Getty Trust, the artistic foundation set up by the late industrialist and billionaire of the same name. J Paul Getty's legacy has enabled the foundation to expand upon those works that he had collected himself before his death in 1976 and the collection now includes work by Degas, Gauguin, van Gogh, William Henry Fox and Man Ray, as well as extensive collections of Renaissance drawings, illuminated manuscripts and decorative arts.

The centre hosts regular programmes of lectures and conferences, demonstrations, readings, performances, films and temporary exhibitions, all for free. It uses Wi-Fi handsets that track the position of the visitor and provide useful information on the works in current galleries, as well as pointing out other areas of interest.

Architect Richard Meier designed the building according to the principles of Feng Shui and it provides a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Located in the Brentwood district, it is perched on a hill high enough that on a (rare) clear day you can see snow at the Big Bear ski resort, the Pacific Ocean and all of the Los Angeles basin. There is also a large Central Garden, home to more than 500 plant species.

As well as the collections it houses at the Getty Center, the foundation houses its ancient Greek and Roman antiquities at the Getty Villa in Malibu. It also funds restoration of the arts and gives grants for research and conservation projects.