James Packer or James Douglas Packer is a world-renowned businessman who is the richest man of Australia. James Packer is the current owner and Executive Chairman of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited or PBL, which owns major shares of Nine Television Network, 25% of New Regency films and 60 Australian magazines.
James Packer was born in Sydney, Australia on September 8, 1967. He is the son of the late billionaire and media mogul Kerry Packer who started the Publishing and Broadcasting Limited Company. James Packer received his education from the Tudor House School in Moss Vale and at Cranbrook School, Sydney. James Packer was then sent to work in his father�s group of companies as his father had the aim of training him for a successful career in business.
James Packer was appointed as the director of an Australian Telecommunications company, One.Tel which suffered a huge loss during 2001. One.Tel is a group of television companies which are based in Australia. It was established in the year 1995 and was funded by James Packer and Rupert Murdoch. The board of members was headed by James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch. The One.Tel Company became the fourth largest telecommunication company of Australia before finally collapsing down. As a result of this downfall, PBL had to incur a huge debt amount. James Packer had accepted the huge losses at one of the board meetings.
After his father�s death, James Packer has led the Publishing and Broadcasting Limited Company to newer heights and undertook many successful projects. James has also developed a huge interest in a world wide gambling empire. The acquiring of Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth has added to the gaming business of James Packer. He wishes to buy gaming assets in Macau and in Great Britain. He recently withdrew his plan for expanding the casino business in Singapore. James Packer also owns the largest casino of Australia, the Crown Casino in Melbourne. He also owns 50% share in the online gambling rights of the Betfair Company.
On the personal front, James Packer has had relationships with Kate Fischer, model Jodie Meares and Tania Bryer. He recently wed model and singer Erica Baxter on 20 June, 2007. This wedding was a lavish one in which the total expenditure was huge. The wedding was held at the Antibes Town Hall and wedding ceremony took place at Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc on French Riviera. James Packer currently resides in Bellevue Hill, in Sydney�s deluxe Eastern Suburbs. He lives in the same estate villa where his grandfather Frank Packer lived.
James Packer has been ranked 114 by the Forbes magazine in its list of rich people. The estimated net worth of James Packer�s shares in different companies is $5.0 billion.
From the year 2002 onwards, James Packer began attending the Scientology Church of Australia and has been taking classes there. It is reported that Tom Cruise had drawn James Packer to the Scientology Church and towards the art of Scientology.
