Kerry Packer: The Australian Media Mogul and His Legacy

Kerry Packer was one of Australia’s biggest entrepreneurs, as well as gambling and media moguls. Famous for founding World Series Cricket as well as the majestic Crown Casino, he was one of the most influential businessmen in Australia of his time. Controversial, powerful, and impactful, he leaves a legacy Australian media still bulbs upon to this day. 

Quick Facts About Kerry Packer

Full NameKerry Francis Bullmore Packer
Date of Birth17 December 1937
Birth DayDecember 17
Birth Years1937
BirthplaceSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Birth CitySydney
Height6 feet 2 inches
Weight127 kg
Birth CountryAustralia
Nationality/CountryAustralian
RaceWhite
EthnicityAustralian-Scottish
Sun sign, Horoscope, Zodiac SignSagittarius
Famous AsMedia tycoon
Also Known forFounder of World Series Cricket
OccupationMedia proprietor
BrandsPublishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL), Nine Television Network, Australian Consolidated Press, Crown Casino
Hobbiescricket, gambling, polo, philanthropy

Kerry Packer, born as Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, was the son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore. He was born on 17 December 1937 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. At the time of his birth, Sir Frank Packer was one of the biggest and most influential media proprietors in Australia, controlling Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network. His mother was the daughter of a Scottish rugby player.

Packer grew up in wealth, with a keen interest in boxing, rugby, and cricket, as well as business. Gambling was one of his passions, and he adored games similar to those you can find on  https://gryonline2.pl/automaty-za-darmo/. Despite his academic struggles due to dyslexia, Packer’s social skills gained him many favors on all sides, which made him the perfect successor to his father Sir Frank Packer. Even so, his father described him as “the family idiot”.

Height, Weight & Body Measurement

Kerry Packer was an imposing man, 6 feet and 1 inch high (185 cm). At the time of his death, he weighed around 127 kg, primarily due to several medicinal issues, including chronic kidney conditions, and several heart attacks. The majority of his health problems can be attributed to his lifestyle and chain-smoking.

Kerry Packer’s Profession

Kerry Packer was by no means a self-made man, as he inherited a massive fortune. Through his family’s wealth, he controlled 37% of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL), one of Australia’s largest corporations, not only in media but in general. He was also famous for his publishing ventures, as well as his passion for gambling. The latter led to the takeover of the Crown Casino in Melbourne, in 1999. The massive complex was an architectural breakthrough: 510,000 m2 big, it was the biggest casino in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. 

The Crown Casino currently houses seven haute cuisine restaurants, and three hotels (Crown Towers, Crown Metropole, and Crown Promenade). Gambling fans can enjoy over 540 tables, 100 of them being dedicated to poker, as well as around 2,500 automated playing machines scattered across several floors. Both live and video gambling stations are available.

Kerry Packer’s Hobbies

Kerry Packer was a man of many trades, with great interest in sports and gambling. He was the founding father of the World Series of Cricket and the World Rugby Corporation. On top of that, he was a passionate gambler and owner of one of the most prestigious casinos on the Australian continent.

Packer claimed to have inherited the passion for gambling from his father and grandfather. He was no stranger to high stakes and infamously lost A$28 million on a 3-day gambling spree in London. Reportedly, this is the biggest gambling loss in the UK’s history.

His favorite gambling game was roulette. Famous for playing all-in and high rolls, he was a frequent guest in the most lavish sites around the world but especially in London. Furthermore, he loved simple games of chance, such as the toss of a coin. Allegedly, he placed A$60 million on a simple bet of heads or tails against a Texan oil tycoon. 

Kerry Packer’s Income And Net Worth

After his father’s death, Kerry Packer inherited A$100 million. In 2004, a year before his death, Business Review Weekly magazine estimated his net worth at A$6.5 billion. In 2024, adjusted to the inflation, his wealth would be over A$10 billion. 

Kerry Pecker’s Marriage & Relationship

Despite his gambling habits, Kerry had a partner of 43 years — Roslyn Packer (nee Weedon). They had two children together: daughter Gretel and son James. Packer was famous for his romantic affairs that filled the front pages and gossip pages of competitor’s newspapers.

After his death, multiple media outlets reported he distributed a significant amount of his wealth to his mistresses, most notably Julie Trethowan, his long-time mistress and manager. 

ncG1vNJzZmiamaS0s63PobCgoaOpe6S7zGiinqqirnqxrcKknKtlpJ2ybq3UrKurmZyerq95zJ6bopldoryowctmmKecXZ22tHnLnp6am6lk