Kerry Packer AC |
|
---|---|
Born |
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer 17 December 1937 Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
Died | 26 December 2005 Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
(aged 68)
Nationality | Australian |
Education |
Sydney Church of England Grammar School; Cranbrook School |
Known for |
Ownership of Channel Nine; other Media and Journalism interests; World Series Cricket |
Net worth | A$6.5 billion (2004) |
Board member of |
Nine Network; Publishing and Broadcasting Limited; Australian Consolidated Press |
Spouse(s) | Roslyn Weedon (m. 1963; wid. 2005) |
Children | 2; including James Packer |
Parent(s) |
Frank Packer Gretel Bullmore |
Relatives |
Clyde Packer (brother) Robert Clyde Packer (grandfather) Herbert Bullmore (grandfather) |
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC (17 December 1937 – 26 December 2005) was an Australian media tycoon. The Packer family company owned a controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later merged to form Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL). Outside Australia, Packer was best known for founding World Series Cricket. At the time of his death, Packer was the richest and one of the most influential men in Australia. In 2004, Business Review Weekly magazine estimated Packer's net worth at A$6.5 billion. Kerry Packer was considered as one of Australia's most powerful media proprietors.
Kerry Packer was born Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer on 17 December 1937. His father was Sir Frank Packer, an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network. His mother, Gretel Bullmore, was the daughter of Herbert Bullmore, the Scottish rugby union player. He had an older brother, Clyde Packer. He took part in various sports at school, including boxing, cricket, and rugby; though struggled academically, possibly due to undiagnosed dyslexia. On his father's death in 1974, the family estate, valued at $100 million, which included Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network, passed directly to Packer. His father had fallen out with his elder son, Clyde, in 1972.
Packer was the first person to make money out of cricket by telecasting it in TV which created interest in people to watch cricket. Packer, through his family company Consolidated Press Holdings, was the major shareholder with a 37% holding in Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL). Until Packer's death PBL owned the Nine television network, and Australian Consolidated Press which produces many of Australia's top-selling magazines. He was involved in a number of other gambling and tourism ventures, notably Crown Casino in Melbourne. The Nine Network and Australian Consolidated Press businesses have since been divested to PBL Media.