James Douglas Packer is an Australian businessman, the billionaire former Executive Chairman of Crown Resorts. His wealth is generational, tied to the Packer media empire, founded by his grandfather, Sir Frank Packer, and greatly expanded by his father, Kerry Packer (d. 2005). Born in Sydney, in 1967, he did not attend university, stating he didn't have the marks, and instead worked as a jackeroo (ranch hand) on his father's cattle station.

Packer inherited control of the family company, Consolidated Press Holdings Limited (CPH), and quickly moved away from traditional media to focus on creating a worldwide gambling empire (Crown Resorts). His career has been marked by high-stakes financial risk and extensive personal and corporate controversies.

• Crown Resorts (Former Executive Chairman): The integrated resort and casino operator. He sold his 37 percent stake to Blackstone for A$3.36 billion in 2022.
• Family Heritage: Heir to the massive Packer media empire (PBL, Consolidated Media Holdings).
• Controversies: Revealed he has bipolar disorder in 2020; admitted making shameful and disgraceful threats against a businessman during a public inquiry.
• Current Focus: He has sought to simplify his investment portfolio, concentrating on big tech stocks, AI, and property (holding nearly $500 million of Nvidia stock as of mid-2024).

James Packer's strategic genius was his decision to divest the family's traditional media assets and invest heavily in integrated resort and casino developments in Australia and Macau (Crown Resorts). His career was often volatile, marked by massive losses on early international casino ventures (e.g., Fontainebleau Resorts in Las Vegas) and the costly failure of One.Tel.

The culmination of his time in the gambling industry was the public inquiry into Crown Casinos (2020), which found the company unsuitable to hold a casino license due to money laundering links to organized crime and Packer's own improper influence. The decisive financial exit came in June 2022 when the Federal Court approved Blackstone's takeover of Crown Casinos, in which Packer received A$3.36 billion for his 37 percent stake. He has since shifted his focus to passive, high-growth investments in AI (Nvidia, Meta) and property.

James Packer's social impact is structural, stemming from the Crown Resorts Foundation (co-chaired with his sister, Gretel Packer), which made a A$200 million pledge to arts and community projects. His personal philanthropy supports various medical research and community initiatives (including the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL club).

His career, though highly controversial due to legal and corporate governance issues, is tied to the immense capital that drives large-scale casino, media, and technology investments globally.

James Packer maintains the casual, high-end style of a relaxed billionaire. His attire is often casual and unostentatious, reflecting his post-executive focus. His aesthetic is one of wealth and privacy, contrasting with his high-stakes corporate past.

Residing in Sydney, New South Wales (and traveling globally), his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to wealth management, big tech investment, and health recovery.