Billionaire James Packer has revealed how a simple act of friendship from the son of media mogul Lachlan Murdoch touched him deeply.
In an extensive interview with Channel Seven’s Liam Bartlett, Mr Packer also spoke candidly about the role Scientology had earlier in his life, his former close friendship with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, whom he still speaks highly of and the surprise A-list star who came to Packer’s rescue when he was at his lowest point.
The Seven Spotlight interview, which aired on Sunday evening, coincided with Mr Packer’s 57th birthday.
The Australian billionaire told Bartlett He suffered his first mental breakdown at the age of 33, after his fledgling telecom company One.Tel went bust in May 2001 following a deal he had made with his close friend Murdoch.
For both men, it was a chance to step out of the shadows of their famous fathers: Kerry Packer, the boss of Channel Nine, and Rupert Murdoch, the head of media giant News Ltd. But the start-up collapsed with $327 million in debt.
Just months after the long spectacle in which the two men spectacularly failed in their first major business venture, Mr Packer was stunned to be invited to Mr Lachlan’s exclusive birthday party, attended by just 30 people.
“The last thing I expected was an invitation to this birthday party,” an emotional Mr. Packer recalled.
‘He (Mr Murdoch) makes this speech and says, ‘I also want to say, ‘It’s James’ birthday (too)’, you know, I… so… anyway’.
Billionaire James Packer has given an extensive interview about the struggles he has had with mental health issues over the years
“I have never forgotten that this is one of the most beautiful things anyone has ever done.”
Both men were born on September 8, but Mr. Packer is four years older.
Mr. Packer also spoke about his previous involvement with Scientology, after being told about it by his former close friend Cruise.
Mr Packer, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said he spent much of 2002 in a manic phase.
This time he became a Scientologist.
He left Scientology several years later, following the death of his father Kerry in December 2005.
“Scientology helped me for a while. Scientology helped me deal with my mental health issues,” Packer said.
“I am no longer a member of the Church of Scientology. I was good friends with Tom Cruise. It is Tom’s choice, not mine, that we are no longer friends.
“I will never say a bad word about him. He was a great friend to me. He’s a great person.”
But another Hollywood star offered Packer an extraordinary helping hand during his battle with mental health.
Actor Warren Beatty opened his guesthouse to the Australian to live in for “two to three years” when Packer was at the lowest point of his career.
Mr Packer (pictured centre left) said Lachlan Murdoch’s (pictured front left) simple act of friendship was something he had never forgotten
Speaking to Bartlett aboard his $300 million superyacht moored off the coast of Tahiti, Mr Packer recounted Beatty’s hospitality at the lowest points in his life.
“Well, Warren Beatty is a wonderful person and he was a wonderful friend to me,” Mr. Packer said.
‘I lived in his boarding house for about two or three years and he was really great to me. When I was sick, he tried to help me.
“I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve met some wonderful people in my life… I’ve crossed paths with… a series of wonderful people. Warren’s… Warren’s is one of them.”
According to Mr Packer, his mood swings and sometimes taking the wrong medications led to the failure of his two marriages: to Jodhi Meares and to Erica Packer, with whom he had three children.
“I think my dips were because I was on the wrong medication or had too much stress at work. That’s a sign of too much debt and problems with my business,” he said.
Mr. Packer (pictured center left) said he was no longer friends with Tom Cruise (pictured front center) since he left the Church of Scientology.
He told Bartlett that using the wrong medications “can be worse than the psychological problems they are supposed to be treating.”
However, Mr Packer admitted he did not know what medications he was currently taking as he uses a private nurse to prepare them for him.
“I’m doing a lot of things and someone’s doing it for me,” he said.
The interview also included a segment with British pop star Robbie Williams, who also openly talks about his mental health issues.
Williams, who joined Mr Packer on the yacht, said his ‘The natural state of being would be to lie in bed all day and not see anyone’.
Mr Packer said this also applied to him.
When asked what advice he would give to people struggling with mental health issues, Mr Packer said the message he wants to get across is: ‘try and keep going’.
“If you’re depressed, try to keep going,” Mr. Packer said.
“I worry that people are taking too many medications and still trying to exercise a little.”
Mr Packer also urged people with mental health problems to ‘seek help if it becomes too overwhelming’.
“I’ve been very lucky when it’s been too overwhelming,” Packer said.
‘For me it was incredibly important that I had a number of people I could turn to during the darkest periods of my life. People who were there for me and were incredibly important to me.’
For free mental health support call Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
For support with anxiety and depression, call Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36
