Billionaire James Packer has revealed how a simple act of friendship from the son of fellow media mogul Lachlan Murdoch touched him deeply.
In a wide-ranging interview with Channel Seven’s Liam Bartlett, Packer also spoke about the role Scientology had previously had his former close friend in his life friendship with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, who he still speaks highly of and the surprise A-list star who came to the rescue when Packer was at his lowest ebb.
The Seven Spotlight interview aired on Sunday night and coincided with Packer’s 57th birthday.
The Australian billionaire told Bartlett He suffered his first mental health crisis at the age of 33 after his telecoms start-up One.Tel collapsed in May 2001 in a deal that had brought in his good friend Mr Murdoch.
For both men it was a chance to step out of the shadows of their famous fathers, Kerry Packer, who was boss of Channel Nine, and Rupert Murdoch, who ran media giant News Ltd, but the new company sank under $327m of debt.
Just months after the prolonged spectacle of the two men failing spectacularly at their first major business venture, Mr Packer was shocked to be invited to Mr Lachlan’s exclusive birthday party, attended by just 30 people.
“The last thing in the world I expected was an invitation to this birthday party,” Packer recalled emotionally.
‘He (Mr Murdoch) makes this speech and says, ‘I also want to say ‘It’s James’s birthday (too),’ you know, I just… so… anyway.’
Billionaire James Packer has given a wide-ranging interview about his struggles with mental health issues over the years.
“I’ve never forgotten it. It’s 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 her previous involvement in Scientology after being introduced to it by her former close friend Cruise.
Mr Packer, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said he spent much of 2002 in a manic stage.
It was on this occasion that he became a Scientologist.
He He left Scientology several years after the death of his father Kerry in December 2005.
“Scientology helped me for a while. It helped me deal with my mental health issues,” Packer said.
‘I am no longer a member of the Church of Scientology. I was very good friends with Tom Cruise. It is Tom’s decision, 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 is an amazing person.”
However, another Hollywood star offered Mr Packer extraordinary help during his battles with mental health.
Actor Warren Beatty opened his guest house for the Australian to live there for “two or three years” at Packer’s lowest point.
Mr Packer (pictured, centre, left) said the simple act of friendship from Lachlan Murdoch (pictured, front, left) is something he has never forgotten.
Speaking to Bartlett aboard his $300 million superyacht moored in Tahiti, Mr Packer revealed how Beatty had been a very generous host to him at the lowest points of his life.
“Well, Warren Beatty is a wonderful man and he was a wonderful friend to me,” Packer said.
‘I lived in his guest house for two or three years and he was really wonderful to me and when I felt bad he tried to help me.
“I’ve been very lucky. I’ve met some amazing people in my life… I’ve come across… a number of amazing people. Warren is one of them.”
Mr Packer said his extremely wild mood swings and the fact that he sometimes took the wrong medication led to the breakdown of his two marriages, to Jodhi Meares and Erica Packer, with whom he had three children.
“I think my lows coincided with taking the wrong medication or having too much stress at work, and that means too much debt and problems with the business,” he said.
Mr Packer (pictured, back centre left) said he was no longer friends with Tom Cruise (pictured, front centre) since he left the Church of Scientology.
He told Bartlett that taking the wrong medication “can be worse than the mental health problems it is supposed to combat.”
However, Mr Packer admitted he did not know what his current medications were because a private nurse prepares them for him.
‘I’m doing a lot of things and someone is doing it for me,’ he said.
The interview also featured a segment with British pop star Robbie Williams, who has also been open about his mental health struggles.
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 was also true in his case.
Asked what advice he would give to people struggling with mental health issues, Packer said the message he would like to convey is to “try and keep going.”
“If you’re depressed, try to move on,” Packer said.
‘I’m worried that people are overmedicated and trying to get some exercise.’
Mr Packer also urged people suffering from mental health problems to “ask for help if it becomes too overwhelming”.
“I’ve been very lucky when the situation has been too overwhelming,” Packer said.
‘It was very important for me to have a couple of people that I could turn to in the darkest moments of my life, who were there for me, they were very important.’
For free mental health support, call Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
For help with anxiety and depression call Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36