Billionaire James Packer has finally opened up about the end of his relationship with singer Mariah Carey, adding that their romance and short-lived engagement was a ‘mistake’.
Speaking with The Australian, Packer reveals how he has been living since their breakup in October 2016. he said he met Mariah at a low point in his life.
Two years ago I was terrified. I had $2.3 billion of debt at CPH [Consolidated Press Holdings, his private company], over $3 billion of debt at Crown, I’d just appointed Rob [Rankin as chairman of Crown], Macau was falling over and [sister] Gretel was on my doorstep.
‘Then, a year later, I’ve got China falling apart, the Australian casino businesses missing budgets by big amounts, I’ve got Mariah breaking up with me and I’m thinking, ‘F..k!’.
‘I was at a low point in my personal life. Documenting the negotiations with my sister was taking longer than expected.’She was kind, exciting and fun. Mariah is a woman of substance. She is very bright. But it was a mistake for her and a mistake for me.’
On his marriage to second wife Erica:
‘It is my biggest regret that I let my marriage to Erica fail. It is what it is and she is doing an incredible job with the kids and we are in a great place,’ he said.