Billionaire Casino Mogul Resigns Due To Mariah Carey Divorce Settlement!

Multi-billionaire casino mogul James Packer has left the board of his gambling empire, sources citing “mental health issues” relating to his break-up with best-selling American singer Mariah Carey, his involvement in a corruption investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several other serious problems.

Packer, the son of legendary Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer, is believed to be in the United States receiving help for depression and anxiety according to newspaper reports, spokesman for Packer’s private investment firm, Consolidated Press Holdings, stating he had resigned from the board of Crown Resorts for personal reasons.

“Mr Packer is suffering from mental health issues. At this time he intends to step back from all commitments,” according to the spokesman.

His relationship with Carey became a hot-topic when the couple revealed they were engaged, but they split acrimoniously, the songstress reportedly reportedly keeping the $10 million engagement ring Packer wooed her with and also requesting a $50 million settlement from the Crown Resorts billionaire, as well as burning the wedding dress she intended to wear …

The 50-year old Aussie has faced a number of battles with depression and other mental health issues over the years, the Guardian reporting the collapse of One-Tel in the early 2000s caused a nervous breakdown, as did his split from first wife Jodi Meares, and ‘again during the global financial crises, when his business empire was hard hit.’

The corruption investigation into the Israeli premier Netanyahu saw Packer involved in ‘Case 100’, a police probe also known as ‘Cigars and Champagne’ which saw the prime Minister receive gifts valued at over $300,000, with Packer and ‘Hollywood producer and former secret Israeli agent Arnon Milchan’ alleged to be the men behind the payments according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

‘The Australian’ newspaper revealed last year that Packer “acknowledges he’s lost friends, put on weight and, for the past year, become a recluse,” the billionaire adding that “I was at a low point in my personal life. It was a mistake for her and a mistake for me,” when quizzed on his aborted engagement and relationship with Carey.

The Guardian also mentions Packer’s failed attempt to break into the Las Vegas market, as well as the Chinese crackdown on gambling which saw 18 Crown Resorts employees arrested in a move against the junket operators who bring the million-dollar-spending high-rollers to town.

As reported by PokerTube last year, the unprecedented detentions saw the company’s stock fall 10 per cent as Jason O’Connor, the head of Crown’s VIP International team, was named as among those being questioned by Chinese authorities. He was eventually sentenced to 10 months in jail for his role.