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The Price of Fortune

By: Damon Kitney
Narrated by: Damon Kitney,Paul English
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Publisher's Summary

The acclaimed biography of James Packer.

James Packer turns to Greek mythology in an attempt to explain the most exciting yet tumultuous period of his 50 years on earth.

"I was like Icarus," the billionaire tells his biographer, journalist Damon Kitney, of the heady days of 2016 when he broke up with pop star Mariah Carey, abandoned living in Hollywood and Israel, left the global casino stage, and divided the family fortune in a bitter separation from his sister. "I flew too close to the sun."

With these words, Packer delves for the first time into the story behind his stunning public revelation in mid-March 2018 of his battle with mental health issues, which forced him to resign from the board of the Crown Casino company he owns and loves.

Never before has a member of the Packer family co-operated with a writer to tell their story. In his biography The Price of Fortune, one of the nation's richest and most psychoanalyzed men opens up in an attempt to make sense of his roller-coaster life and to tell the human story of being James Douglas Packer. Of how his wealth, charm and intellect took him to such exciting places. Yet how sometimes trusting the wrong people and his own rash actions cost him money, friendships, his health and business reputation on the global stage - and how he is now working on getting it all back.

Praise for The Price of Fortune:

"A revealing portrait of a complex man" (Australian Financial Review)

"A journalistic classic" (John Lehmann, editor of The Australian)

"Engrossing, highly readable" (The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)

"Kitney manages to tread the fine line between documenting the bizarre spectacle that is Packer's life, and eliciting sympathy for this man of extraordinary wealth." (The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)

©2018 HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited

What listeners say about The Price of Fortune

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Perhaps it was the narration that let it down.

I was really looking forward to this book.
The Packer family has always fascinated and intrigued me.
James comes across as a nice, vulnerable person, and I’ve no doubt he is. The author though seemed to be at pains to ensure he was portrayed in that light. The fact he was granted access to friends and family perhaps weighed heavily on him.
The narrator didn’t do it justice. His attempt at accents had me snorting a few times. It may work better as a book to read and not listen to.
The book seemed to jump around quite a bit lacking a real flow.
There were some good stories and some good insights but it felt like it could have been so much more.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Written like an annual report

I found it very hard to develop any fondness or affection for either the subject or for the writing itself. Packer sounds like a rich degenerate and there's really not very much that's interesting about his life. the writing is very procedural and the interviews sound like press releases.

Not recommended at all.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Price Of Fortune

I loved this book.

You actually get too a point in the book where you feel sorry for James and the life he was brought up in. James is a smart savvy businessman and deserves way more credit for his success and less negative press because he was simply born a Packer.
As for the woman in his life, he could really do without especially Mariah she is a major “ Golddigger “ however I do think Erica was the only decent woman in James’s life who didn’t run with the Packer wealth and the Packer name.
The mental health crisis James experiences daily is understandable and treatable, I do hope he continues on his treatment and positive out look.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Author says James was hailed as self made at 31

The Author says due to one tel share price surging Jame's was hailed as a self made man.

The author lost me at this point. Really? Who was saying that? Where is the source? Are you going to address such a seemingly bogus claim with some details to give it credibility?

Even if Onetel was successful, I find it hard to believe it means James would of been a self-made man. Being self made would mean that he saved up money from his paper run and invested in Onetel. James was also a shareholder, in the deal, with another billionaires son: James Murdoch. Did both these billionaire's kids use their paper route money to make the investment?

The author could of mocked whomever he claimed hailed James as self made or atleast mentioned it was a stretch of the concept of self made. Or proved he was self made in that deal by giving details to lend the seemingly bogus statement credibility. But it was just presented as if it were a true statement. The author lost me at this point.

UPDATE: Originally I rated this book poorly. I changed my mind. Packer acknowledged later in the book that his wealth isnt self made but that he inherited all his wealth. And he said all his wealth and i respect that humility and honesty by Packer.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • bob
  • 28-08-2021

A great insight

Enjoyed the content but I was often left wondering if chapter's or parts of then were being repeated again and again

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Genuine guy

Stripped back it was great to see a genuine and generous guy who was born into a Fortune narrative. A young man that wasn't allowed to live his own life but destined to upkeep the mantra of the family. Only when he surrenders does he find solace in his own life. Leave it all aside James and live your life.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Packer Story Goes Around In Circles

I am not sure how I feel about this book or how it presented James Packer. Sometimes I felt ambivalent (what a naive poor little rich boy) and at other times compassion (his treatment at the hands of his father). The narrator did an amazing job and presenting the story and characters. The story itself was not always set chronologically and kept repeating events that took place throughout the book.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Uninspiring

Uninspiring history. It’s a nice recount of the small business world in Australia but the actual story is poor.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting but long

If you're Australian, the Packer family helped form and influence Australian culture whether you realise it or not. As one of the richest families in the country, the Packers enjoyed incredible wealth but also gave back to the community. Kerry Packer was a character who was ruthless but fair. I found this book interesting to see how James dealt with his father and the pressure of inheriting a fortune. Gaining an insight into the Packer family and James life was interesting but the book is long and I tunned out towards the end.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting read

Story is overall good, but is a bit all over the place in terms of chronological order.

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