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The Price of Fortune

The Untold Story of Being James Packer

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The Price of Fortune

By: Damon Kitney
Narrated by: Damon Kitney, Paul English
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About this listen

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)

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This book was very interesting and insightful. With little knowledge of James Packers struggles it was a real eye opener to me.

Very engaging, but sometimes content heavy

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Beautifully written and narrated. Gives you an extraordinary insight into the life of James Packer who is to be commended for his openness
My only minor criticism of this book is that it is not chronological. I found this a little frustrating in appreciating where certain events occurred in relation to other events

Captivating

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

Interesting read

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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.

Packer Story Goes Around In Circles

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

A great insight

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Poor little rich boy!! His life & lifestyle doesn’t warrant much sympathy. The narrator trying to do the various accents was irritating.

Interesting

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This was a book very well written and thought out. It places you in the world of James and what his mind set is and was. Enjoyed every minute of it and have a whole new respect for him. I am and always was a big fan of his father and now James is on the same level as his father. Well done to Damon Kinney and to James for letting us inside his world! I would love to meet and chat with James over a cuppa and a smoke! Loved it!

Amazing read!

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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.

Interesting but long

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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.

Perhaps it was the narration that let it down.

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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.

The Price Of Fortune

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