Aussies: Kerry Packer Dead at 68

[TheLoadedDog]

http://smh.com.au/news/national/kerry-packer-dead-report/2005/12/27/1135445550099.html

Not much information at hand yet.

[Idlewild]

That took me by surprise. I kind of figured him for the sort that outlasts his heirs. What’ll happen to the media empire? James takes over?

[TheLoadedDog]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/12/27/1135445550099.html

Australia’s richest man, the media magnate Kerry Packer, has died.

His death overnight was announced at the end of the Today show on his Nine Network just before 9am (AEDT).

{snip}

He once netted over $700 million by selling Channel Nine to Alan Bond, then buying it back from him three years later.

He turned the cricket world upside down with his World Series revolution in 1977, which ended with him getting what he wanted in the first place - the rights to televise top matches.

[Cunctator]

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens to his media and publishing empire now that, presumably, his rather inept son James will take control.

[Cazzle]

@Idlewild

That took me by surprise. I kind of figured him for the sort that outlasts his heirs.

Really? Despite the heart attacks, kidney transplant, cancerous tumor and other ongoing health problems? I can’t say that I ever thought he’d outlive the family dog let alone his heirs. I’m just kicking myself for not thinking of him when I made my Death Pool list.

[Idlewild]

@cazzle

Really? Despite the heart attacks, kidney transplant, cancerous tumor and other ongoing health problems? I can’t say that I ever thought he’d outlive the family dog let alone his heirs. I’m just kicking myself for not thinking of him when I made my Death Pool list.

Yeah. I dunno. I just kind of had him over in the mental “too ornery to die” category. Irrational, definitely.

[Duckster]

CNN is now reporting the news —> http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/obit.packer/index.html