Australia's richest man dies aged 68
{{date|December 27, 2005}}
The Nine Network has announced the death of one of [[w:Australia|Australia's]] richest men, [[w:Kerry Packer|Kerry Packer]], aged 68.

Announcer Richard Wilkins said on the Today Show that he had just been handed official confirmation of Mr Packer's death at 68.

He said a statement from Tony Ritchie, Nine head of news, said: "Mrs Kerry Packer and her children James and Gretel sadly report the passing last evening of her husband and their father Kerry. He died peacefully at home with his family at his bedside".

Packer was the major shareholder in [[w:Publishing and Broadcasting Limited|Publishing and Broadcasting Limited]] (PBL) which owns the Nine television network and [[w:Australian Consolidated Press|Australian Consolidated Press]], the producer of many Australian and New Zealand magazines.

Packer was also involved in the gambling and tourism industries and owned the [[w:Crown Casino|Crown Casino]] in [[w:Melbourne|Melbourne]].

In the [[w:1970s|1970s]], his [[w:World Series Cricket|World Series Cricket]] revolutionised [[w:cricket|cricket]], bringing [[w:One-day cricket|One-day cricket]] to the fore by introducing things such as coloured uniforms, white balls & day/night matches.

[[w:Business Review Weekly|Business Review Weekly]] magazine estimated Packer's net worth at AU$6.5 billion in 2004. Another famous rich Australian media magnate, who may have lost his Australian nationality, is [[w:Rupert Murdoch|Rupert Murdoch]].

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=78972
|title=Kerry Packer dead at 68
|author=
|pub=nineMSN
|date=December 27, 2005}}

*{{source
|url=http://smh.com.au/text/articles/2005/12/31/1135915723933.html
|title=Best friends with a taste for business and the good life
|author=Annabel Crabb
|pub=The Sydney Morning Herald
|date=January 1, 2006
}}

*{{source
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2005/12/30/1135915693216.html
|title=Here comes the son
|author=Lisa Murray
|pub=The Sydney Morning Herald
|date=December 31, 2005
}}

*{{source
|url=http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2005/12/30/1135915692138.html
|title=Billionaire preferred burgers
|author=Malcolm Maiden
|pub=The Age
|date=December 31, 2005
}}

*{{source
|url=http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2006/01/06/1136387624104.html
|title=Thanks a million: Packer's gifts
|author=Kate McClymont
|pub=The Age
|date=January 7, 2006
}}

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[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Obituaries]]

[[sv:Australiens rikaste man avlider 68 år gammal|Australiens rikaste man avlider 68 år gammal]]
The Nine Network has announced the death of one of Australia's richest men, Kerry Packer, aged 68.

Announcer Richard Wilkins said on the Today Show that he had just been handed official confirmation of Mr Packer's death at 68.

He said a statement from Tony Ritchie, Nine head of news, said: "Mrs Kerry Packer and her children James and Gretel sadly report the passing last evening of her husband and their father Kerry. He died peacefully at home with his family at his bedside".

Packer was the major shareholder in Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) which owns the Nine television network and Australian Consolidated Press, the producer of many Australian and New Zealand magazines.

Packer was also involved in the gambling and tourism industries and owned the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

In the 1970s, his World Series Cricket revolutionised cricket, bringing One-day cricket to the fore by introducing things such as coloured uniforms, white balls & day/night matches.

Business Review Weekly magazine estimated Packer's net worth at AU$6.5 billion in 2004. Another famous rich Australian media magnate, who may have lost his Australian nationality, is Rupert Murdoch.

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Australia Oceania Economy and business Obituaries