James Packer purges top lieutenants in his inner-circle including one of his closest friends
Australian businessman James Packer launched a ruthless ousting of key allies, including one of his closest friends.
The reclusive billionaire, who has been the subject of controversy over the past few years, appears to have shrunk his inner circle of confidants, including former right-hand man and school friend Ben Tilley.
Mr Tilley has been part of the Packer family for the past 50 years and was Mr Packer’s classmate at Sydney’s prestigious Cranbrook School, according to the newspaper. Sydney Morning Herald.
He was frequently seen at Packer’s side, including aboard Packer’s $250 million superyacht IJE, which regularly hosts exclusive clientele.
Australian billionaire James Packer (pictured right with ex-fiancée Mariah Carey) has launched a purge of some of his closest business allies.
Most recently, Mr. Tilley oversaw the construction of Packer’s grand $50 million estate in the luxury Mexican resort of Cabo San Lucas.
In June 2021, Tilley spent $8.9 million on a luxury apartment in the Crown Sydney tower, just a few floors above Packer’s luxury residence.
Two other partners were also reportedly excluded from Mr Packer’s close-knit inner circle.
It is understood Guy Jalland has left his post as chief executive of Consolidated Press Holdings (CPH), Mr Packer’s multi-billion pound private equity firm, ending a 35-year business relationship.
CPH Chief Financial Officer Mike Johnston is expected to retire after 20 years.
In his biography, Packer described Johnston as a “good friend” who showed “total loyalty to me and my family.”
Former right-hand man and school friend Ben Tilley was among those excluded from Mr Packer’s inner business circle (pictured from left to right Gonzalo Pieres, Ben Tilley, James Packer and Karl Stefanovic).
Guy Jalland (right) and Mike Johnston (left) have also been removed as Packer’s business partners.
Both Mr Jalland and Mr Johnston were key figures in the 2020 Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) investigation into Packer’s $6 billion Crown Resorts casino group.
Mr. Packer and his colleagues did not respond to questions from the news outlet on Tuesday about the departure.
However, sources familiar with the changes said Mr Tilley and Mr Packer remained good friends and Mr Tilley’s departure was carried out amicably.
Last June, Mr Packer set up an “investment committee” to decide where to spend the $3.3 billion he received after selling his 37 per cent stake in Crown Resorts.
He invested money in various businesses, including a multimillion-dollar stake in Alan Jones’ internet media company ADH TV.
Also in 2022, Packer announced that he was building a resort in Barbuda with Hollywood legend Robert De Niro.