James Packer relaxes in exclusive resort in Cabo, Mexico after leaving Boston rehab
A TANNED and relaxed James Packer has left rehab in Boston for an exclusive resort in Mexico, joined by close friends and his new girlfriend.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
EXCLUSIVE
AT a clifftop table overlooking the Pacific Ocean, James Packer stood up at the end of a long dinner and, with a slight bow, gave thanks to his close friends for joining him.
For the past two hours, the Australian billionaire had smiled through a convivial sunset feast with his closest confidants and new partner, New York socialite Kylie Lim.
Looking a different man from the downcast portrait he had presented upon checking into a Boston rehab for five weeks, Mr Packer was tanned and relaxed.
REVEALED: James Packer’s mental health stay
PACKER: ‘Mental health issues can affect anyone’
Among the friends joining him at his beachfront villa in Cabo, Mexico, last week were long-time confidante and high school mate Ben Tilley, his personal trainer and former rugby league player Damien Chapman and Ms Lim’s sister, Shelby.
They had arrived together from Mr Packer’s Argentinian polo ranch, Ellerstina, where he spent a few days after checking out of McLean Hospital on May 4.
The group was all smiles as they arrived on Wednesday in Mr Packer’s private jet at Cabo, where he spends about three months a year.
At an easy two hour flight from Los Angeles, where his ex wife Erica lives with the pair’s children, the location is a perfect base for the reclusive billionaire.
On Friday morning, Mr Packer travelled briefly on his private jet to Los Angeles. He spent about two hours at a meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel before heading back to Cabo.
Mr Packer shocked the business world on March 20 when he resigned from the board of Crown Resorts, the casino operator he built into an international powerhouse but which had suffered significant setbacks in Asia.
Citing mental health reasons, he checked into the Boston institution days later.
It came after the unravelling of his private life, with a turbulent relationship with singer Mariah Carey ending acrimoniously, and his publicly expressed sadness over his divorce from the mother of his children.
“It is my biggest regret that I let my marriage to Erica fail,” he said last year.
He also fought with sister Gretel over their father’s will and fell out with childhood best mate, David Gyngell, with the pair photographed brawling outside his Bondi Beach apartment in 2014.
For the past few years Mr Packer, 50, has divided his time between his South American bases, a home Aspen and LA with his children, Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle.
He is also building an apartment for his family in Sydney’s Barangaroo, which he said last year he plans to make a permanent base when the $2.4 billion project is complete.
In the meantime, the relatively new relationship with Ms Lim, which was first reported in December, appears to be providing him with much needed support.
Ms Lim was at his side in Boston, staying at the same five star hotel as his mother Ros, who spent time with her son last week at Ellerstina.
She has also been happy to introduce him to her family, with sister Shelby among Mr Packer’s travelling party last week and joining them at dinner.
The Thursday night meal with eight friends was in one of several exclusive restaurants in the luxury resort where Mr Packer bases himself.
Ms Lim placed her hand on his back several times and the pair leaned into each other during the meal.
The Cabo resort is one of the Baja peninsula’s most prestigious, sitting on a private point with golden beaches spiked by volcanic rock.
Rooms start at about $1000 a night and each guest is offered a private butler, who chauffeurs them around the expansive grounds.