Quote: Kerry Packer

James Packer has paid $245 million for a 17.88% interest in the Ten Network.

- News item

The above report brings to mind a famous moment and resulting famous quotation in Australian financial history. Since the inception of TV in Australia, the Packer empire had been associated with free to air television through the ownership of Channel 9. In 1987 Kerry Packer (1937-2005), the father of James, sold Channel 9 to tycoon Alan Bond for a record $1.05 billion. Bond subsequently ended up in financial difficulties and sold Channel 9 back to Packer 3 years after the purchase for $250 million. Packer commented:

"You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I've had mine".

Bytes Bonus:

Some other Kerry Packer comments:

"If a working class Englishman saw a bloke drive past in a Rolls-Royce, he'd say to himself "Come the social revolution and we'll take that away from you, mate". Whereas if his American counterpart saw a bloke drive past in a Cadillac he'd say "One day I'm going to own one of those". To my way of thinking the first attitude is wrong. The latter is right."

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"Come on, we are all harlots - it is all a matter of price. How much do you fellows want?"

-  Said to Australian cricketers during negotiations to put together World Series Cricket. Given by Frank Keating in his book Caught by Keating (1979).

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“I’ve been to the other side and let me tell you, son, there’s fucking nothing there. There’s no one waiting there for you… there’s no one to judge you so you can do what you bloody well like.”

- After being clinically dead for 6 minutes when he suffered a heart attack in 1990, on being asked about an after-life experience.

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"I'll toss you for it."

To a Texan who was continually boasting about his wealth at a gambling table in a casino.  Packer made the above comment after asking what the Texan's total wealth was and being told "Sixty five million."

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