James Packer collects luggage as he touches down in Mexico from LA

Troubled Australian billionaire James Packer has arrived in Mexico on a flight from Los Angeles after his shock resignation from the board of Crown Resorts citing ‘mental health issues’.

The casino tycoon was seen collecting his luggage after the plane touched down in the resort city of Cabo on Thursday.

Mr Packer, 50, who has battled anxiety and depression for years, sensationally stepped down as director of his casino empire on Wednesday.

Troubled billionaire James Packer arrived in Mexico on a flight from Los Angeles after his shock resignation from the board of Crown Resorts citing ‘mental health issues’ (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

The casino tycoon was seen collecting his luggage after the plane touched down in the resort city of Cabo on Thursday (pictured)

The casino tycoon was seen collecting his luggage after the plane touched down in the resort city of Cabo on Thursday (pictured)

The only son of late media mogul Kerry touched down in Mexico as his mother Roslyn Packer, 80, was seen getting off a direct flight from Sydney in Los Angeles.

Roslyn was accompanied at Sydney Airport by her daughter Gretel, who has reportedly not seen her younger brother since they settled their father’s $1.25 billion will two years ago. 

Upon arrival in Cabo, a popular holiday destination on the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, Mr Packer was seen speaking to airport officials and collecting his luggage.

The casino executive was joined by another man as wheeled a black suitcase away from the plane, dressed in a baggy white t-shirt and black pants.

Mr Packer, 50, who has battled anxiety and depression for years, sensationally stepped down as director of his casino empire on Wednesday (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

Mr Packer, 50, who has battled anxiety and depression for years, sensationally stepped down as director of his casino empire on Wednesday (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

The only son of late media mogul Kerry touched down in Mexico as his mother Roslyn Packer, 80, was seen getting off a direct flight from Sydney in Los Angeles (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

The only son of late media mogul Kerry touched down in Mexico as his mother Roslyn Packer, 80, was seen getting off a direct flight from Sydney in Los Angeles (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

Helped by his companion, Mr Packer wore black sunglasses while dealing with the airport employees dressed in high visibility vests.

On Wednesday a Consolidated Press Holdings spokesperson confirmed the resignation was due to Mr Packer’s mental health.

‘Mr Packer is suffering from mental health issues. At this time he intends to step back from all commitments,’ the spokesperson said.

One of Australia’s richest people, with a personal fortune estimated at $4.1 billion, Mr Packer announced on Wednesday he would ‘step back from all commitments’ indefinitely.

Pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo

Pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo

Roslyn was accompanied at Sydney Airport by her daughter Gretel, who has reportedly not seen her younger brother since they settled their father’s $1.25 billion will two years ago (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

Upon arrival in Cabo, a popular holiday destination on the tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, Mr Packer was seen speaking to airport officials and collecting his luggage (pictured)

Upon arrival in Cabo, a popular holiday destination on the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, Mr Packer was seen speaking to airport officials and collecting his luggage (pictured)

Mr Packer has suffered from anxiety and depression for years, but Wednesday’s announcement was a rare public admission of his mental health struggles.

The resignation comes less than a year after Mr Packer returned to the Crown board, having previously stepped down as chairman in August 2015.

He resigned as director four months after that, but returned to the board in July last year.

In a 2013 interview he detailed how Tom Cruise help him through a tough period when he was ‘depressed and emotionally exhausted’ over the collapse of his first marriage to bikini model Jodhi Meares. 

Pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo

Pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo

The casino executive was joined by another man as wheeled a black suitcase away from the plane, dressed in a baggy white t-shirt and black pants (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

Helped by his companion, Mr Packer wore black sunglasses while dealing with the airport employees dressed in high visibility vests (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

Helped by his companion, Mr Packer wore black sunglasses while dealing with the airport employees dressed in high visibility vests (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

Recent years have not been smooth sailing for either Crown or Mr Packer, who has three children and two ex-wives.

His high-profile engagement and subsequent split from American diva Mariah Carey in 2016 kept him in the public eye, a place he has admitted to finding uncomfortable.

Packer first left Crown’s board in 2015, the year he was briefly engaged to singer Carey, and rejoined 14 months ago while the company was in crisis following the arrest of staff for breaches of gambling marketing laws in China.

On Wednesday a Consolidated Press Holdings spokesperson confirmed the resignation was due to Mr Packer's mental health. 'Mr Packer is suffering from mental health issues (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

On Wednesday a Consolidated Press Holdings spokesperson confirmed the resignation was due to Mr Packer’s mental health. ‘Mr Packer is suffering from mental health issues (pictured is Mr Packer on arrival in Cabo)

One of Australia's richest people, with a personal fortune estimated at $4.1 billion, Mr Packer (pictured) announced on Wednesday he would 'step back from all commitments' indefinitely

One of Australia’s richest people, with a personal fortune estimated at $4.1 billion, Mr Packer (pictured) announced on Wednesday he would ‘step back from all commitments’ indefinitely

The arrests prompted the Melbourne-based, AUD$8.9billion firm to reverse a decade-old global expansion into the Asian gambling hub Macau and Las Vegas, to focus on Australia. Packer declared the company’s global strategy a failure.

He began selling assets to pay off his debts, including stakes in Macau-based Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd and Hollywood film company RatPac Entertainment.

In February, he was named by Israeli police as a witness in a bribery investigation against Benjamin Netanyahu, having lavished the Israeli prime minister and his family with expensive gifts. The Australian is not accused of criminal conduct. 

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF AUSTRALIAN MOGUL JAMES PACKER

Onetime movie investor James Packer walks through New York City in September 2015

Onetime movie investor James Packer walks through New York City in September 2015

1967: James Douglas Packer is born to Kerry and Ros Packer in Sydney

About 1985: Finishes school and works as a jackaroo in Northern Territory

1999: Marries first wife Jodhi Meares; the couple separates in 2002

2001: Telecommunications company One.Tel goes broke, costing Packer $300m

2005: Kerry Packer dies and James takes over family business

2006: Starts selling Channel 9 as he moves into casinos

2007: Marries model Erica Baxter; the couple separates in 2013 

2012: Forms RatPac production company with producer Brett Ratner

2014: Has public street fight with then best friend David Gyngell

2016: Becomes engaged to singer Mariah Carey; couple separates later that year

2017: Sells out of RatPac  

2018: Steps down from Crown Resorts board 

 



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