The story of the $47 million blackjack winner
If you have ever searched for the names of big blackjack winners, there’s a very good chance that you’ll have come across the name Kerry Packer. This was a man who became a legend and his casino exploits are still recalled even after his untimely passing. At the age of just 68, the billionaire tycoon had shown the world a lifestyle that many envied. He was the kind of person who could pack into a single year what it would take the rest of us a lifetime and he was no different when he came to gambling. Read all about Kerry Packer.
Packer’s own description of gambling may not be one that inspires many to play as he once stated: “Betting is like a disease, which is not understood by those who do not have it”. While the words may have been a slight turn off the action itself was quite the opposite. Let’s take a look at some of Packer’s big wins and the sort of man that he was.
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Kerry Packer – The big blackjack wins
To be honest, blackjack wasn’t necessarily Packer’s game of choice. The truth is that he was a fan of pretty much any form of gambling. It just so happens that blackjack saw him landing some pretty serious wins.
It was back in 1991 when Packer’s first major blackjack win came along. He had decided to play at the Hilton Las Vegas and, despite his multi-millionaire status at the time, he also decided to play at a public table so he could show everyone how it should be done. Those cheering Packer on that night saw him leaving the casino with an extra $7 million to add to his fortune.
It was 1995 when the Australian, Packer, returned to Las Vegas. This time, he had no plans to be hanging around and was looking to play some quick hands. This saw him wagering $250,000 on each round. Just eight hands later, after the passing of 40 minutes, Packer had won himself an astonishing $40 million. With winnings coming at the rate of $1 million per hour, there can’t be many people not keen to copy Packer and his winning ways.
Kerry Packer’s life outside the boardroom
Whatever stories you come across when looking at Packer, one thing is clear: his time outside of the boardroom was spent with his first love. He’d long had a love affair with this pastime and he was in the position where he was fortunate to have a bankroll that seemed never-ending. Whereas us regular players need to play with a degree of caution, Packer was able to gamble at will with, what appeared to be, no concerns as to whether he won or lost. Some of the most common references you’re likely to come across include the likes of:
- Packer was once playing a total of $15 million across four roulette tables. The result? He lost it all!
- On one occasion he was playing across seven blackjack tables and managed to profit by a cool $25 million
- When the pit boss was unable to open a locked baccarat table, Packer had the solution: he smashed it open with a rather expensive crystal ashtray
- He used to retain his own private room at the Ritz in London and this was just for playing cards in. On one occasion he saw his session come to an end $19 million worse off
A man of generosity
There are plenty of tales that show an unkind, rather hard, side to Packer. These mainly relate to his time in the boardroom where he was pretty much feared as a boss, Outside of this setting he was so very different and he’d often show his generosity by tipping.
There is a story that says after a $20 million win, Packer was in high spirits. he acted by dropping a $1 million tip for the staff at BetMGM. On another occasion, he wiped clear the mortgages of two waitresses. These mortgages were both in six figures and this action was life-changing to those involved.
Away from gambling, Packer still likes to show his appreciation. Following a heart attack, he ensured that he showed his gratitude for those who had saved him. This saw him giving $1 million to the ambulance drivers and every single EMS worker who had assisted him. He also made a point of making an amazingly large donation to the ambulance service as a whole.
Paying Vegas to break a habit
Packer had another love alongside his gambling. That other love came in the form of cigarettes. Anyone who ever spent any time at all near Packer will attest to the fact that there never seemed to be a time at all when he wasn’t smoking. Perhaps looking at health risks, Packer thought that Vegas would be the perfect place to put this habit to bed.
He arranged to see the magician, come, hypnotist, to hypnotize him and free him from the cigarettes. He was more than happy to pay what he thought this service would be worth and stumped up $100,000 in advance. The good news? It worked! the bad news? This only lasted for around 45 minutes!
Kerry Packer – Living life on his own terms
Packer left this world behind back in December 2005. He had always shown himself to be the kind of person who knew exactly what he wanted and exactly how to get it. Packer was sitting on a fortune and, when there’s little more left to achieve financially, it’s time to start having some fun. That’s certainly what Packer did.
The heart attack that we mentioned previously, actually saw Packer being clinically dead for seven minutes. His recovery from this saw him facing life afresh and being more determined than ever to live life on his terms. he lived his life like he lived his gambling: high risk but the rewards were astronomical when they came. As Packer knew the end was near, he was more than happy to go. He knew that he’d lived the best life that he could and he didn’t give a damn what anyone else had to say.
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