Reclusive billionaire James Packer has dropped a major hint of his future plans for his ‘sky home’ after commencing renovations on the sprawling two-storey residence in Sydney‘s Barangaroo tower.
Property sources claim the outgoing Crown boss, who is set to pocket around $3billion in the gaming giant’s pending takeover by equity firm Blackstone, has begun making several big structural changes to the $72million apartment located in the prestige Crown Residences.
Daily Mail Australia understands one change will be the demolition of an existing staircase to make way for an an elevator, prompting rumours that his mother Ros, now 84, may ultimately reside there.
A source close to the billionaire said the apartment was being ‘reconfigured’ to allow easier access between floors.
‘Whether this is an indicator that (Ros) will spend a significant amount of time there could be a factor,’ said the insider.
James Packer has begun renovations on his $72million Sydney residence atop the One Barangaroo building in Sydney
Room with a view – the incredible ‘sky home’ Packer snapped up in 2017, although sources say the reclusive billionaire has never stepped foot inside it
The palatial apartment features 360 degree views and is set across two levels
A source close to the billionaire said the apartment was being ‘reconfigured’ to allow easier access between floors
Roslyn Packer, 84, is tipped to use Packer’s Barangaroo residence as a city pad
Julie Trethowan, a rumoured long time mistress of the late Kerry Packer, recently splashed out on a $24million pad at Crown’s One Barangaroo making her a potential neighbour
That could make for some potential awkwardness given his late father Kerry’s former long time mistress, Julie Trethowan, settled on an apartment in the same tower late last month.
Reports claim Trethowan, who had a long-standing affair with the late media mogul for almost 20 years, recently splashed out on a $24million pad at Crown’s One Barangaroo.
In doing so she joins a string of rich listers to buy into the luxury tower including businessmen Milan Debelak and Georges Furone-Defforey, former Rothschild Bank managing director Trevor Rowe, retired bookie Bob Blann and investor Ian Campbell.
One Barangaroo is a 71-storey skyscraper made up of 82 palatial apartments
Despite the building being completed in late 2020, it is understood Packer is yet to set foot inside his massive two-storey apartment since settling on it last December.
Once renovations are complete, it’s widely tipped Packer will allow his mother Ros to use the property as a city pad, and his ex-wife Erica to stay there when she visits Sydney along with the couple’s three children.
Packer and Crown did not respond to request for comment about the renovations.
Packer set a new Sydney apartment price record last year when he finally settled on the $72million residence which is set across the entire 48th and 49th floors of tower.
Erica Packer, who is currently holidaying in Sydney with the three children she shares with her ex-husband James, is likely to stay at the apartment once renovations are complete
An infrequent visitor to Australia, Packer mostly splits his time between his many other homes abroad, including his $80million Los Angeles mansion (which he purchased to be closer to Erica Packer and their three children) and his $20million home in Aspen, Colorado.
The one-time paramour of Mariah Carey also reportedly completed a monstrous four-year build in Mexico this week, with the final touches added to his $50million compound in Cabo San Lucas.
He also has a polo ranch Ellerstina on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
Erica Packer is believed to be in Australia for the memorial last week for Shane Warne whom she was close to
An exterior view of Packer’s estate in Colorado, part of his expansive property portfolio
Inside the cosy Colorado mansion, above, with roaring fireplace
James spent $50million on this LA mansion to be close to Erica Packer who lives nearby in Malibu
Packer’s Barangaroo residence, which includes a formal dining room for 12 and double height glass walls overlooking Sydney Harbour, was at one point tipped to return to the market in the wake of the suspension of Crown’s NSW casino licence.
The licence is yet to be reinstated and, as yet, only Crown’s hotel and restaurant operations are trading.
Packer has 36 per cent of Crown Resorts and is poised to pocket around $3.3bn from an almost $9bn takeover by international private equity giant Blackstone.