Mariah Carey And James Packer Are Now Engaged: Plus A Look Back At Their Fairy Tale Romance
American pop singer Mariah Carey reportedly got engaged with her Australian billionaire boyfriend James Packer, the BBC reported.
Mariah Carey and James Packer went public about their romance back in June after they were spotted spending the holidays together in Italy.
“The happy couple got engaged tonight,” Mariah Carey’s representative confirmed on Thursday.
According to the Independent, Packer rounded out Mariah’s friends in New York so he can pop her the question. James reportedly presented her with “what can only be described as the most breathtaking engagement ring.”
Mariah has been dating James since summer. She and James also celebrated Christmas with her twins, Monroe and Morrocan.
James Packer, 47, is Australia’s fourth-richest person according to Forbes, with a net worth of $4.7 million (€4.34 million).
Mr. Packer was born rich, having inherited a media legacy started by his father Kerry Packer and grandfather Sir Frank Packer, who established Consolidated Press Holdings, Ltd. in 1936.
When his father died, Packer chose to leave the media industry to focus on operating casinos. In 2007, he established Crown Resorts, which is now one of Australia’s largest entertainment and gambling corporations.
James Packer has been married twice, first in 1999 to model Jodhi Meares. They separated in 2002. In 2007, he married model and singer Erica Baxter. The two were amicably divorced in late 2013.
Mariah Carey has also married twice, first to music executive Tommy Mottola from 1993 to 1995. Carey’s marriage to her second husband, rapper-actor Nick Cannon, lasted for eight years. Mariah and Nick filed for divorce on December 2012.
Mariah Carey, whose self-titled debut album topped the Billboard 200 album chart for 11 consecutive weeks in 1990, is one of the most accomplished singers in history.
How exactly did their romance come about? Mariah Carey spilled the beans about her blooming romance with James Packer when she sat down for an interview with Steve Harvey in November.
“We first met in Aspen. We were at the Hercules premiere. We were talking and laughing and people were getting mad at us and stuff like that. So we hit it off.”
When Harvey remarked that James is a “lucky guy,” Mariah, who was wearing a stunning necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels during the interview, responded with: “I’m lucky too.”
I’m ‘lucky’ to be dating James Packer : @MariahCarey | https://t.co/rIzCJIoe2b pic.twitter.com/T79PhNuetc
— Indian Express Entertainment (@ieEntertainment) November 26, 2015
“Oh, this old thing?” she teases after Steve took notice of her necklace. “[It was] a very, very big surprise, very nice.”
In September, about five months into their relationship, the “Always Be My Baby” singer moved into James Packer’s home. Even then, the couple were already talking about tying the knot soon.
“They spend so much time together, so it only made sense. They have been speaking about marriage as well. They are very much in love and things couldn’t be better.”
All smiles! Look back on Mariah Carey and James Packer's romance in pictures: https://t.co/ibLMz6zCzA pic.twitter.com/JpDa7hULOw
— E! News (@enews) January 22, 2016
That same month, Carey and Packer made their red carpet debut at the premiere of The Intern.
“James was leading Mariah through the theatre room and had his hand on her back. Mariah looked very proud to be there with James,” an insider told ET. “He seemed a little more under the radar than she is but looked at her very adoringly and happy.”
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
“They get along amazingly and their communication is always fluid and easy,” an insider for E! News shared in June. “James is very into Mariah, though, and he wants to spoil her and her children every minute he can. He feels she only deserves the best.”
“James has been speaking to his family and friends back in Australia a lot about Mariah. This is just the beginning of their relationship and they are both excited about what possibly can be ahead for them in the future.”
Congratulations to Mariah Carey and James Packer on their engagement!
[Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP]
