Billionaire James Packer brands his failed romance with Mariah Carey ‘a mistake’ as he finally opens up about their broken engagement
Australian businessman claimed he was in over £3 million worth of debt when the pair began dating
BUSINESSMAN James Packer has admitted he was "at a low point" in his life when he dated Mariah Carey.
The Australian billionaire, 50, has broken his silence on his whirlwind engagement to the 47-year-old superstar - which he called off in October 2016 - and confessed the romance was a "mistake" for them both.
Speaking to The Australian, he explained: "I was at a low point in my personal life. Documenting the negotiations with my sister was taking longer than expected.
"She was kind, exciting and fun. Mariah is a woman of substance. But it was a mistake for her and a mistake for me."
Packer continued to explain that he was in over £3million worth of debt at the time he met Mariah.
The father-of-three also admitted that his "biggest regret" was getting divorced from his ex-wife Erica Baxter, who later dated chart topper Seal for 12 months.
He added: "It is my biggest regret that I let my marriage to Erica fail. It is what it is and she is doing an incredible job with the kids and we are in a great place."
Mariah was left devastated when James ended their nine-month romance last year and she reportedly blamed Scientology for the split when their engagement was suddenly called off.
Insiders claimed at the time that she believed James - who was a Scientologist between 2002 and 2006 - had been influenced by his business manager and former Church of Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis, who Mariah believed poisoned his mind against her.
James' camp denied Scientology had anything to do with their split and instead, sources claimed he blamed it on Mariah's excessive spending and the drama surrounding her as she filmed her reality show Mariah's World.
The pair were first introduced by mutual friend Brett Ratner at the premiere of Hercules in 2014.
In January 2016, the billionaire got down on one knee and proposed with a striking 35-carat diamond engagement ring, which was rumoured to be worth £8million.
Mariah has since been dating backing dancer Bryan Tanaka on and off since November last year.
She is also still great friends with her ex-husband Nick Cannon, with whom she co-parents her six-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan.
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