Packer's business empire included media and the gaming industry
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Australian Prime Minister John Howard has led the tributes for flamboyant media mogul Kerry Packer at a state memorial service at Sydney Opera House.
Packer died in his Sydney home on 26 December, aged 68, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure.
Some 1,800 guests gathered to commemorate Australia's richest man.
"He lived a full Australian life," said Mr Howard, adding that Packer had made a "remarkable contribution to the Australian nation".
"He was a larrikin [a rascal], but he was also a gentleman. That is a dual description that any Australian man would be proud to have."
Among the guests at the service were Hollywood stars Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
Packer's son James, who has inherited the family's $11bn media and gaming company Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd, said his father was "acutely aware of his own good fortune, and equally aware of the obligations that went with it."
"My most precious memories are of course not about the legend, but about my dad," he added.
Six people were arrested outside the Opera House, for protesting against the memorial service because it was funded by taxpayers' money.
Gambling tycoon
Packer's business empire included Nine Network TV station and magazines like Australian Women's Weekly. He also owned ski resorts, diamond exploration and extensive land.
Last year Forbes magazine valued him at US$5bn (£2.9bn).
Kerry Packer had a well-known love of cricket
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But Packer was also known as one of the world's biggest gamblers, reputedly winning and losing millions in casinos.
He is also widely considered as the person who transformed cricket on television.
He launched his World Series after being refused exclusive broadcasting rights for a Test series against the West Indies.
The series ran for two years and featured great players such as Dennis Lillee, Viv Richards, Michael Holding and Imran Khan. Tony Greig gave up the England captaincy to join.