James Packer and David Gyngell fight: Can you believe it’s been 10 years since the best friends and media giants went toe-to-toe on a Sydney street
Ten years ago, on May 5, 2014, some of the most famous paparazzi photos of all time were taken on a Sydney street when billionaire James Packer and best mate David Gyngell got into their now legendary Bondi brawl.
It created an enormous furore at the time, which went far beyond the ritzy Bondi beach neighbourhood where the men threw punches at each other.
These extraordinary photographs show the moment two of Australia’s richest men – both media giants in Australia at the time – started fighting in the street after falling out.
Mr Packer and Mr Gyngell had been friends since childhood, and Mr Gyngell was best man at Mr Packer’s wedding to his second wife Erica Baxter, a marriage that ended in 2013.
At the time, Mr Packer owned Channel 9 and Mr Gyngell was its chief executive.
Ten years ago, on May 5, 2014, some of the most famous paparazzi photos of all time were taken on a Sydney street when billionaire James Packer and best mate David Gyngell got into their now legendary Bondi brawl (pictured)
Money punch: The fight between the men who’d known each other for decades made headlines around the world
Beach bums: Mr Packer and Mr Gyngell’s dress code gave no hint of what they are both worth
Mr Gyngell, now aged 58, apparently confronted his friend outside his Sydney home on that fateful day, and the pair began rowing.
They had to be separated by bodyguards, and were later fined $500 each for ‘offensive behaviour’.
Mr Gyngell accepted responsibility for the fight and pledged to co-operate with the police investigation into the incident.
‘He fully accepts that he was the instigator of the incident,’ a spokesman said. ‘Clearly, had he not turned up at Packer’s premises in an angry mood then the confrontation would never have occurred.’
Despite their frustrations with each other spilling over into violence, the pair soon told friends they regretted the fight and insisted they would remain on good terms.
Mr Gyngell’s wife Leila McKinnon soon poked fun at the controversy, comparing it to the fight between Beyoncé’s wife Jay-Z and her sister Solange Knowles.
‘OK so they’re much better dressed and a little more discreet but I feel a kinship with Beyonce, Solange, and Jay Z today,’ she tweeted.
Solange was caught on camera in New York’s Standard Hotel wildly attacking Jay Z after the Met Gala after-party, requiring burly security guards to break up the fracas.
Ms McKinnon’s light-hearted stab at her husband and his best man was well received by her Twitter followers.
Mr Gyngell famously quit running Channel 9 in 2005 but returned to the network in September 2007.
The fight continued as their bodyguards (pictured) tried to separate the pair
One of the bodyguards is pictured looking on in seeming disbelief at what was happening
Both brawlers were wearing exercise gear when they got the exercise they hadn’t expected
Mr Packer seemed to having a word in Mr Gyngell’s ear in this photo of the fight
Mr Gyngell accepted responsibility for the fight and pledged to co-operate with the police investigation into the incident. They were both later fined $500 each for ‘offensive behaviour’
He resigned again in 2015 after eight years at the helm of the network.
Mr Packer, 56, sold out of Channel 9 between 2006 and 2008 to concentrate on casinos and tourism.
Having struggled with his weight on an off over the years, he has been on a health kick and lost more than 33kg in the past two years.
The billionaire mogul recently showed off the results of his weight loss as he enjoyed an afternoon stroll in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
THE BRAWLING BILLIONAIRES WHO BOTH INHERITED HUGE FORTUNES
James Packer and David Gyngell are both the scions of families which created television in Australia and were friends for much of their lives.
Mr Packer is the grandson of Sir Frank Packer, who founded the station which would eventually become the Nine Network, Australia’s first commercial TV network.
His father was Kerry Packer, notorious for transforming the world of cricket when he paid many of the world’s top stars to join a breakaway league in the 1970s.
When James inherited the business empire, he invested in a number of casinos in Australia and south-east Asia.
Mr Gyngell was the barefoot brawler in his battle with Mr Packer
Mr Packer had the advantage of being taller and a physically bigger man
He eventually walked away as Mr Gyngell was comforted by his bodyguards while lying on the ground
He married Erica Baxter in 2007 and the couple have three children together, but they announced they would separate in September 2013.
Mr Packer was at one time a close friend of Tom Cruise, and publicly flirted with adopting the actor’s Scientology faith.
Mr Gyngell is the son of Bruce Gyngell, who helped Sir Frank Packer set up the Nine Network and became the first person ever to appear on a national television broadcast in 1956.
He became friends with Mr Packer when the pair attended the private Cranbrook School in Sydney, and they have remained close since.
Mr Gyngell is married to Channel Nine presenter Leila McKinnon.
My Gyngell (pictured) spent most of his life working at Channel 9
He is married to Channel 9 presenter Leila McKinnon (pictured)
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