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How Tom Cruise and Scientology 'saved suicidal James Packer' as it's claimed his late father Kerry was 'grateful for the controversial religion'

By Demeter Stamell For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:44 EDT, 23 October 2018 | Updated: 00:08 EDT, 24 October 2018

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An explosive new biography has revealed details of James Packer's former friendship with Tom Cruise and his brief flirtation with the Church of Scientology.

In The Price of Fortune: The Untold Story of Being James Packer, journalist Damon Kitney writes that Packer turned to the controversial religion after falling into a deep depression following the 2001 collapse of his telecommunications company One.Tel.

This devastating business failure prompted him to flee to the United States with his then-wife Jodhi Meares, with his friend Jeff Kennett telling the author: 'He was absolutely suicidal at times'.

An explosive new biography has revealed details of James Packer's former friendship with Tom Cruise and his brief flirtation with the Church of Scientology. Pictured: Packer in March 2018

Packer himself acknowledges he was 'in a bad way' around this time, and those closest to him even feared he would take his own life.

While in America, Packer was introduced to Scientology by Hollywood actor and high-profile church advocate Tom Cruise.

He and Jodhi would apparently spend their days researching the religion and studying its central text, Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard.

Finding religion: In The Price of Fortune: The Untold Story of Being James Packer, journalist Damon Kitney writes that Packer turned to Scientology through his friendship with Tom Cruise. Pictured: Tom Cruise at a Church of Scientology event in Madrid in September 2004

Some of the billionaire's friends believe that Scientology ultimately 'saved James' during this difficult chapter of his life.

Jodhi, now 47, agrees with this assessment, even though she is no longer involved with the church herself.

'There are some really insightful ways to view life and handle life and that is really what Scientology is... particularly if you are going through a difficult time,' she said.

However, Packer's interest in Scientology didn't last - and neither did his friendship with Tom Cruise.

'It's his choice that we aren't friends anymore,' the Australian businessman said.

Life-changing: Some of the billionaire's friends believe that Scientology 'saved James' during a difficult period in his life around 2001 and 2002. His wife at the time Jodhi Meares (pictured in 2001) agrees with this assessment, although she is no longer involved with the religion herself

While it's not known why the two men fell out, Packer has since described the Top Gun star as being a loyal friend at his time of need.

'In 2002 he put me back together,' he said.

Despite reports the late Kerry Packer was opposed to his son's dalliance with Scientology, James insisted his father was actually 'very supportive'.

'My dad saw how damaged I was [by the One.Tel collapse]. It took my father longer than perhaps it should have to see that,' he said.

Understanding: Despite reports the late Kerry Packer (centre) was opposed to his son's dalliance with Scientology, James (left) insisted his father was actually 'very supportive'

'I spent a significant amount of time with Tom Cruise and he was incredibly kind and generous to me. And he would actually ring my father and manage my father.

'The biggest movie star in the world – people take their calls – Tom would ring up Dad and say, "James is a good person and he's getting better." So when I came back from America, Dad saw that I was a lot better.

'He accepted that if Scientology was helping me, he wasn't going to say anything. He was grateful to it for what he saw it was doing to me.'

Tough times: 'My dad saw how damaged I was [by the One.Tel collapse]. It took my father longer than perhaps it should have to see that,'said the businessman. Pictured in October 2017