Australia's richest man marries in France

Canberra, June 21: Australia's richest man, media and gambling mogul James Packer, married model and singer Erica Baxter in a private town hall ceremony in France followed by a lavish celebrity reception on the French Riviera.

Packer's close friend, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes, were among guests during three days of celebrations in Cap d' Antibes, alongside News Corporation boss Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi.

Murdoch's son Lachlan also attended with his model wife Sarah Murdoch and Australian champion cricketer Shane Warne.

Packer has shown interest in the Church of Scientology, of which Cruise is an avid follower, and Australian media had speculated that Cruise might conduct the wedding ceremony.

But Packer and Baxter were married in a quiet civil ceremony yesterday attended only by a handful of family and close friends, before returning to their exclusive hotel for a bigger garden ceremony.

Australian media said the cost of the wedding and three days of partying for more than 100 guests, would top A 6 million dollars (5 million dollar).

Baxter, 29, wore a A100,000 dollar dress designed by Christian Dior's John Galliano, newspapers said.

The couple were expected to honeymoon on their private yacht, the converted icebreaker Arctic P, the same yacht Cruise and Holmes used for their honeymoon in late 2006.

A fleet of ocean cruisers and limousines was hired to ferry guests across the Riviera for festivities.

Packer's wedding has dominated Australia's media over the past week, with television and newspapers running images of Cruise and Holmes, and their baby Suri, at a beachside party, alongside Australian celebrities and business leaders.

Media reported Packer hired out the exclusive Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat for the wedding celebrations.

Packer, 39, became Australia's richest man when he took control of his family's A7 billion dollar media and gambling empire after the death of his father, Kerry Packer, in December 2005.

The marriage is Packer's second. He married model and swimsuit designer Jodhi Meares in 1999 in a A10 million dollar Sydney wedding, at which Elton John sang. But the pair divorced in 2002.

Reuters>