Older cousin to James Packer, Francis, has been found dead in a Sydney apartment aged 64.Older cousin to James Packer, Francis, has been found dead in a Sydney apartment aged 64. Credit: Instagram, AAP

The eldest grandchild of media magnate Sir Frank Packer, Francis Packer, has died at the age of 64.

Francis was found dead in an apartment unit in Cammeray, north Sydney, on Wednesday after suffering what is believed to have been a medical episode.

Self-described as the “black sheep” of the family, Francis was in line to take over the Packer’s vast media empire as the eldest fourth-generation mogul.

But that title would go to his younger cousin, James, after a famous falling out with Sir Frank and Francis’s father, Clyde, in 1972.

Clyde became ostracized from the family and the heirdom passed to Kerry and his son James.

Francis would battle with anxiety and depression for portions of his life after being pushed out by his father over his sexuality.

He lived in the US for 35 years to escape the family — a majority of the time spent with his partner who tragically died in the September 11 attacks — before returning to Australia in 2014.

Once heir-apparent to the Packer throne, Francis Packer has been found dead in a Sydney apartment aged 64.Once heir-apparent to the Packer throne, Francis Packer has been found dead in a Sydney apartment aged 64. Credit: Instagram Francis’ younger cousin, James, would eventually take control of the family’s vast media fortune.Francis’ younger cousin, James, would eventually take control of the family’s vast media fortune. Credit: AAP

In 2023, he said he was working on a long-term project to write a tell-all book about the high-profile family.

“It’s got all the elements of Succession, with the added intrigue of it being a real family and what it was actually like trying to exist within a media dynasty like that,” he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Especially when you don’t really fit the family mould like me.”

Originally published on 7NEWS