Who Is James Packer’s Ex-Girlfriend? Renee Blythewood’s Journey From Teacher to Model

For a short time, James Packer’s relationship with American model Renee Blythewood served as a strikingly effective diversion from the tumultuous chapters that came before it. Many saw the two walking the Cannes Film Festival red carpet together in May 2024 as a sign of renewal and a turning point in their relationship. Instead of celebrity theatrics, Blythewood’s graceful and calm demeanor as she walked beside Packer offered a vision of quiet strength. However, by early 2025, the story took a dramatic turn. A now-deleted Instagram post that followed a high-profile dinner with Elon Musk and Donald Trump marked the beginning of the end.

Only a few weeks after the Mar-a-Lago dinner, in February, the couple broke up, according to people close to them. Packer had previously talked positively about his relationship, describing it as a source of balance and looking “to the future,” but it seems that the media attention generated by the private event heightened already-existing tensions. A story louder than words was conveyed by Blythewood’s silent removal of the pictures and Packer’s unusual silence.

There had been promise in the relationship. According to reports, Packer and Blythewood, who were introduced by a mutual contact in late 2023, bonded over their shared reinvention and calm energy. Before switching to modeling and lifestyle content, Blythewood, who is originally from Tennessee, was a preschool teacher. As a mother to 16-year-old Levi, she had already experienced personal change, transitioning from a private family life to an elegant public persona without the need for excessive publicity.

Warm snapshots from her everyday life, including trips on Packer’s $250 million yacht IJE, moments in Antibes, and soft-lit portraits from Cannes, used to fill her Instagram, which is now private. But these glimpses disappeared after the Mar-a-Lago incident. The post, which featured Brett Ratner, Musk, and Trump, unintentionally brought attention to the private billionaire’s social circle in ways that went against Packer’s recent efforts at discretion.

Packer has made it clear time and time again in recent years that he wants to get better. Since receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2016, he has been candid about the difficulties juggling his health and professional obligations. He once called his efforts to lose weight—which included giving up cigarettes, sugar, and alcohol—a personal triumph. After admitting that he had put on a few pounds in 2024, he said, “It’s a constant struggle.” He appeared to be firmly rooted in the idea that physical and mental well-being must always come first, even in the face of setbacks.

That journey seemed to be supported by Blythewood. Her presence was particularly stabilizing, in contrast to past relationships that flared and fizzled with public drama. She didn’t look for publicity. She wasn’t a red carpet chaser. She just showed up—at dinner tables with some of the most influential people in the world, at rugby matches, and on peaceful walks. Packer’s ex-wife, Erica Baxter, who has remained a friend and co-parent even after their divorce, was compared to her for her quiet strength.

Even though they split up in 2013, Erica and James still have a very strong familial bond. They have established a nurturing structure for their three children by living together when she travels to Sydney and switching between her home and his mansion in Los Angeles. The way prominent co-parenting is portrayed in the media has significantly improved as a result of this dynamic. They set an example of cooperation rather than conflict.

It has not gone unnoticed that Packer’s later romantic pursuits were a rollercoaster in contrast to that stability. From his intensely private relationship with model Kylie Lim to his turbulent relationship with Mariah Carey, which ended just before a $50 million settlement, Packer has experienced highs and lows, each of which reflects the stage of his life at the time. At first, his relationship with Blythewood appeared to be a change of direction. It was languid, subtly loving, and visually arresting without being pretentious.

But when viewed through a magnifying glass, even well-matched relationships are subject to pressure. Due to the presence of politically divisive figures, the Mar-a-Lago dinner—which was intended to be a networking opportunity—unintentionally created worldwide media attention. Although Blythewood’s post was quickly removed, Packer appeared uneasy about the publicity. He seemed unwilling to entertain the kind of attention that used to define him after years of juggling his mental health and business instability.

Packer has confided in friends that he still thinks a long-term relationship is possible. In an interview, he once said, “Some things haven’t worked out, but I’m always learning.” That sentiment highlights a deeper emotional intelligence that emerges with age, as it is remarkably similar to his reflections during his Erica years. He maintains a cautious optimism in spite of setbacks.

Now that she and Packer are no longer together, Blythewood has returned to her own interests and is raising her son Levi in what friends say is a balanced, grounded atmosphere. Even though their relationship was brief, it put her in a unique position where she had to deal with sudden fame, high expectations, and the difficulties of being in a relationship with someone who was dealing with both extreme wealth and ongoing vulnerability.

Although regrettable, the split lacked the animosity and legal drama of Packer’s previous relationship. Rather, a markedly mature retreat was used to handle it. No public statement was made. No charges. Just a stop—and maybe a restart.

High-profile couples have been using discretion more and more in recent years to keep their emotions stable. Even though it is brief, James and Renee’s path illustrates that change. Instead of using their intimacy as a weapon to gain attention, they presented a story of peaceful companionship that ended in silence rather than fire.