After a “screaming match” with his wife over flight tickets, a billionaire private equity boss behind high street businesses including Majestic Wine and Poundstretcher was discovered dead at his rented London residence.
Cleaners found multimillionaire Joshua Pack with a ligature around his neck in a locked bedroom on the top floor of the St. John’s Wood house.
As he oversaw the company’s European expansion, the 51-year-old entrepreneur, whose investment firm is valued at $50 billion (£37 billion), and his childhood love wife of 28 years, Jacqueline, were in the process of moving from their US home to the UK.
At an inquest into his death, Jacqueline stated that her husband had been under stress from work and jet lag.
The inquest was informed that they were making plans to relocate their household to London while residing in the rented residence at a short distance from Primrose Hill.
Mr. Pack, co-CEO of Fortress, the massive investment firm that owns Majestic Wine, Poundstretcher, Punch Pubs, and the Curzon movie chain, was getting ready to spearhead the American fund’s entry into Europe in an endeavour that was predicted to increase its worth to $100 billion.
Mrs. Pack claimed that after “drinking on and off throughout the day,” they got into a furious argument the night before he passed away.
“We were in love in high school,” she wrote. Josh was a devoted Catholic who put forth a lot of effort to provide for me and the kids, which was his top priority.
Joshua Pack, a multimillionaire, and Jacqueline, his childhood sweetheart and 28-year wife
She described her husband’s jet lag and work-related stress during an inquest into his death.
The rented home in St. John’s Wood, London, where cleaners discovered Mr. Pack dead “But there were tensions, as in any long-term marriage.”
Mrs. Pack claimed that after an argument, her husband could be “impulsive” and once “dramatically” threw himself off a Swiss hotel balcony into the snow.
“We had just moved to London from the States,” she said, describing the events leading up to his death on September 29 of last year. We were both under a great deal of stress. Josh was enthusiastic about his new assignment at work, but there were numerous issues with the house and nothing seemed to be functioning. Although I was unaware of the specifics, I knew it was crucial.
She claimed that after drinking the day before he passed away, they got into a fight over airline tickets.
As we were making our way back to the house, Josh’s PA texted to inform us that there was an issue with the reservation. Mr. Pack was scheduled to return to Dallas on Tuesday, but he made the decision to shift his trip forward to Monday in order to travel with his wife. Mrs Pack stated, “We had a heated argument, and after we got home, I went to the toilet to calm down.” I removed my makeup.
Mrs. Pack claimed that following an argument, her husband “dramatically” leaped off a hotel balcony.
The co-CEO of Fortress, a massive investment firm, was getting ready to spearhead the fund’s entry into Europe. “I came out to see Josh lying on the bed.” He had one eye that was significantly darker than the other. He didn’t look like himself. We got into another argument. We began yelling at one another. Josh ran to the cupboard and pulled out a knife before hurling my phone across the room and striking himself with it. “Stick it into me,” he replied. “We both threatened to commit suicide.” We have previously stated it. I didn’t mean it, and I didn’t believe Josh did either.
Mrs. Pack claimed that in order to relax, she went to sleep in a different room. “I wasn’t worried about Josh.” We had already fought. I sent him a text. He didn’t reply, but this wasn’t out of the ordinary, she continued.
She was unsure if her husband was home when she woke up.
There was no response when she called him.
However, she was informed by Mr. Pack’s PA that he had checked in for his trip back to their Texas home.
“There was a bedroom upstairs that was locked; nobody could get into it,” she continued. Josh’s PA sent me a message stating that Josh had boarded his aircraft.
“I chose to head straight to the airport at the time, even though I later found out that the airline had done this automatically. I sent a message to our driver, housekeepers, and other employees on the group chat, asking them to enter the locked area. The housekeeping phoned me in the airport lounge after I ordered them to break down the door if needed. She confirmed Josh’s death when I asked, and I passed out. I don’t think Josh, who was my closest friend, would have wanted to take his own life.
Cleaners at the property reported hearing the pair “rowing all night” and “screaming and swearing at each other” late into the day before his death, according to testimonies taken by police and read aloud by the coroner.
The court heard that the last text on Mr. Pack’s phone was sent at midnight, setting up a time for the next morning’s airport pickup.
The couple was “rowing all night” and “screaming and swearing,” according to housekeepers.
After his death was found in London, Mrs. Pack referred to her husband as her “best friend.”
On Monday afternoon, household employees began attempting to enter the locked room.
There was no other key, and the room had been locked from the inside.
The door could not be opened by the locksmith who was called.
The group entered through a crawl space in a nearby restroom at about 3 p.m.
Mr. Pack was discovered dead with a ligature around his neck.
When Det. Sgt. Graham Alger arrived on the scene, he examined the evidence on Mr. Pack’s confiscated cell phone.
Police discovered “no evidence of third-party involvement” and “no evidence that the businessman was planning his own death,” the detective informed Coroner Fiona Wilcox.
Read aloud were statements describing how the personal assistant, driver, and housekeeper had hurried to prevent Mrs. Pack from boarding the plane and transport her home.
Mr. Pack moved to Texas after being born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1972.
He married his bride after meeting her in school. She was a cheerleader, and he was a famous football player.
He later enrolled in the US Air Force Academy and spent his entire life supporting charities that assist veterans.
In addition to being a scout camp leader who loved snowboarding and exploring the world, he was characterised as a devoted father to his four children. He had given his family the moniker “The Six Pack.”
As Fortress’s co-chief executive, Mr. Pack and Drew McKnight handled the company’s entry into Dubai.
He was going to be crucial to Fortress’s growth throughout Europe.
At the Inner West London Coroner’s Court, Professor Wilcox rendered a verdict of death by misadventure.
Although she was certain that the “incredibly talented” businessman had committed suicide, she informed the court that there was not enough proof of intent to declare the death to be a suicide.
“I take into account the past history of impulsive behaviour, the fact that Joshua was jet-lagged, had gotten exceptionally upset after an argument, was under stress from the enormous deal at work, and had been drinking,” she said, describing Mr. Pack as a loving father to his four children who loved travelling.
Mr. Pack had previously lost his sibling to suicide, the coroner said.
“Everyone at Fortress is grieving the loss of one of our most exceptional leaders,” the company stated in an official statement. “Despite our sorrow, our commitment to our investors remains unwavering.”We are aware that protecting our investors’ money with the same diligence and concentration that have characterised Fortress for more than 25 years is the finest way to respect Josh’s legacy.
