James Packer was unlikely Oscars winner

Billionaire James Packer was an unlikely winner at yesterday's Academy Awards with the gaming billionaire cashing in after one of his companies placed a bet on Best Picture winner Birdman.

The Daily Telegraph reports Packer's talent-spotting company Ratpac Entertainment had a 10 percent stake in the film which also won an Oscar for best director and best screenplay.

Packer and his film director partner, Brett Ratner, also had a 10 percent stake in best picture nominee American Sniper, according to the report.

The film about US Navy SEAL snipper Chris Kyle has already become the highest grossing war film of all time, taking more than $400 million at the box office so far and beating Saving Private Ryan.

Ratpac also invested in last year's big Oscar winner Gravity which starred Sandra Bullock and George Clooney and nabbed seven Oscars on top of more than $400 million at the box office.

Last year Packer said the entertainment firm had $225 million in the bank to invest in Warner Bros movies releases which included The Lego Movie which worldwide took in more than $200 million.

The return to the entertainment business has proved a sound investment for the gambling tycoon who has taken stakes of 25 percent in some recent blockbusters.