Mariah Carey and billionaire James Packer are engaged

Portia Arthur

January 22, 2016 2:55 PM

Singer and actress, Mariah Carey began dating her billionaire boyfriend last summer, and E! News learned Packer popped the question in New York City Thursday.

Mariah Carey and Australian billionaire James Packer

Singer, Mariah Carey and billionaire, James Packer are engaged.

According to reports, James is said to have proposed to the American singer, seven months after they were first seen cozying up on a holiday in Italy.

"A close friend of Mr. Packer confirmed the couple were engaged and said they were over the moon that James has found such happiness with Mariah," a source told CNN.

Worth about $3.5 billion, Packer, 48, is Australia's fourth richest man, according to the Forbes Rich List. His family made millions through the media industry, before Packer turned to casinos. He owns one of Australia's gaming and entertainment groups, Crown Resorts.

Carey, 45, has dominated the entertainment industry for decades and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

On a U.S. talk show, she described how they got together.

"We first met in Aspen, a couple of years ago. We met at the Hercules premiere. We were talking and laughing and people were getting mad at us and stuff like that. So we hit it off," Carey said.

Portia Arthur