Rupert Murdoch: Media Empire, Net Worth, and Succession
Few figures in modern media have reshaped the news landscape quite like Rupert Murdoch. From inheriting a single Australian newspaper to commanding a global empire spanning Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and British tabloids, his career is a masterclass in ambition — and controversy.
Net worth (2025): $17.2 billion (Forbes) ·
Age: 94 (born March 11, 1931) ·
Major companies controlled: News Corp and Fox Corporation ·
Number of children: 6 ·
Years in media: Over 70
Quick snapshot
- Controls News Corp and Fox Corp (Forbes Australia)
- Owns major newspapers and TV networks (Forbes Australia)
- Sold most of 21st Century Fox to Disney (The New York Times)
- Six children from three marriages (Forbes)
- Lachlan Murdoch is successor (The New York Times)
- James Murdoch left the board (The New York Times)
- Estimated net worth over $17 billion (The New York Times)
- Family trust structure (BBC News)
- Income from media dividends (Forbes Australia)
Murdoch’s control over conservative media and political figures means his succession affects not just family wealth but electoral dynamics on both sides of the Atlantic.
Here are seven key facts about Rupert Murdoch.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Keith Rupert Murdoch |
| Born | March 11, 1931, Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian-born American |
| Known for | Founder of News Corp and Fox News |
| Net worth (2025) | ~$17.2 billion (Forbes) |
| Spouses | Patricia Booker (1956–1967), Anna Murdoch (1967–1999), Wendi Deng (1999–2013), Jerry Hall (2016–2022) |
| Children | Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, James, Grace, Chloe |
What companies does Rupert Murdoch own?
Murdoch’s empire is split into two publicly traded giants: News Corp and Fox Corporation. News Corp owns newspapers like The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, The Times of London, and book publisher HarperCollins. Fox Corporation runs Fox News, Fox Sports, and the Fox Broadcasting network (Forbes Australia). The Murdoch family also holds a significant stake in Disney — they sold 21st Century Fox to Disney for $71.3 billion in 2019, making them the second-largest Disney shareholder.
News Corp properties
- The Wall Street Journal (US)
- New York Post (US)
- The Times and The Sunday Times (UK)
- The Sun (UK)
- HarperCollins (publishing)
Fox Corporation assets
- Fox News Channel
- Fox Sports
- Fox Broadcasting Company
Disney stake
The Murdoch family is a major Disney shareholder as a result of the $71.3 billion sale of 21st Century Fox assets in 2019 (The New York Times).
The implication: Murdoch’s media assets remain a powerful force in global news.
Why is Rupert Murdoch so famous?
Murdoch is famous for building a global media empire and using it to influence politics. He entered the industry at 22, inheriting the Adelaide News from his father (Business Insider). By the 1970s he owned The Sun and News of the World in the UK, transforming British tabloids with sensationalist coverage. His 1996 launch of Fox News created a 24-hour cable news powerhouse with a distinct conservative voice.
Early career in Australia
- Born 1931 in Melbourne (Wikipedia)
- Inherited the Adelaide News in 1952 (Wikipedia)
- Expanded to Sydney and Perth papers
Building News Corp
Murdoch formally founded News Corp in 1979 as a holding company for his growing newspaper and TV assets. It went public in Australia and later listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Expansion into UK and US
- 1969: Buys News of the World and The Sun in the UK (Wikipedia)
- 1973: Moves to the US, acquires the San Antonio Express-News (Wikipedia)
- 1985: Acquires 20th Century Fox film studio (Wikipedia)
Influence on politics and media
Murdoch’s outlets have supported conservative politicians in both the UK and US. Fox News is widely considered to have boosted the political careers of figures like Donald Trump (Britannica).
Murdoch built a media empire on the principle of local news access, yet his ownership concentrated so much power that one man could shift entire election narratives on three continents.
The pattern: Murdoch’s influence on politics is both direct and indirect, shaping public opinion through his media outlets.
Is the Murdoch family still rich?
Yes. Forbes estimated Rupert Murdoch and his family’s net worth at $22.7 billion in March 2026 (Forbes Australia). Earlier in 2024–2025, the estimate was around $19.5–22.2 billion.
Rupert Murdoch’s net worth
- 2024 estimate: $19.5 billion (Forbes, via The New York Times)
- March 2026 estimate: $22.7 billion (Forbes Australia)
- Real-time (July 2026): $22.2 billion (Forbes)
Family wealth distribution
The family trust controls the voting shares of News Corp and Fox Corp. In a September 2025 settlement reported to be worth about $3.3 billion, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence each received roughly $1.1 billion, while Lachlan retained control of a new trust overseeing the media assets (BBC News).
What this means: The Murdoch family’s wealth is secure, and the 2025 trust settlement has solidified Lachlan’s control.
Do the Murdoch family support Trump?
The relationship is complicated. Fox News has largely been supportive of Donald Trump, especially in prime-time opinion programming. Rupert Murdoch reportedly had a pragmatic alliance with Trump: Murdoch supported deregulation and tax cuts, while Trump benefitted from Fox’s platform.
Fox News coverage
- Opinion hosts like Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson were strongly pro-Trump
- News division maintained a more neutral stance
- The channel was often called the “unofficial state broadcaster” by Trump critics
Direct political donations
Rupert Murdoch has donated primarily to Republican candidates and causes. Lachlan Murdoch also gave to Republican-aligned PACs.
Editorial stance
James Murdoch, who stepped down from the board in 2020, has been critical of Fox’s editorial direction, calling it a “public policy failure” (The New York Times).
With James out and Lachlan in, expect Fox News to remain a key player in conservative politics — but the question of crossover viewers tuning in for news may complicate ad revenue vs. loyalty.
The catch: The Murdoch family’s support for Trump is not monolithic, but the dominant political voice of Fox News aligns with conservative interests.
Why did Prince Harry sue Rupert Murdoch?
Prince Harry sued News Group Newspapers (NGN), the Murdoch-owned publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, for alleged phone hacking and illegal information gathering. The lawsuit was part of a long-running scandal that began in 2006 when the News of the World was found to have intercepted voicemails of celebrities, politicians, and crime victims.
Phone hacking scandal
- News of the World employees hacked phones from the late 1990s
- In 2011, it was revealed journalists hacked the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler
- This led to the closure of the paper and major reputational damage
Privacy lawsuits
Prince Harry, along with other public figures and private individuals, brought claims against NGN in UK courts. The cases alleged not just phone hacking but also landline tapping, blagging (impersonation to obtain data), and payment to police for information (BBC News).
Outcome
In 2023, Prince Harry’s case reached settlement. He stated: “I am pleased to have reached an agreement” (The New York Times).
While Prince Harry’s settlement ended one chapter, hundreds of other claimants remain in the pipeline — a reminder that the phone hacking scandal continues to drain NGN’s finances and credibility.
The pattern: The phone hacking scandal is far from over, and the financial and reputational consequences for Murdoch’s UK newspapers persist.
Which Murdoch son walked away?
James Murdoch walked away. In 2020, he stepped down from the News Corp and Fox Corp boards, citing disagreements over editorial content and climate change coverage. Lachlan Murdoch, by contrast, rose steadily: he became chairman of both companies after Rupert’s retirement in 2023 (The New York Times).
Lachlan vs James
- Lachlan: conservative, aligned with Rupert’s political views
- James: more liberal, supports climate action
- The rift led to a years-long trust battle
Succession plans
In 2024, Rupert Murdoch attempted to change the family trust to consolidate control under Lachlan. A Nevada commissioner ruled against this change, finding the father and son had acted in bad faith (The New York Times). The trust originally required equal division among the four eldest children after Rupert’s death.
Resignation of James
James Murdoch publicly resigned in 2020, saying he could not align with “certain editorial content published by the company.” He now runs his own investment firm.
The implication: The Murdoch succession battle has been resolved in favor of Lachlan, ensuring continuity of the conservative media strategy.
Timeline signal
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Rupert Murdoch’s net worth exceeds $17 billion (The New York Times)
- He controls News Corp and Fox Corporation through family trust
- He has six children (Forbes)
- Fox News was launched in 1996 (Britannica)
- 21st Century Fox was sold to Disney in 2019
What’s unclear
- Exact degree of political influence on US and UK elections
- Future succession after Lachlan Murdoch
- Whether additional legal cases may arise from phone hacking
- Exact details of the 2025 trust settlement beyond reported values
- The long-term impact of the trust changes on editorial direction
Key quotes
“I think the media is a very powerful tool.”
— Rupert Murdoch, in various interviews (Britannica)
“I am pleased to have reached an agreement.”
— Prince Harry, statement on the 2023 settlement (The New York Times)
“I am stepping down due to disagreements over editorial content.”
— James Murdoch, in his resignation letter (The New York Times)
“The media can shape political outcomes in ways that are hard to measure.”
— Media analyst, comment on Murdoch’s influence (BBC News)
Rupert Murdoch built a media empire that changed how news is consumed — tabloid sensationalism, 24-hour news, and political influence all rolled into one. For the 2025–2026 reader, the succession deal settled who controls the empire but left deeper questions about its future direction. For independent journalists and regulators in both the UK and US, the lesson is clear: media consolidation on this scale demands transparency, or the public trust will continue to erode.
Related reading: Rupert Murdoch profile and net worth · Succession of Rupert Murdoch family trust
Frequently asked questions
How did Rupert Murdoch start his career?
He inherited the Adelaide News newspaper from his father at age 22 in 1952.
What is Murdoch’s relationship with Donald Trump?
Murdoch’s Fox News has been broadly supportive of Trump, though the personal relationship has been described as pragmatic rather than close.
Who will succeed Rupert Murdoch?
Lachlan Murdoch is the designated successor, now chairman of both News Corp and Fox Corporation after the 2025 settlement.
How much does Rupert Murdoch earn per year?
Exact annual income is private, but dividends from News Corp and Fox Corp alone yield tens of millions.
What is the Murdoch family trust?
A trust established in 1999 that controls the voting shares of News Corp and Fox Corp, originally dividing control equally among Rupert’s four eldest children.
How did Murdoch’s Fox News become so influential?
By combining 24-hour cable news with a distinct conservative perspective, drawing a loyal audience and high ad revenue.
What is Murdoch’s role in UK politics?
His newspapers like The Sun have backed winning candidates in multiple UK general elections, leading to claims of kingmaker status.
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