If not about Rupert himself, the story behind the ruthless business tactics, political intrigues, and dynastic family battles that made this media powerhouse the perfect fit for one of News Corp’s news outlets and television channels. It will be a story. News Now that the seemingly invincible has entered his 90s, speculation is rife in the worlds of business, politics and entertainment about who will succeed him as leader of his corporation.
Let’s take a look at potential succession lines and who’s who in the wider Murdoch clan.
patriarch
Rupert Murdoch
potential heir
Lachlan Murdoch
James Murdoch
James Murdoch, 49, is Rupert Murdoch’s fourth child and second son with his second wife, Anna. James’ early career choices were at odds with his father’s conservative newspaper empire. He dropped out of Harvard in 1995 and launched his own hip-hop record label, his Rawkus Records. A few years later, he moved to an executive position at his News Corporation, taking on the role of corporate office worker. After Lachlan left Fox in 2005, James was increasingly seen as the apparent new heir to his father.
In 2007, James became chairman of BSkyB. In 2011, he was named Deputy COO of News Corporation and Chairman and CEO of News International. But as James was climbing to new heights within the empire, investigators and journalists discovered staff members of Britain’s Murdoch tabloid newspaper had been hacking the phones of public figures and crime victims to listen to their stories. At that time, the company was embroiled in a scandal. As a result, James was forced to resign as chairman of BSkyB.
Elizabeth Murdoch
Elizabeth Murdoch, 53, is Rupert Murdoch’s second child and first child with his second wife, Anna Murdoch. Elizabeth began her family business training early with internships and entry-level jobs at Murdoch’s facility. In 1996, she was appointed director of BSkyB, where she was managing Sky Networks. However, a few years later, she was handed over to her Sky CEO role.
Though Rupert considers Elizabeth to be the most like him, he is more dismissive of her attempts to take the throne, and at one point, before planning further promotions in the company, Rupert asked how many In 2000 she left the family business to run one of Britain’s largest independent producers, producing shows such as ‘The Biggest Loser’, ‘Master Chef’ and ‘History Cold Case’. Founded one of the companies, Shine.
When News Corporation acquired Shine in 2011, Elizabeth tried to join News Corporation’s board of directors, but scrutiny over the phone hacking scandal prevented her from doing so. She left Shine following a merger with two other production companies. funded the opening of the London chapter of the Ghetto Film School, a non-profit program aimed at
wife
Patricia Booker
Rupert Murdoch and his first wife Patricia Booker, a former department store model and flight attendant, married in 1956. She gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Prudence, two years after her. The marriage lasted 11 years. They divorced in 1967.
Anna Murdoch
Rupert met Anna Torv at his newspaper, the Daily Mirror, in Sydney where she worked as a reporter. A few months after his divorce from Patricia, Rupert and Anna got married. They had his three children, Elizabeth, Lachlan and James, who are now prime candidates for succession to the Murdoch empire. Over the years, Anna has published several novels. She spent three decades supporting her family and acting as Rupert’s loyal partner on the world stage. ‘s incessant desire to subside and spend more time with her enjoying her golden age. Rupert was completely against the idea. This disagreement led to an irreconcilable rift, and the two divorced in 1999 after his 31-year marriage.
Wendy Deng
jerry hall
other children
Prudence MacLeod
Prudence MacLeod is Rupert’s eldest son from his first marriage to Patricia Booker. Prudence has shown little interest in running his family business and has little involvement in the succession battle involving his brothers Elizabeth, Lachlan and James. He has held various positions throughout his career at The News Corporation and currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Times. He also has voting rights in the Murdoch Family Trust.
Grace Murdoch & Chloe Murdoch
Grace, 20, and Chloe, 18, are the two youngest children born from Murdoch’s marriage to Wendy Deng. They spent their childhood traveling between family properties in New York, Los Angeles, Arizona, and luxury vacation destinations around the world. Both attended Manhattan’s prestigious Brearley School. Grace moved to Yale University and Chloe is studying at Stanford University. The youngest, Murdoch, has non-voting shares in the Murdoch Family Trust and stands to inherit billions of dollars, along with his older half-brother.
Source: www.cnn.com
