Murdoch's Succession Saga: A Family Feud for Media Empire Control

Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul, is embroiled in a secretive legal battle with three of his children to consolidate control of his News Corp and Fox empires in favor of his conservative son, Lachlan. The billionaire's move to increase Lachlan's voting power has reportedly blindsided his other children, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence, who have grown uncomfortable with the rightward shift of the family's media holdings.

A Contentious Transition of Power

The Struggle for Succession

Lachlan Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp and CEO of Fox Corporation, has been positioned by his father to lead the family's media empire. This appointment, which occurred during Donald Trump's presidency, was seen as a formal handover of power to Rupert Murdoch's most conservative offspring. The move appeared to end a tense succession battle that also involved James and Elisabeth Murdoch, who are reported to have become increasingly uncomfortable with Fox's shift further to the right during Trump's tenure.

A Divided Family

However, Rupert Murdoch's four children have an equal say in how the company is run, a legacy of a divorce settlement between the patriarch and his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann. This has led the 93-year-old billionaire to take legal action in a bid to increase Lachlan's voting power at the expense of his other children, who have reportedly hired their own legal team to contest their father's plans.

The Battle for Control

According to court documents reviewed by The New York Times, Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan are arguing that a "lack of consensus" will disrupt Fox's and News Corp's strategic direction, justifying the shift in voting rights. However, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence have been blindsided by the move and are determined to maintain their voice in determining the future of the family's media empire.

The Nevada Probate Battleground

The legal battle is playing out in a Nevada probate court, where Lachlan stands to gain more control of the empire if he and his father can prove that the dramatic shift in voting rights is in the best interests of the organization. A trial is expected to begin in September, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown that could reshape the future of the Murdoch media dynasty.

A Fractured Family

The succession battle has reportedly left Rupert Murdoch estranged from three of his children, with only Lachlan attending the patriarch's recent wedding to his fifth wife, Elena Zhukova. The other Murdoch siblings, who have pursued their own projects, appear unwilling to relinquish their voice in the family business.

Murdoch's Waning Influence

Rupert Murdoch's grip on the media landscape is also showing signs of weakening, both in the UK and the US. In the UK, his once-powerful tabloids, The Sun and The Times of London, have struggled to maintain their political influence, with The Sun failing to back the winning Labour Party in the recent election. Murdoch's attempt to launch a UK version of Fox News, TalkTV, also ended in failure.

Challenges in the US

In the US, Murdoch's influence has likewise diminished, with Donald Trump Jr. declaring that the Republican Party no longer needs to "bend the knee" to the media mogul. The appointment of J.D. Vance as Trump's running mate for the 2024 presidential election was seen as a win for Donald Jr. in a tussle with Murdoch.

Seeking a Conservative Legacy

As Rupert Murdoch's influence wanes, his efforts to consolidate power in the hands of his conservative son Lachlan may be a last-ditch attempt to secure a lasting right-wing legacy for his media empire. However, the public battle with his other children threatens to further erode the Murdoch family's unity and the cohesion of their media holdings.