Rupert Murdoch Loses Legal Battle for Control of His Media Empire

By Evans Momodu
2 minute read


Rupert Murdoch's attempt to alter the terms of his family trust to favour his eldest son Lachlan has been blocked by a Nevada commissioner, sparking further tension within the media mogul's family.

The 93-year-old media tycoon sought to amend the trust, which currently splits control of his empire equally among his four eldest children—Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence—after his death.

The proposed amendment, rejected as a "bad faith" effort by Commissioner Edmund Gorman, would have secured Lachlan's control of Fox Corp and News Corp, cementing the conservative direction of key outlets like Fox News.

The change aimed to limit interference from Murdoch’s other children, who hold more moderate political views.

Legal and Family Fallout:

• Commissioner Gorman described the plan as a "carefully crafted charade" intended to solidify Lachlan's authority, irrespective of its impact on the companies or other beneficiaries.
• The ruling revealed that Murdoch's children had privately discussed succession strategies inspired by the fictional Succession series, which mirrors aspects of their real-life family dynamics.

Responses:

• Murdoch's Camp: Lawyer Adam Streisand expressed disappointment and confirmed plans to appeal.
• Other Murdoch Siblings: Representatives for Prudence, Elisabeth, and James welcomed the ruling, expressing hope for reconciliation within the family.

The judgment sets the stage for continued infighting over the future of the Murdoch empire, a drama strikingly reminiscent of the HBO series Succession.
Source: Sky news