Rupert Murdoch is engaged in a secret battle with children over empire

Rupert Murdoch, at 93, faces a legal battle with his children over control of his media empire, specifically his attempt to pass leadership to his eldest son, Lachlan.

Murdoch controls a trust that holds considerable stakes in News Corp and Fox Corp. Originally, the trust stipulated equal voting rights among his four children, Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence, upon his death.

But when Murdoch decided to consolidate power under Lachlan, he met resistance, triggering a legal dispute now unfolding in a Nevada probate court, the New York Times reported yesterday.

Any revision to the trust could reshape decision-making at the highest levels of Murdoch’s empire, potentially influencing major corporate strategies and mergers. The family currently holds ~40% voting stakes in each company.

The saga underscores Murdoch’s enduring effort to maintain familial control over his media legacy despite internal tensions and shifting dynamics among his children.