Secret family battle for Murdoch empire revealed in sealed court documents: NYT

The Murdoch family, famous for helming one of the world’s most influential news empires, is locked in a secret court battle over succession and control, according to a New York Times report citing sealed court documents.

The Murdoch family, famous for helming one of the world’s most influential news empires, is locked in a secret court battle over succession and control, according to a New York Times report citing sealed court documents. For years, public intrigue has swirled around what would happen to the Murdoch assets after the death of patriarch Rupert Murdoch, 93, a powerful right-wing media mogul who has for years led Fox Corporation and News Corporation, which publishes The Wall Street Journal and New York Post. The family’s vast empire is worth $19.5 billion, according to Forbes estimates – with its behind-the-scenes feuding believed to be the inspiration for the hit HBO series “Succession.” At the center of this latest battle is the Murdoch family trust, which holds key voting shares in both Fox Corp and News Corp. Rupert Murdoch’s four eldest children – Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence – share four votes in the trust equally. But late last year, Rupert Murdoch filed a petition to amend the irrevocable family trust, hoping to instead grant exclusive control to his eldest son and chosen successor Lachlan, according to The Times. Lachlan has been closely aligned with his father for years, and took over as chair of Fox Corp and News Corp last September. Citing the court documents, which CNN has not independently seen, The Times reported that Murdoch was concerned that interference from his other three children – who are more politically moderate than Lachlan and their father – could influence the companies’ editorial stance.