Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is currently embroiled in a quiet legal showdown with three of his kids. The dispute centers on the destiny of Murdoch’s media empire after his death and could impact its status as a bastion of conservative values in the future.

The 93-year-old tycoon started the family feud last year with a move amending the terms of the formidable Murdoch family trust. The change is designed to ensure his favorite son, Lachlan, keeps the reins of his global network of TV channels and newspapers. Murdoch’s bid to tweak the terms of his family trust reportedly left him estranged from three of his children.

After attempting to sway Elisabeth and Prudence with separate meetings in London—where Elisabeth slammed the proposal—the media titan pushed through the changes at an emergency trust meeting in Reno, Nevada, on December 6. Despite efforts by the trio’s representatives to halt the proceedings, the changes were approved as revealed by a sealed court document obtained by the New York Times.

This rift has now deepened, evidenced by the absence of James, Elisabeth, and Prudence at Murdoch’s recent wedding in California, though Lachlan was in attendance. Murdoch’s camp argues that the trust amendments, though the trust is irrevocable, are in good faith, intended to preserve the trust’s assets and prevent any dilution of Fox’s conservative stance by his other children.

BEVERLY HILLS – FEB 24: Rupert Murdoch, Jerry Hall at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA

The family, sitting on a colossal $19.5 billion fortune per Forbes, reportedly fueled the fiery drama seen in HBO’s “Succession” with their own behind-the-scenes bickering. The Australian media mogul took over a newspaper at just 22 years old following his father’s death, a former war correspondent. He expanded his influence vastly, building a media empire that now includes heavy hitters like Fox News, The Times of London, and The Wall Street Journal.

In September of 2023, Murdoch stepped down as chairman. He sold major assets including Fox’s movie studio, FX, National Geographic Networks, and its stake in Star India to Disney for a staggering $71.3 billion back in March 2019. His son, Lachlan, now oversees the streamlined Fox, which focuses on broadcast, cable news, business, and sports networks.

News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch attends the Oxfam/Myspace Rock for Darfur event with his wife Wendi Deng, and Myspace Co-founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe. 12 October 2006

According to The Times, Murdoch’s step was driven by fears that disagreements among his heirs could shift the editorial direction and strategic vision of his companies, notably Fox News and News Corp. In response, the three siblings have united, sharing legal representation to challenge their father’s actions, which they argue undermine the “equal governance provision” of the original trust and are not made in good faith. The court’s findings suggest that a trial could indeed determine that Murdoch’s amendment of the trust was done in bad faith.

Although all six of Murdoch’s children, including his younger daughters from his third marriage share equal equity in the trust, only his four eldest have voting rights. Murdoch is pushing to amplify Lachlan’s voting influence to ensure unchallenged control, despite the trust’s original intent for balanced power among his four older children. This shift, spearheaded by William P. Barr, the former Attorney General, was announced during a special trust meeting in Reno, Nevada—a city chosen for its favorable legal environment for family trusts.

James Murdoch, once co-leader of Fox and News Corp alongside Lachlan, has openly criticized the network’s editorial direction, particularly its support for former President Donald Trump, which he sees as damaging to the company’s long-term viability. After stepping down in 2020, James has since pivoted to managing his own investments, including significant stakes in international media.

They’re set to take their case to court with a trial slated for September.

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