Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is engaged in a legal battle with three of his children to guarantee that his eldest son and chosen successor, Lachlan Murdoch, remains at the helm of his media empire. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Murdoch is seeking to expand Lachlan’s voting power in the Murdoch Family Trust to secure a majority, thereby preventing challenges from his siblings.
According to a sealed court document, Murdoch aims to ensure Lachlan cannot be challenged by his more politically moderate siblings – James, Elisabeth, and Prudence Murdoch. The Reno, Nevada-based family trust controls the family’s shares in News Corp and Fox Corp, which include a vast collection of television networks and newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal and the Sun. Lachlan Murdoch currently serves as chairman of News Corp and chair and chief executive of Fox Corp.
The trust currently has eight votes: four controlled by Rupert Murdoch and the remaining four by his four children from his first two marriages. His youngest daughters, Chloe and Grace, from his third wife Wendi Deng, do not have voting rights in the trust.
In court, Murdoch argues that having Lachlan run the company without interference from his siblings will help preserve its conservative editorial stance, thus protecting the commercial value for all his heirs. Fox News, a key part of Murdoch’s media holdings, continues to be the number one U.S. cable news network and plays an influential role in U.S. politics, particularly among Republicans who value Fox’s conservative-leaning audience.
Murdoch expressed concern that a “lack of consensus” among his four children could impact the strategic direction of both companies, including a potential shift in editorial policy and content. He also wishes to grant Lachlan “permanent” and “exclusive” control over the company, according to the court’s decision.
This legal battle underscores the ongoing power struggle within the Murdoch family and the importance Rupert Murdoch places on maintaining the conservative direction of his media empire.
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