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Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 2 a.m.
Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
A recent Nevada court ruling has blocked Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to alter his family trust in a way that would have given his son Lachlan permanent control over the family’s vast media empire[8]. This decision has significant implications for the future of some of the world’s most influential news outlets, including Fox News and News Corp[9].
4 heirs with equal power
Rupert Murdoch, the 93-year-old media mogul, has six children from three marriages:
• Prudence MacLeod (born 1958, from his first marriage to Patricia Booker)
• Elisabeth Murdoch (born 1968, from his second marriage to Anna Torv)
• Lachlan Murdoch (born 1971, from his marriage to Torv)
• James Murdoch (born 1972, from his marriage to Torv)
• Grace Murdoch (born 2001, from his third marriage to Wendi Deng)
• Chloe Murdoch (born 2003, from his marriage to Deng)[5][6]
However, only the four eldest hold voting rights in the Murdoch Family Trust, which controls the media assets. Grace and Chloe, while beneficiaries, do not have voting rights in the trust structure[7][5].
Differing visions
The four voting heirs bring distinctly different perspectives to the table:
• Lachlan Murdoch: Currently executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation and co-chairman of News Corp, Lachlan is widely seen as his father’s favored successor and shares his conservative political outlook[8][9].
• James Murdoch: Once the CEO of 21st Century Fox, James resigned from the News Corp board in 2020, citing disagreements over editorial content and strategic decisions. He is considered more politically liberal than his father and brother[8][9].
• Elisabeth Murdoch: A successful media entrepreneur in her own right, she founded the production company Shine (later sold to 21st Century Fox) and has generally maintained some independence from the family business while remaining influential[5].
• Prudence MacLeod: The least publicly visible of the four, Prudence has historically been less directly involved in day-to-day operations of the main Murdoch businesses but retains her equal voting rights in the trust[5].
The Nevada court ruling ensures that after Rupert Murdoch’s death, voting control of the trust will be shared equally among these four children, rather than concentrating power in Lachlan’s hands as Rupert had attempted to arrange[8][7][9].
Why Nevada?
The legal battle is taking place here despite the family having limited connections to the state. This choice was strategically made for several key reasons:
Privacy and confidentiality
protections
• Nevada law allows for trust and probate cases to be sealed from public view upon petition, and courts here are known for granting such requests, particularly in matters involving significant wealth or public figures[1][2].
• The state’s “close on demand” statute permits parties to request that proceedings remain confidential, which is not as readily available in other jurisdictions[1][2][4].
• This level of privacy is a major draw for families like the Murdochs, who wish to keep internal disputes and sensitive business information out of the public eye[1][2][4].
Favorable trust laws
• Nevada is recognized as one of the most favorable states for establishing and managing trusts, offering mechanisms such as “trust decanting,” which allows for changes to otherwise irrevocable trusts under certain conditions[4].
• The legal framework in Nevada provides flexibility for trust creators (settlors) to seek court approval for amendments, especially if they can demonstrate that changes are in the best interest of the beneficiaries[4].
Efficiency and specialized courts
• Nevada courts, particularly in Washoe County where the case is being heard, are less backlogged than those in larger metropolitan areas, allowing for more expedient handling of complex trust litigation[2].
• Probate commissioners and judges in Nevada have significant experience with high-value trust disputes, further supporting the choice of venue for such cases[2].
Strategic jurisdiction selection
• Despite the Murdoch family’s lack of significant personal or business ties to Nevada, the state’s legal environment for trusts is the primary reason for selecting it as the venue[1][2].
• The Murdoch Family Trust, which is central to the dispute, is believed to be administered in Nevada, further justifying the choice[4].
Real-life ‘Succession’
Media observers have frequently compared the Murdoch family dynamics to the HBO series “Succession,” which was loosely inspired by the family[7]. However, the real-life consequences extend far beyond family drama to potentially reshape the landscape of conservative media globally.
The Nevada court decision effectively ensures that, at least initially, the four eldest Murdoch children will need to find ways to cooperate or form alliances to control the direction of one of the world’s most powerful media empires[8][7][9].
Sources
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v6z4ezr00o
[2] https://mynews4.com/news/local/heres-why-the-battle-over-rupert-murdochs-media-empire-is-happening-in-reno
[4] https://theconversation.com/rupert-murdochs-real-succession-drama-why-the-future-of-his-media-empire-could-hinge-on-a-legal-effort-in-nevada-235615
[5] https://www.newidea.com.au/celebrity/rupert-murdoch-children/
[6] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/love-sex/succession-battle-everything-you-should-know-about-rupert-murdochs-children-and-their-legal-war-for-the-throne/articleshow/118254892.cms
[7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/11/real-life-succession-what-is-the-latest-murdoch-family-drama-all-about
[8] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/business/media/rupert-lachlan-murdoch-family-trust.html
[9] https://theconversation.com/rupert-murdoch-loses-his-legal-battle-leaving-future-of-media-empire-in-the-balance-245665
[10] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v6z4ezr00o
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