Succession Secured: Rupert Murdoch, at 94, has solidified the future of his media empire by buying out three of his children, Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch, and James Murdoch, for a total of $3.3 billion. This strategic move, announced on Monday, September 8, 2025, effectively ensures that his preferred heir, Lachlan Murdoch, will assume full control of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. after his death, resolving a protracted and often bitter legal battle that had threatened the stability of the global media conglomerate. The settlement follows a ruling in December 2024 by a Nevada probate commissioner against Rupert and Lachlan’s initial attempt to unilaterally alter the terms of the family trust.
The Murdoch Dynasty: A Shifting Landscape
Key Players and Their Roles
The resolution of this succession dispute centers on several key figures. Rupert Murdoch, the aging media mogul, orchestrated the buyout to secure his vision for the future of his empire. Lachlan Murdoch, positioned as the chosen successor, is now poised to inherit control of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. The siblings bought out—Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch, and James Murdoch—received $1.1 billion each for relinquishing their stakes. According to reports from The Washington Post on September 9, 2025, the two youngest daughters, Grace and Chloe Murdoch, from Rupert’s marriage to Wendi Deng, will remain financial beneficiaries of a new trust but will not possess any voting power, further consolidating Lachlan’s control.
The Buyout Details
The deal involved a series of complex financial transactions, ultimately resulting in Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch acquiring the shares held by Prudence, Elisabeth, and James. As reported by Al Jazeera on September 8, 2025, the $3.3 billion payout dissolves the old Murdoch family trust and establishes a new one, effectively granting Lachlan full control over the media empire. Furthermore, the settlement incorporates a “long-term standstill agreement,” preventing the bought-out siblings from future attempts to acquire shares or otherwise influence the companies’ direction. This agreement, as detailed by TPR on September 8, 2025, is designed to ensure stability and prevent future challenges to Lachlan’s leadership.
Legal Battles and Nevada Courtrooms
The path to this resolution was not without significant legal hurdles. The dispute originally ignited in December 2023 when Rupert Murdoch sought to amend the “irrevocable” family trust to solidify Lachlan’s sole control. This move triggered a legal challenge that unfolded in a Nevada courtroom. According to reporting by WEMU-FM on September 8, 2025, a probate commissioner initially ruled against Rupert and Lachlan’s attempt to unilaterally change the terms of the trust in December 2024. This setback underscored the complexity of the legal framework governing the Murdoch family’s assets and the challenges in altering established trust agreements.
Ideological Control: The Driving Force
Protecting the Conservative Voice
The underlying motivation for Rupert Murdoch’s actions appears to be rooted in a desire to preserve the conservative identity of his media empire, particularly Fox News. Murdoch believes that Lachlan is the most capable leader to safeguard this conservative voice within the English-speaking world. As noted in The Guardian on September 9, 2025, the buyout was, in part, driven by ideological differences and a strategic move to prevent Lachlan’s siblings from potentially shifting the company in a different political direction.
Divergent Views and Family Rifts
James Murdoch, in particular, had become a vocal critic of the editorial stance of Fox News and other Murdoch outlets, particularly their coverage of the January 2021 U.S. Capitol siege, support for President Trump, and views on climate change. These divergent views created significant friction within the family. Elisabeth and Prudence also reportedly felt betrayed by an earlier attempt by Rupert and Lachlan to legally curtail their influence over the company’s future. The ideological chasm within the family, coupled with the desire to maintain a specific political direction for the media empire, ultimately fueled the buyout decision.
Impact and Future Implications
The resolution of this succession battle has far-reaching implications for the future of Fox Corp. and News Corp. With Lachlan Murdoch poised to assume full control upon his father’s death, the conservative trajectory of the media empire appears secure for the foreseeable future. However, the peace within the family remains tenuous, with reports indicating that Rupert and James have had limited contact in recent years. The financial implications of the buyout are also significant. To fund the substantial payments to the departing siblings, the Murdoch companies are selling shares, resulting in a dilution of the percentage of voting shares held by the new family trust. This dilution could potentially open the door for future challenges to Lachlan’s control, although the “long-term standstill agreement” aims to mitigate this risk.
In conclusion, Rupert Murdoch’s strategic buyout marks a pivotal moment in the history of his media empire. By securing Lachlan’s succession, he has solidified the conservative direction of Fox Corp. and News Corp. while resolving a long-standing family dispute. However, the long-term impact of this decision, both on the media landscape and the Murdoch family dynamics, remains to be seen. The financial implications of the buyout and the lingering tensions within the family add further complexity to the future of this influential global media conglomerate.
