Lachlan Murdoch, 94-Year-Old Rupert Murdoch’s Son, Secures Control of Conservative Media Empire Amid Distinct Approaches

In a decisive move, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, aged 94, has designated his eldest son Lachlan as the future leader of a vast conservative media empire, encompassing Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post, among other prominent outlets in the UK and Australia.

This succession battle among Murdoch’s children culminated on Monday, with Lachlan emerging victorious over his brother James in a long-standing rivalry. The appointment strengthens Lachlan’s position as the likely heir to uphold the conservative ethos that defines his father’s legacy.

Although Rupert and Lachlan share a familial bond, their media approaches are distinct, as noted by Paddy Manning, author of a biography on Lachlan. In an interview with NPR in 2022, Manning highlighted Lachlan’s preference for rock-climbing and tattoos, suggesting that he is less inclined to seek the political influence his father enjoyed in Republican circles.

The question of how Murdoch’s empire would be divided among family members has been a subject of courtroom dramas and boardroom intrigues, echoing the plotlines of HBO’s Succession series.

Born on September 8, 1971, Lachlan Murdoch was raised in London but moved with his family to New York City as his father expanded his US media holdings. Educated at elite private schools in Manhattan, Massachusetts, and Colorado, followed by Princeton University, Lachlan began working at News Corp in 1994 before relocating to Australia in 2005 for a period of self-imposed exile.

Lachlan returned to the US with renewed ambition to lead the family business, following his brother’s tarnished reputation due to scandals involving British tabloids. The empire was subsequently divided between publishing and television divisions, with both sons assuming key roles: James as CEO at Fox, and Lachlan as co-chairman.

Lachlan’s ascension became more evident in 2017, following a mega-deal where the Walt Disney Co. acquired much of their Hollywood properties. This move led to James leaving Fox Corp, and later resigning from the board of News Corp, the newspaper and publishing arm.

Both brothers have been embroiled in high-profile controversies during their careers. James’ involvement with the UK tabloid scandal resulted in settlements exceeding $1.5 billion, while Lachlan, as CEO, faced defamation lawsuits over Fox News’ coverage of the 2020 election. In 2023, Fox agreed to pay $787.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, with a trial for another lawsuit by Smartmatic still pending.

Despite these controversies, both News Corp and Fox have reported financial successes. For the latest fiscal year, Fox reported revenues of $16.3 billion, representing a 17% increase from the previous year. In a challenging era for print journalism, News Corp reported revenue of $8.45 billion, slightly up from 2024 figures.

Lachlan’s political leanings have been a subject of speculation, with him generally perceived as more conservative than his father. According to Manning, Lachlan describes himself as “socially liberal but economically conservative.” In 2021, he described Fox News as operating in “the center and right” in political news, opinion, and analysis.

In 2023, speaking at an event hosted by Morgan Stanley investment bank, Lachlan expressed that Fox News will continue to cater to its audience in the “center-right.”