Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle

Murdoch, 93, hoped to give son Lachlan sole control of 'the world's most powerful conservative media empire'

(Image credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo / GC Images)

published 10 December 2024

What happened

A Nevada commissioner denied a request by Rupert Murdoch and his oldest son, Lachlan, to amend their family's irrevocable trust so the patriarch's other three eldest children — Prudence, Elisabeth and James — have no control over the business empire when their father dies, The New York Times said Monday, citing Saturday's sealed ruling.

In an "at times scathing" ruling, the Times said, Commissioner Edmund Gorman Jr. called the proposed changes a "bad faith" and "carefully crafted charade" to "stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch's favor." Rupert Murdoch, 93, wanted Lachlan to have sole control of "the world's most powerful conservative media empire" to "lock in Fox News' right-wing editorial slant" from any moderating efforts by the more liberal James and Elisabeth, the Times said. Under the trust, the four siblings have equal votes after their father dies.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.