Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is embroiled in a legal battle with three of his children to secure his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch’s leadership of his media empire, the New York Times reported. Murdoch seeks to increase Lachlan’s voting power within the Murdoch Family Trust to ensure his uncontested control.
The Reno-based trust holds the family’s stakes in News Corp and Fox Corp. Lachlan, chairman of News Corp and CEO of Fox Corp, faces opposition from his siblings, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence. Murdoch argues that Lachlan’s leadership will maintain the conservative editorial stance of their media outlets, preserving their value.
The trust, with eight votes, is split evenly between Murdoch and his four children from his first two marriages. Murdoch’s daughters, Chloe and Grace, from his third marriage, lack voting rights. Fox News remains a significant player in US politics, especially among Republicans.
Murdoch’s camp and the companies involved declined to comment. This legal maneuver aims to prevent a potential editorial shift driven by his more politically moderate children, securing Lachlan’s “permanent” and “exclusive” control.