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The $3.3 Billion Settlement: Where Are Rupert Murdoch's Six Children Now?

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The long-running, real-life drama of the Murdoch family succession has finally reached a definitive conclusion. As of late 2025, following Rupert Murdoch’s step back from his leadership roles at Fox Corporation and News Corp, a massive $3.3 billion settlement was struck, fundamentally reshaping the future of the conservative media empire and the roles of his six children. The outcome has solidified one clear winner, while three other prominent siblings have taken a massive financial payout to exit the family business entirely, paving their own paths in media and investment. This is the definitive, up-to-date look at the current status and ventures of every one of Rupert Murdoch’s heirs.

The settlement, which was finalized in September 2025, ended a protracted legal and corporate battle that had pitted different factions of the family against each other. The deal saw three of the mogul’s eldest children—James, Elisabeth, and Prudence—agree to relinquish their shares in the family trust, granting them each a staggering $1.1 billion payout. The result is a consolidated power structure that definitively hands control of the global media behemoth to a single son, with the two youngest daughters retaining a beneficiary position in the newly structured trust.

The Six Children of Rupert Murdoch: A Complete Biography and Current Roles (2025)

Rupert Murdoch, who has been married four times, is the father of six children from three of those marriages. Their roles have shifted dramatically following the 2025 succession settlement, which sealed the fate of the media empire.

  • Name: Prudence Murdoch MacLeod
  • Born: 1958
  • Mother: Patricia Booker (First Wife)
  • Known For: Philanthropist, former media executive, and the eldest child. She is often referred to as the "quiet Murdoch" who has historically remained outside the corporate power struggle.
  • Current Status (Post-2025): Received a $1.1 billion buyout and relinquished her stake in the family trust. She is focused on philanthropy and her private life.
  • Name: Elisabeth Murdoch
  • Born: 1968
  • Mother: Anna Murdoch Mann (Second Wife)
  • Known For: An established media executive in her own right. She founded the successful UK-based TV production company Shine Group in 2001, which was later sold to News Corp.
  • Current Status (Post-2025): Received a $1.1 billion buyout and relinquished her stake in the family trust. She is the Executive Chair of her contemporary production company, Sister, which is responsible for globally renowned television and film projects.
  • Name: Lachlan Murdoch
  • Born: 1971
  • Mother: Anna Murdoch Mann (Second Wife)
  • Known For: The favored son and long-time heir apparent. He has held numerous high-level roles, including Co-Chairman of News Corp and Executive Chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation.
  • Current Status (Post-2025): The undisputed winner of the succession battle. He is now the sole executive in control of the family’s media holdings, set to become the Chairman of News Corp and retaining his role as CEO of Fox Corporation.
  • Name: James Murdoch
  • Born: 1972
  • Mother: Anna Murdoch Mann (Second Wife)
  • Known For: The "rebel" son who often clashed with his father over the political direction of the media outlets. He previously served as CEO of 21st Century Fox before its sale to Disney.
  • Current Status (Post-2025): Received a $1.1 billion buyout and relinquished his stake in the family trust. He is now forging his own path as a media mogul, notably launching a new media firm with Uday Shankar to invest in Indian media and technology.
  • Name: Grace Murdoch
  • Born: 2001
  • Mother: Wendi Deng (Third Wife)
  • Known For: The older of the two youngest daughters, she and her sister are beneficiaries of the family wealth and are generally kept out of the corporate spotlight.
  • Current Status (Post-2025): She is a beneficiary of the new family trust created as part of the settlement, along with her sister Chloe and Lachlan.
  • Name: Chloe Murdoch
  • Born: 2003
  • Mother: Wendi Deng (Third Wife)
  • Known For: The youngest of the six Murdoch children.
  • Current Status (Post-2025): She is a beneficiary of the new family trust created as part of the settlement, along with her sister Grace and Lachlan.

The $3.3 Billion Buyout: How Lachlan Murdoch Cemented Control

The resolution of the succession struggle in late 2025 was a corporate earthquake, effectively ending years of speculation and internal conflict often compared to the fictional HBO series *Succession*. The core of the issue lay in the family trust, which holds the controlling, non-economic voting shares in both Fox Corporation and News Corp, the two main entities of the empire.

The trust was structured to benefit all six children, with Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James having a say in its governance. However, Rupert Murdoch's desire to install Lachlan as his successor, coupled with the ideological differences, particularly with James, led to years of tension.

The final settlement saw Rupert Murdoch buy out the interests of three of his children—James, Elisabeth, and Prudence—for a combined $3.3 billion. This massive financial transaction effectively removed their voting power and influence over the future direction of the empire. Lachlan was then placed in control of a new trust structure that includes his two youngest half-sisters, Grace and Chloe, as beneficiaries. While Grace and Chloe are part of this new trust, Lachlan holds the decisive voting power, ensuring his long-term control over the media assets, including Fox News, *The Wall Street Journal*, and *The New York Post*.

The Post-Empire Ventures of the 'Buyout' Siblings

The $1.1 billion payout received by Prudence, Elisabeth, and James has allowed them to pursue independent ventures, free from the shadow and political constraints of the Murdoch empire. This has led to a fascinating divergence of career paths, particularly for the two siblings who were once seen as potential successors: James and Elisabeth.

James Murdoch: The New Global Media Mogul

James Murdoch, known for his more liberal views and his public break from the family's conservative-leaning media, is aggressively building a new, independent media and investment portfolio. His main vehicle is his private investment firm, Lupa Systems.

In his most significant move since the buyout, James partnered with former Disney executive Uday Shankar to launch a new media firm. This venture is specifically targeting investment opportunities in the Indian media and technology sectors, positioning James as a formidable global player outside of his father's traditional markets. This strategic focus highlights his intention to become a media mogul in his own right, distinct from the legacy of News Corp and Fox Corporation.

Elisabeth Murdoch: The Creative Powerhouse

Elisabeth Murdoch has consistently demonstrated her entrepreneurial capabilities, proving she didn't need the family empire to succeed. Her original production company, Shine Group, was a major success before its acquisition.

Today, she is the Executive Chair of Sister, a high-profile, independent production company that has quickly become a major force in the industry. Sister focuses on premium content across film and television, emphasizing creative freedom and high-quality storytelling. Her focus on production and creative content stands in stark contrast to Lachlan's focus on news and distribution, carving out a separate, influential niche in the global entertainment landscape.

Prudence Murdoch MacLeod: The Philanthropic Elder

Prudence, the eldest, has always been the most private of the siblings. While she was involved in the legal proceedings that led to the settlement, her primary focus remains outside of corporate executive roles. She is known for her work in philanthropy and has generally avoided the intense media scrutiny that has followed her brothers and sister. Her $1.1 billion settlement provides her with unparalleled freedom to pursue her private interests and philanthropic causes without any corporate obligations to the Murdoch Trust or its entities.

The Future: Lachlan’s Reign and the Youngest Beneficiaries

The 2025 settlement ensures that Lachlan Murdoch will lead the empire into the next generation. His control over the voting shares in the new family trust means he holds the ultimate corporate power. His mandate is to steer the massive media conglomerate, which includes influential entities like Fox News and the publishing assets of News Corp, through a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Meanwhile, the two youngest daughters, Grace and Chloe Murdoch, while now part of the controlling trust, are not expected to take on executive roles anytime soon. As beneficiaries of the trust, their financial security is cemented, but the operational and strategic direction of the companies rests firmly and solely with their older half-brother, Lachlan. This final, decisive move by Rupert Murdoch has brought a clear, albeit dramatic, conclusion to one of the most closely watched succession battles in modern corporate history.

rupert murdoch children
rupert murdoch children

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