The Turmoil Within the Murdoch Empire: Rivalries and Changes

Wed Dec 24 2025 11:42:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Rupert Murdoch's reign nears its inevitable close, fissures in the family business grow wider, revealing deep-seated rivalries and shifting alliances among his children.

The Murdoch family is embroiled in a complex web of rivalries and legal disputes that reflect the changing dynamics of the media empire. Rupert's decision to cut ties with his eldest children has led to a dramatic shift in control and relationships. With Lachlan Murdoch at the helm, pursued strategies are balancing profitability against family rifts, as several siblings navigate their estrangement from both their father and each other.

Christmas is a time when families get together if they can - and, until this year, the Murdochs were no different. With members of the media dynasty spread across the globe, full family gatherings were rare, although in 2008, according to biographer Michael Wolff, the Murdochs spent the festive season together on a flotilla of private yachts.

But more often in recent years it was Rupert - for many decades the most influential media titan in the world - and his daughter Elisabeth who would make time for each other. This year, however, a bruising closed-court battle in Nevada leading to an agreement that permanently excluded Elisabeth and two other siblings from the family firm has left relations strained.

Rupert's eldest child, Elisabeth, is the co-founder and executive chairman of Sister, a production company known for popular series such as Black Doves and This is Going To Hurt. Friends describe her as generous and hardworking; however, many acknowledge the testing year she's endured, catching away the traditional comfort of family support.

James Murdoch's relationship with his father and older brother Lachlan appears irreconcilable. His public criticism of Rupert, labeling him a 'misogynist', signifies a fracture that might never heal. The fallout surrounding the shifting dynamics of their media empire has erupted into court battles, with Rupert's determination to sideline his children signaling a permanent schism.

In the corporate hierarchy, Lachlan Murdoch has cemented his position as the appointed successor, leading the charge into digital and streaming avenues while navigating the murky waters of family loyalty and business integrity. His brothers and sisters, each navigating their exit from a legacy they've long been intertwined with, have expressed feelings of betrayal as their ties to the family business grow formally severed.

With Rupert Murdoch's age and health becoming critical factors in this ongoing saga, the future of not only the family but the media landscape itself hangs in the balance. The historic rifts and burgeoning riches underscore a narrative of emotional complexity, foreshadowing a potentially dramatic future for the Murdoch dynasty.