Why Rupert Murdoch 'may have a case' against his children in his fight to save Fox News: biographer

The New York Times on Wednesday published a bombshell report revealing that "a sealed court document obtained" by the newspaper shows that in efforts to maintain the conservative Fox News empire as it is today, and even after his death, 93-year-old Rupert Murdoch is privately battling three of his kids.

When the right-wing media owner moved "to change the terms of the Murdochs’ irrevocable family trust" last year, according to the Times, "to ensure that his eldest son and chosen successor, Lachlan, would remain in charge of his vast collection of television networks and newspapers," three of Murdoch's six children — James, Elisabeth and Prudence — "were caught completely off-guard" and "have united to stop him."

Murdoch biographer Claire Atkinson submits in a report published by The Daily Beast Thursday that the Times' report leaves an important question unanswered: "Who gave them access to sealed documents?"

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Atkinson writes:

Rupert’s theory goes that, once he has passed, James, Liz and Prudence will try to neutralize Fox News and break up the wider company. (Semafor reported an intriguing rumor in April that KKR-controlled Axel Springer was eyeing The Wall Street Journal, one of the jewels in the crown.) Cutting them out of power will guarantee its financial success.

The British-born journalist emphasizes, "Rupert may have a case that neutralizing Fox Newswon’t be good for the family’s fortunes."

Atkinson also notes:

The maneuverings are not without precedent. Rupert learned a lesson he would never forget after his own father’s death: Control is everything. Sir Keith got to the top of the masthead at the Melbourne Herald and Weekly Times and tried to cobble together a handful of newspaper shareholdings to pass to his son, but they were mostly snatched away and sold off after his death. A 21-year-old Rupert was left to sort out the mess.

The Murdoch biographer adds that based on an interview she conducted with Lachlan in 2021, "Even then, his intention to keep control of the company he’d been running as CEO since 2019 was clear. 'It’s a terrific job. It’s one I look forward to for decades and decades into the future,' he told me over the phone from Australia."

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The Daily Beast's full report is available here (subscription required).