Murdoch Family Feud Exposed as Court Documents Reveal Succession Power Play
Synopsis
Unsealed Nevada court documents identify Lachlan Murdoch’s former lieutenant Siobhan McKenna as the driving force behind an unsuccessful effort to change the family trust and preserve his control of assets including The Australian and Fox News.
Rupert Murdoch's family feud over his media empire is unveiled in a 96-page document from a Nevada court.
The court document shows the efforts by Murdoch and his son Lachlan to influence the structure of the family trust to give Lachlan control of the News Corp and Fox Corp after the founder's death.
The Nevada probate commissioner Edmund Gorman ruled that both Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch were being deceptive in the way they handled the case of James, Elisabeth and Prudence.
The family trust was set up in 1999 after Murdoch's divorce from his wife Anna in 1999. The agreement ensured that each of Murdoch's four older children would have a say in the assets pertaining to News and Fox shares and voted upon after the death of the founder.
The modification to the agreement was denied and James, Elisabeth and Prudence were compensated in September 2025. However, Lachlan retained majority control of the company.
McKenna’s role emerges
Siobhan McKenna, former chief adviser to Murdoch, is mentioned in the family trust document. The decision showed that McKenna started meeting with Lachlan in mid-2023 to come up with Project Family harmony.
The court ruled that before involvement by Murdoch, McKenna was the main facilitator of the meetings and set the agenda for the discussions.
The commissioner denied allegations that James, Elisabeth and Prudence conspired to remove Lachlan and take control of the family business.
News Corp’s latest financial position
Though the feud between the Murdochs is highly publicized, it is between entities that own vast business properties in the U.S., Australia and the UK.
According to News Corp's recent financial reports, the company's operations are registering significant profits. The company's operating cash flow rose by 26 percent to US$1.24 billion.
The company's revenue for the year amounted to US9.03 billion in revenue, up 7% from the previous year. Net income from continuing operations grew by 15% to US743 and cash flow for the fourth quarter reached US$2.34 billion.
The figures present a different story of the economy in which the largest media empire in the U.S., Australia and UK is facing several management challenges.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
