Rupert Murdoch Family Trust Battle Mirrors ‘Succession’ Drama: ‘This Raw Deal Will Not Prevail’
Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus of Fox Corporation and News Corp [File: Mike Segar/Reuters]
A legal battle involving Rupert Murdoch’s family trust has reportedly been fueled by HBO’s hit series Succession, blurring the line between art and life. Murdoch’s attempt to restructure the family trust to grant full control of the Fox News empire to his son Lachlan faced a setback over the weekend when a Nevada commissioner rejected the plan, The New York Times reported.
The 93-year-old media mogul’s legal maneuver aimed to ensure that Fox News retains its right-wing editorial slant after his death. Lachlan Murdoch, widely viewed as more conservative than his siblings, was the clear beneficiary of the proposed changes.
In a surprising twist, the Emmy-winning Succession, loosely based on the Murdoch dynasty, reportedly set events in motion. Sealed testimony revealed that Murdoch’s children began secretly discussing the public-relations strategy for their father’s eventual death earlier this year, prompted by an episode of the show.
“Setting off these discussions was the episode of the HBO drama Succession,” the commissioner wrote, “where the patriarch of the family dies, leaving his family and business in chaos.” According to the report, Elisabeth Murdoch’s representative, Mark Devereux, drafted a “‘Succession’ memo” aimed at avoiding a similar real-life scenario.
The commissioner’s ruling, however, made it clear that Murdoch’s request would not stand. “The court, after considering the facts of this case in the light of the law, sees the cards for what they are and concludes this raw deal will not, over the signature of this probate commissioner, prevail,” the decision stated.
Despite the ruling, the fight is far from over. The commissioner serves as a “special master” in the case, but the final decision rests with a district judge, who can either ratify or reject the recommendation.
Additionally, Murdoch has other options if the current legal route fails. The New York Times noted, “If Mr. Murdoch and Lachlan do not succeed in court, they could pursue other means to consolidate Lachlan’s power. One way would be for Lachlan to buy out his siblings’ stake in the company.”
The ongoing battle underscores the challenges of navigating family legacies, power, and business empires—real-life themes that Succession has brought into sharp focus. As Murdoch’s case continues, it’s clear that this legal drama is far from reaching its final act.
