Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American billionaire businessman who built one of the most powerful media empires in modern history. Best known as the driving force behind Fox News, his career spans over seven decades, transforming local newspaper publishing into a global network of television, film, and digital assets.
Understanding who runs and shaped these massive outlets requires looking past simple corporate structures. Murdoch didn't just inherit a media business; he weaponized aggressive tabloid journalism, leveraged political relationships across continents, and fundamentally altered how news is consumed in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Early Life and the Australian Foundation
Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1931, Rupert Murdoch was immersed in media from childhood. His father, Sir Keith Murdoch, was a prominent Australian war correspondent and newspaper publisher who controlled the Herald and Weekly Times group. When Sir Keith died in 1952, a 21-year-old Rupert Murdoch returned from his studies at the University of Oxford to take charge of the family's remaining asset: a controlling interest in an Adelaide daily newspaper called The News.
Instead of managing the paper conservatively, Murdoch treated it as a testing ground for aggressive commercial strategies. He increased coverage of sports, crime, and sensational human-interest stories, turning The News into a financial success.
He used the cash flow from his Adelaide operations to fund a rapid expansion across Australia. By 1964, he launched The Australian, the country's first national daily newspaper. Through a series of hostile takeovers and strategic buyouts, he amassed a substantial portfolio of Australian newspapers, setting a pattern of aggressive corporate acquisition that would define his entire career.
Fleet Street and British Tabloid Dominance
With his domestic empire secured, Murdoch set his sights on the United Kingdom. In 1969, he purchased the struggling Sunday newspaper News of the World, followed shortly by the daily tabloid The Sun.
Murdoch overhauled The Sun, turning it into a high-volume, low-cost tabloid characterized by bold headlines, partisan political stances, and the infamous Page 3 glamour photography. The formula worked, making The Sun one of the highest-circulating English-language newspapers in the world.
In 1981, he expanded into elite British journalism by acquiring The Times and The Sunday Times. This gave him dual influence across both populist and establishment tiers of British society. His influence over British politics became so pronounced that politicians routinely courted his favor, famously summarized by the adage that "it's The Sun wot won it" after the 1992 general election.
Establishing Fox and Reshaping American Media
Murdoch turned his attention to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. He purchased the New York Post in 1976 and later acquired 20th Century Fox film studio alongside a group of independent television stations.
To bypass regulatory hurdles and own American broadcast stations legally, Murdoch became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1985. Shortly after, in 1986, he launched the Fox Broadcasting Company. At the time, America's television landscape was dominated by three entrenched networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. By counter-programming with edgy, younger-skewing shows like The Simpsons, Married... with Children, and COPS, Fox successfully carved out a fourth major broadcast network.
The Launch of Fox News
The crowning achievement of his American media strategy came in October 1996, when he launched the Fox News Channel. Created to challenge the perceived liberal bias of existing cable news outlets like CNN, Fox News positioned itself under the slogan "Fair and Balanced."
Under founding CEO Roger Ailes, the network pioneered a style of cable news that combined fast-paced daytime reporting with high-rated, opinion-driven primetime commentary. Fox News rapidly captured market share, eventually becoming the most-watched cable news network in the United States—a position it held for consecutive decades.
Beyond television, Murdoch continued to expand his American footprint. In 2007, his company completed a landmark acquisition of Dow Jones & Company, adding The Wall Street Journal to his stable of elite financial and general publications.
Corporate Restructuring and Succession
As his media empire expanded, it underwent significant structural changes. In 2013, News Corporation split into two distinct publicly traded entities:
- 21st Century Fox: Encompassing the film studios, television networks, and cable channels (including Fox News and the Fox broadcast network).
- News Corp: Housing the print journalism, publishing assets (including HarperCollins), and real estate services.
In 2019, Murdoch sold a massive portion of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets—including the 20th Century Fox film studio and various cable networks—to The Walt Disney Company for roughly $71 billion. Following the Disney sale, the remaining broadcast assets were organized under the newly formed Fox Corporation, where Murdoch served as chairman until late 2023.
In September 2023, Murdoch announced that he was stepping down as chairman of both Fox Corporation and News Corp, transitioning to the role of Chairman Emeritus. He officially handed operational control of the global media holdings to his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, securing family control through a carefully engineered trust.
Major Controversies and Legal Scandals
Murdoch’s career has been punctuated by high-profile legal battles and ethical controversies. The most damaging occurred in 2011, when it was revealed that journalists at his British tabloid News of the World had systematically intercepted the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, as well as those of celebrities, politicians, and relatives of fallen soldiers.
The public outrage forced Murdoch to shut down the 168-year-old newspaper. He, along with his son James Murdoch, testified before a British parliamentary committee, and the scandal led to the Leveson Inquiry into British press standards.
In the United States, Fox News faced severe legal fallout regarding its coverage of the 2020 presidential election. Dominion Voting Systems filed a massive defamation lawsuit against the network, alleging that Fox hosts knowingly broadcast false claims about election fraud. In April 2023, Fox News agreed to a historic $787.5 million settlement with Dominion, narrowly avoiding a high-profile trial that would have put top network executives and hosts on the witness stand. Additional shareholder lawsuits and defamation claims have continued to challenge the network's editorial practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently owns Fox News?
Fox News is a subsidiary of Fox Corporation. Following Rupert Murdoch's retirement from his executive chairmanships in 2023, his son Lachlan Murdoch serves as the Chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation, maintaining family oversight of the network.
How did Rupert Murdoch build his fortune?
Murdoch started by inheriting a single regional newspaper in Adelaide, Australia, in 1952. He used the profits to buy aggressive tabloids in the UK, launch a fourth major U.S. broadcast network (Fox), and build a dominant cable news channel, while consistently executing strategic mergers and acquisitions.
What is Rupert Murdoch's net worth?
As of recent financial estimates, Rupert Murdoch's net worth fluctuates around $20 billion, placing him among the wealthiest media proprietors in global history. His wealth is tied primarily to family trusts holding equity in Fox Corporation and News Corp.
Is Rupert Murdoch still involved in day-to-day operations?
No. While he holds the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus at both Fox Corporation and News Corp, he stepped down from active executive management in late 2023, leaving daily strategic control to his son Lachlan and corporate executives.
What media outlets are part of News Corp today?
Today, News Corp operates independent of Fox Corporation and includes major publishing assets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times (London), The Sun, The Australian, and book publisher HarperCollins.
