The Murdochs: Schmucksession

It's like Jaws if everyone in Jaws worked for Jaws! It's the true story of Rupert Murdoch's main hustle (News Corp) and his side hustle (emotionally and financially manipulating his children). We trace Rupert's (aka RuMu) rise from under the thumb of his father, the original Murdoch Megalomaniac, to become an Australian media mogul. Then, he journeys to the UK and the US, leaving a stinky trail of editorial corruption wherever he goes. Strapped on his back are three of his grown children, Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James, who are pulling and poking at one another as they battle for daddy's treasure: the top spot of the Murdoch Empire!

Images:

Keith, Elizabeth, and Rupert Murdoch around 1950. Source

Rupert Murdoch in 1960. Source

Rupert Murdoch’s five wives. From left: Patricia Booker, Anna Murdoch Mann, Wendi Deng, Jerry Hall, and Ann Lesley Smith. Source

Rupert and Anna Torv in 1997. Source

Rupert and Wendi Deng 2013. Source

Rupert and Jerry Hall at their wedding in 2016 Source

Rupert and Ann Lesley Smith in 2023. Source

Rupert and family in 216. Top row: Lachlan (2nd from left), James (2nd from right), 2nd row: Prudence (2nd from left), Elisabeth (2nd from right) Source

Rupert Murdoch with children Lachlan, James, and Elisabeth, along with second wife Anna Murdoch at their home in New York City in 1989. Source

Elisabeth, Elon Musk, and Rupert Murdoch. Superbowl 2023. Source

Lachlan, Rupert, and James Murdoch in 2016. Source

Lachlan Murdoch in 2005. Source

Rupert and James Murdoch 2013. Source

Phone Hacking scandal hearing. Source

Bob Iger and Rupert Murdoch in 2018. Source

Rupert and Lachlan date unkown. Source

Rupert and Lachlan in front of Fox HQ. Date unkown. Source

RUMUs twitter profile picture. Source

Elisabeth and Rupert Murdoch 2016. Source

Lachlan Murdoch 2019. Source

James Murdoch 2020. Source

The Murdoch family: Source

Links and Research:

Planet Fox: How Rupert Murdoch’s Empire of Influence Remade the World

Inside Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama

Elisabeth of the Murdochs

The Heiress: The Rise of Elisabeth Murdoch

James Murdoch faces Sky investor showdown

As Fox Descended into Madness, James Murdoch Went All In on Bankrolling Democrats and Political Reform

Settling for Less What Succession gets wrong about Rupert Murdoch.

The Plan to Get Rupert Murdoch to Pay Up

The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty (BBC+)