Key Facts
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About
The Rupert Murdoch Family Trust is a private irrevocable trust established by media mogul Rupert Murdoch to hold and control a significant portion of the family's voting shares in News Corporation (News Corp), ensuring family influence over the global media conglomerate. Created as part of a corporate restructuring, the trust primarily manages Class B super-voting shares, which grant disproportionate control relative to economic ownership, allowing the Murdoch family to maintain editorial and strategic direction of News Corp's subsidiaries, including The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, The Times of London, and HarperCollins. The trust's structure has been pivotal in preserving the family's media empire amid public listings and international expansions, and is designed for succession planning, with beneficiaries including Rupert Murdoch's children: Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence. As of recent reports, the trust controls approximately 39-41% of the voting power in News Corp and Fox Corporation, enabling the family to influence key decisions in media operations worldwide. The trust's governance, under Delaware law, initially vests voting power with Rupert Murdoch, transitioning to a family council upon his incapacity or death, with equal votes among his children. However, recent efforts by Rupert to amend the trust to consolidate power under his son Lachlan have sparked legal battles, highlighting tensions within the family and raising questions about the trust's role in perpetuating conservative media influence. The trust does not engage in direct operations but indirectly shapes global narratives through News Corp's assets. Critics have accused the trust of enabling undue political influence, given News Corp's outlets' alignment with right-leaning ideologies, though the trust itself remains opaque due to its private nature. No public financial disclosures are required beyond SEC filings related to News Corp, underscoring its design for asset protection and succession planning rather than operational management.