Rupert Murdoch’s empire is shaking, and it’s not just because he’s 93. The media tycoon, the man behind Fox News and the center-right Wall Street Journal, just hit a major roadblock in his attempt to secure his legacy. A Nevada commissioner has nixed Murdoch’s plan to rewrite the rules of his family trust to hand over the reins to his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch. In doing so, the commissioner might have just opened Pandora’s box for the conservative media world.
The ruling, which comes from a sealed document obtained by The New York Times, doesn’t mince words. Commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. accused Murdoch of bad faith, calling his effort to cement Lachlan’s control a “carefully crafted charade.” The trust, which splits control of Murdoch’s empire equally among his four children after his death, is supposed to be, well, irrevocable. Apparently, Rupert thought “irrevocable” was more of a suggestion than a rule.
Here’s the kicker: Lachlan’s siblings—James, Elisabeth, and Prudence—are thrilled. Their joint statement practically sings with glee, emphasizing their hope for “strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members.” Translation? They’re ready to push Lachlan off his perch and reclaim their slice of the pie.
Rupert Murdoch has failed in his attempt to give his eldest son control of his media empire.
In a case likened to the TV show Succession, a court rejected the 93-year-old’s bid to shut out his three other children from his assets once he dies. pic.twitter.com/r5nedj3OmD
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) December 10, 2024
For conservatives, this is more than a family squabble. It’s about the future of a media empire that has shaped the right-wing landscape for decades. Rupert’s vision has always been clear: keep the outlets center-right, keep them profitable, and keep the left out. But his kids, particularly James and Elisabeth, aren’t exactly on the same page. James has openly criticized Fox News’ editorial direction in the past, and Elisabeth’s views lean decidedly less conservative. If they gain influence, it’s not hard to imagine Fox News taking a sharp turn—or even teetering toward a more mainstream approach. For loyal Fox viewers, that’s about as welcome as a vegan at a Texas barbecue.
Lachlan, for his part, has been a steady steward of his father’s vision. He’s helped keep Fox News and the Journal at the forefront of conservative media, even as far-right competitors like Newsmax and One America News (OAN) nip at their heels. But now, with his siblings reportedly coordinating a coup, Lachlan might find himself out of the empire entirely unless he can buy them out—a costly and contentious move.
The stakes are enormous. Fox is already battling to keep its audience from being siphoned off by more radical competitors. OAN just handed Matt Gaetz a primetime show, and Newsmax recently beat CNN in the ratings. If Fox starts inching left under new leadership, it risks alienating its core viewers. These are the folks who tune in nightly for Tucker Carlson-style commentary (even if Carlson himself has moved on). For them, losing Fox as a conservative stronghold could feel like a betrayal of epic proportions.
On the flip side, a shift in Fox’s editorial stance could leave a massive vacuum for someone else to fill. Imagine a world where Newsmax becomes the new conservative juggernaut, or OAN captures the audience Fox built over decades. This could represent the most significant realignment in American media in the 21st century—a seismic shift with ripple effects far beyond the newsroom.
🚨🇺🇸 COURT BLOCKS MURDOCH’S REAL-LIFE “SUCCESSION” DRAMA
Rupert Murdoch’s bid to hand his empire to eldest son Lachlan was blocked, with a court slamming the move as a “carefully crafted charade” designed to cement Lachlan’s control.
Murdoch’s less conservative kids—Prudence,… pic.twitter.com/dN9F5asK1N
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 10, 2024
Rupert Murdoch’s legacy hangs in the balance. His attempt to ensure a conservative future for his media empire may have just backfired, throwing open the doors to chaos. For conservatives who’ve relied on Fox News and the Journal as a counterbalance to left-leaning outlets, the prospect of a Murdoch family feud deciding their fate is unsettling, to say the least. One thing’s for sure: if Lachlan loses, the entire conservative media landscape could face an identity crisis. And that’s a drama Rupert never scripted.
