Murdoch empire showdown: Fox News and WSJ owners in family feud headed to court
The family that owns Fox News and The Wall Street Journal is headed to a Reno, Nevada courtroom for a high-stakes showdown.
The battle for Rupert Murdoch’s global media kingdom is headed to the biggest little city in the world.
Murdoch, the 93-year-old billionaire press baron, reportedly wants to alter the terms of an irrevocable trust so that his eldest son, Lachlan, inherits his throne and keeps control of prized assets such as Fox News and The Wall Street Journal. But three of the mogul’s other children — James, Elisabeth and Prudence — are pushing back, insisting that all four siblings continue to receive equal voting shares.
The family feud goes before a judge at the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno, Nevada, next week, but the proceedings and case filings are shrouded in secrecy. Alicia L. Lerud, an administrator at the Second Judicial District Court, confirmed to NBC News that the Murdoch matter is under seal and “confidential pursuant to court order.” (Reno probate court frequently deals with family trusts and estates.)
In late July, however, The New York Times published an article based on a copy of a sealed court document laying out some of the case’s key issues. NBC News has not independently seen the document or confirmed its authenticity. Gary A. Bornstein, the litigator representing the three siblings, and Adam Streisand, the lawyer representing their father, did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News.
Murdoch is one of the most powerful and influential media titans of the modern age. He built a small Australian newspaper business into a mighty collection of broadcast and cable television properties. The crown jewel remains Fox News, a pillar of the American conservative movement and home to high-profile opinion hosts who staunchly defend former President Donald Trump.
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