‘Petty grievances’ and an alleged troublemaker: unsealed Murdoch court documents give rare glimpse into bitter succession battle

Подробности

Lachlan, Rupert and James Murdoch in 2016. A crucial decision by a Nevada judicial officer in late 2024, recently made public, exposes friction among Murdoch’s heirs. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters View image in fullscreen Lachlan, Rupert and James Murdoch in 2016. A crucial decision by a Nevada judicial officer in late 2024, recently made public, exposes friction among Murdoch’s heirs. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters Rupert Murdoch ‘Petty grievances’ and an alleged troublemaker: unsealed Murdoch court documents give rare glimpse into bitter succession battle Rupert Murdoch said in newly released correspondence that it would be a disaster if his media empire fell into the ‘wrong hands’

Prefer the Guardian on Google A year ago, Rupert Murdoch resolved the long-running fight over which of his children would control his sprawling media empire, ending a bitter legal battle and anointing his eldest son, Lachlan, as his successor.

Now, court documents have offered a rare glimpse into the family’s clashes before the decision, revealing the patriarch’s view of son James as a troublemaker who had to be ousted from the business and detailing tensions between Murdoch’s four eldest children and their airing of “petty grievances” about their father.

A crucial decision by a Nevada judicial officer in late 2024, recently made public, exposes the friction among Murdoch’s heirs and includes direct references to the HBO drama series Succession, which was purportedly inspired by the media family.

The reasoning of the probate commissioner, Edmund Gorman, sheds light on the motive behind Murdoch’s attempt to modify a family trust and put his eldest son, Lachlan, in charge of the media empire.