The Man behind Most of what You Read & Watch
If journalism and media are among your interests, then you’re definitely familiar with this Australian-born American media mogul. His career and achievements are beyond noteworthy, as he revolutionized what it means to be a newspaper publisher and media entrepreneur.
Rupert Murdoch manages a media empire that includes cable channel Fox News, The Times of London, and The Wall Street Journal. Indeed he is an eminent figure in his field, but this media magnate has come a long way since managing his father’s inheritance to him, the Sunday Mail and The News in Adelaide, Australia.
Mr. Murdoch with his wife, Jerry Hall
He grew up surrounded by figures from the publishing world, including his father, and so media imminently became his life’s passion. After his father’s death, he decided he would not settle and rather sought to expand his business. He desired to bring back life to what had lost its spark, and proved he could do so when he purchased the struggling Mirror and gradually transformed it into Sydney's best-selling afternoon paper- a move that proved those who doubted him wrong.
His growing success provided him with the necessary platform to undertake further business endeavors, and in 1965, the 34-year-old entrepreneur founded The Australian, Australia's first national daily paper. After establishing himself as one of Australia’s most reputable news publishers, Rupert began purchasing news outlets from around the world, earning him international renown.
Mr. Murdoch at the Lowy Institute's annual black tie event in Sydney (2013)
Once he moved to London, Mr. Murdoch purchased The News of the World, the Sun, Times, and then expanded his empire to the USA where he bought the San Antonio News and the New York Post. He also founded the Star, a national tabloid, and then founded News Corporation, which became a holding business for his media properties. He is clearly a man whose ambitions turn into golden business assets.
Perhaps his most clever business move was purchasing 20th Century Fox Film Corporation along with other TV stations which Rupert later merged into Fox, Inc.- now one of the country’s most prominent television networks.
However, Mr. Murdoch is also a sports lover, and his investments in sports are quite notable. He’s a part owner of the Los Angeles Kings NHL franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise, and the Staples Center. Who knows what could be next?
Rupert Murdoch with his sons James Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch
Although this man owns practically half of what you read, watch, and listen to today, his empire endured a drastic restructuring a few years ago. In 2013, Rupert divided his media empire into 2 companies—21st Century Fox Inc. and News Corp. Then, in 2017, he sold most of the holdings of 21st Century Fox to Disney for $71 billion- definitely a deal worth closing.
Now Rupert is among the world’s wealthiest billionaires with an estimated net worth of $20.5 billion, and at the age of 88, he is revered around the world as a diligent self-made billionaire whose energy in the newsroom and self-assurance in the business world molded him into an indelible persona.
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