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Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family –– and the World
The inside story of the Murdoch blood feud whose outcome will determine the future of conservative politics in the English-speaking world.
Rupert Murdoch has wielded more power over our culture than any single mogul in modern times. Through ruthless dealmaking and remarkable foresight, he built a media empire that led to everything from the rise of Margaret Thatcher in the UK to Donald Trump in America. His outlets have shaped the news that created the world we live in.
Whether the ninety-four-year-old mogul will continue to do so is now the most urgent question in the media. Murdoch’s plan to rip up the secret trust that controls his companies and anoint his conservative firstborn son Lachlan as his successor ignited a family civil war. On one side is Rupert and Lachlan. On the Murdoch’s liberal children James, Elisabeth, and Prudence. This is much more than a corporate battle over a $17 billion fortune. It is a blood feud whose outcome will determine the future of conservative politics in the English-speaking world. When James publicly denounced Fox News after January 6th, it became clear this wasn’t just family drama—it was a battle for the soul of conservative media.
The Murdochs are larger than life characters, having inspired the hit HBO series Succession. But real life is stranger and more riveting than fiction. This is a story about a family whose resentments and rivalries play out on a global scale in both ironic and tragic ways. In September 2024, this family war exploded into a secret Nevada courtroom where the truth about Murdoch’s methods was finally exposed under oath. During a legal deposition, Murdoch actually texted questions to his lawyer to humiliate his own son James in real time.
At its core, this is an intimate story about a man obsessed with succession but unable to let go. Based on interviews with more than 150 sources and unprecedented access to internal family dynamics, this is the definitive inside account of the most powerful media family in history. It’s a richly textured narrative where each character has a clear
- James evolves from company loyalist to moral crusader who takes on his father’s empire
- Lachlan transforms from golden child to reluctant heir trapped by his inheritance
- Elisabeth fights for recognition in a family obsessed with sons, ultimately becoming the bridge-builder
- Prudence emerges as the family truth-teller who forces the final reckoning
Unlike dry corporate histories, this reads like a thriller that happens to be about a media empire. The book builds to a genuine courtroom showdown where Murdoch’s own children finally weaponize the most damaging information of the truth about their father. Even after winning in court, the family remains shattered—Murdoch’s final letter to his children ends with "Much love, Dad" after informing them he will only communicate going forward through lawyers.
Rupert Murdoch has wielded more power over our culture than any single mogul in modern times. Through ruthless dealmaking and remarkable foresight, he built a media empire that led to everything from the rise of Margaret Thatcher in the UK to Donald Trump in America. His outlets have shaped the news that created the world we live in.
Whether the ninety-four-year-old mogul will continue to do so is now the most urgent question in the media. Murdoch’s plan to rip up the secret trust that controls his companies and anoint his conservative firstborn son Lachlan as his successor ignited a family civil war. On one side is Rupert and Lachlan. On the Murdoch’s liberal children James, Elisabeth, and Prudence. This is much more than a corporate battle over a $17 billion fortune. It is a blood feud whose outcome will determine the future of conservative politics in the English-speaking world. When James publicly denounced Fox News after January 6th, it became clear this wasn’t just family drama—it was a battle for the soul of conservative media.
The Murdochs are larger than life characters, having inspired the hit HBO series Succession. But real life is stranger and more riveting than fiction. This is a story about a family whose resentments and rivalries play out on a global scale in both ironic and tragic ways. In September 2024, this family war exploded into a secret Nevada courtroom where the truth about Murdoch’s methods was finally exposed under oath. During a legal deposition, Murdoch actually texted questions to his lawyer to humiliate his own son James in real time.
At its core, this is an intimate story about a man obsessed with succession but unable to let go. Based on interviews with more than 150 sources and unprecedented access to internal family dynamics, this is the definitive inside account of the most powerful media family in history. It’s a richly textured narrative where each character has a clear
- James evolves from company loyalist to moral crusader who takes on his father’s empire
- Lachlan transforms from golden child to reluctant heir trapped by his inheritance
- Elisabeth fights for recognition in a family obsessed with sons, ultimately becoming the bridge-builder
- Prudence emerges as the family truth-teller who forces the final reckoning
Unlike dry corporate histories, this reads like a thriller that happens to be about a media empire. The book builds to a genuine courtroom showdown where Murdoch’s own children finally weaponize the most damaging information of the truth about their father. Even after winning in court, the family remains shattered—Murdoch’s final letter to his children ends with "Much love, Dad" after informing them he will only communicate going forward through lawyers.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
256 pages, Hardcover
Published February 3, 2026
71 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Sherman
7 books42 followersGABRIEL SHERMAN is a special correspondent for Vanity Fair and the author of the New York Times Best Selling biography of Fox News founder Roger Ailes, The Loudest Voice in the Room, which is currently being adapted into a limited series for Showtime. Previously, Sherman served as national affairs editor at New York magazine and is a regular contributor to NBC News and MSNBC. He lives in New York City with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Story of Rupert Murdoch, the conservative media mogul behind Fox News among many other outlets, and the battle over succession between his children. I wanted so much more from this book. This book is barely even about the succession battle, the first two thirds are about Murdoch and his rise and pinnacle, and then we get the succession stuff but it is presented in a very un-juicy way. I wanted way more mess and toxicity, and instead got just like boring corporate maneuvering. I dunno, maybe the Roy’s ruined this for me, because Logan’s kids were really reprehensible and the Murdoch’s just seemed petulant and self-absorbed.
February 7, 2026
i love any murdoch content and the way succession mined this for plot points is so good. RANT: i get that not everyone likes sports but trying to tell the story of Fox and including the nfl rights deal as one throwaway clause in one sentence is MALPRACTICE. it often feels like non-sports ppl try to take sports out of the story entirely and like sure but in this case its to the deficit of the story you're telling and immediately makes me question what else you left out bc it isn't what you care about
February 8, 2026
Early to middle part of book is okay as it gives brief bios of Rupert, wives, and kids. Last few chapters focus too much on Sherman's obvious anti Trump, anti Fox News bias. Believe what you want but don't give me your personal opinions in a vailed way, just state facts and I will make up my own mind.
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February 9, 2026A non-fiction account of Rupert Murdoch and the mess he calls a family.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews