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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.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published February 3, 2026
208 people are currently reading
1108 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Sherman
2 books44 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 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 6, 2026
Having spent considerable time in the newspaper business in an executive position, I am stunned at how unimportant the truth is to Rupert Murdoch. It should come as no surprise that publishing sensational stories makes money when legitimate journalism does not. But it hurts my heart to see it so blatantly revealed in this book.
This is a quick and interesting read on the history of a media mogul and his empire. It’s not sentimental or infused with unnecessary drama, although plenty of dramatic things happen. Rupert Murdoch’s siren song is money and sensationalism and even false stories feed his greed and need for revenge. This is a well written, sharp and revealing book. I will be looking to read this author’s book on Roger Ailes soon.
This is a quick and interesting read on the history of a media mogul and his empire. It’s not sentimental or infused with unnecessary drama, although plenty of dramatic things happen. Rupert Murdoch’s siren song is money and sensationalism and even false stories feed his greed and need for revenge. This is a well written, sharp and revealing book. I will be looking to read this author’s book on Roger Ailes soon.
February 16, 2026
I was super curious to read this new book by Gabriel Sherman after I had to read The Loudest Voice in the Room in journalism school for my media ethics class years ago and really enjoyed it. That book about Roger Ailes was super fascinating as he was so ethically (and morally) horrible while building the ‘Fox News Machine’ that created such drastic and devastating changes to modern journalism and politics. I knew Sherman’s new book about Rupert Murdoch would be equally as scandalous and well-reported. This book was quite interesting, just in learning about Murdoch’s empire and influence on the newspaper industry and politics, as well as his troubled relationships with his adult children. I felt so bad for them a lot of the time but some of his kids were super cunning and/or successful in their own right. I can’t imagine pitting my children against one another as ruthlessly as he did for a media dynasty, but he for sure is who he is portrayed as in the media. I always appreciate a good well-reported journalism book and this one was pretty entertaining. This one likely won’t be as memorable as the Roger Ailes book, but still an interesting read about a political/media figure as equally as polarizing, ruthless and powerful. At least Murdoch never threw donuts at his staff… lol (I still remember reading about that all these years later…) This book also made me curious to watch Bombshell and Succession, as those were mentioned in this book. Overall, an interesting political and journalism based book by a great author!
February 24, 2026
Blijft een ongelofelijk verhaal dat eindeloos nieuwe hoofdstukken krijgt
February 6, 2026
A Definitive Biography of Rupert Murdoch with the Succession In Mind
I liked this accounting of the life of Rupert Murdoch and his empire and the subsequent succession that has sparked so much intrigue.
Rupert himself seems like such a hateful figure with some of the quotes attributed to him being quite outright shocking. So I'm not surprised that rubs off in his outlets. And in regards to his relationships infidelity is a part of who he is.
He has contributed some great things to culture through Fox and Harper Collins. And I like The Wall Street Journal's investigative journalism and business, media and tech coverage. And I have been a consumer of Foxtel throughout the years (but if you are interested in his Foxtel era there's only really one mention of it). But it's almost like he couldn't care less about what's been created with his money as long as it's lining his back pocket.
Was shocked at some of the money troubles he had throughout his time. And some of the companies he owned throughout the years. He owned Ansett Airlines and New York magazine at one point.
And the harsh way he treated many of his employees during his career especially the print press workers in the UK blindsided by his mega printing press on a skeleton crew of scabs. There's an Audible Original podcast called The Sun King that more thoroughly goes into that ordeal.
One of his worst influences on the world has to be Fox News, and it's state run propaganda arm of the Republican Party MAGA style of sycophancy towards Trump.
The book has lovely, get down to the point prose with plenty of quotable moments. Easy to read. I sat down and read it through the light hours of the day. And in the end it's just sad how harsh and cold he has been to his family all in the quest for money and power.
Highly recommended read!
I liked this accounting of the life of Rupert Murdoch and his empire and the subsequent succession that has sparked so much intrigue.
Rupert himself seems like such a hateful figure with some of the quotes attributed to him being quite outright shocking. So I'm not surprised that rubs off in his outlets. And in regards to his relationships infidelity is a part of who he is.
He has contributed some great things to culture through Fox and Harper Collins. And I like The Wall Street Journal's investigative journalism and business, media and tech coverage. And I have been a consumer of Foxtel throughout the years (but if you are interested in his Foxtel era there's only really one mention of it). But it's almost like he couldn't care less about what's been created with his money as long as it's lining his back pocket.
Was shocked at some of the money troubles he had throughout his time. And some of the companies he owned throughout the years. He owned Ansett Airlines and New York magazine at one point.
And the harsh way he treated many of his employees during his career especially the print press workers in the UK blindsided by his mega printing press on a skeleton crew of scabs. There's an Audible Original podcast called The Sun King that more thoroughly goes into that ordeal.
One of his worst influences on the world has to be Fox News, and it's state run propaganda arm of the Republican Party MAGA style of sycophancy towards Trump.
The book has lovely, get down to the point prose with plenty of quotable moments. Easy to read. I sat down and read it through the light hours of the day. And in the end it's just sad how harsh and cold he has been to his family all in the quest for money and power.
Highly recommended read!
March 2, 2026
I watched the TV series based on Gabriel Sherman's book, The Loudest Voice in the Room and thoroughly enjoyed it (actually, can you thoroughly enjoy something and be disgusted by the subject matter at the same time?). Reading Bonfire of the Murdochs was something of a given : I worked for News Corp back in the day and one of my editors had been a close friend of Rupert - eventually heard a few 'human' stories about the bloke and hard to associate the Rupert from back then to what he is now. Really is a whole lot of Shakespeare about the family drama and kinda tragic that a crusading publisher will, in the main, largely be remembered as a horrible excuse for humanity. Sherman has done a good job, but just can't get past the feeling that something's missing. For mine, it's missing some of the 'blood' but then again, you wonder exactly what is running through Rupert's veins.
March 26, 2026
Reading this after Death in the Jungle was... something. Cult of personality to cult of money and personality.
Read
March 5, 2026What an absolutely broken family and tragic story.
March 2, 2026
This family deserves to be broke for what Rupert Murdoch has done to America.
Read
February 9, 2026A non-fiction account of Rupert Murdoch and the mess he calls a family.
March 25, 2026
This is a difficult book to rate. It’s about a 3.5. I can’t get over that there is not one redeemable trait to Rupert Murdoch or many of those around him.
March 30, 2026
Readable but nothing new.
I have had a longtime interest in the Murdoch's. I am originally from Melbourne and am familiar with Rupert's father, Sir Keith Murdoch's reputation in conveying the tragedy of the Gallipoli campaign to the powers that be in London and Canberra. It is fair to say that our sense of nationalism owes much to this mismanaged campaign that led to the deaths of so many young Australians. Sherman notes as much in this book and suggests that much of Rupert's drive comes from the need to emulate his father's reputation as a great newspaperman.
Of course, Rupert went on to dominate the global media world, doing things both good and bad, never stopping, but always looking forward to the next deal. These are all very much public knowledge, from his acquisition of papers in the UK, USA and Asia, as well as the missteps along the way. His ruthlessness in business was mirrored in his personal life - from notifying his wife of divorce by email to having one of his children fire another sibling from the company, he could be cruel and heartless, but he was also a loving father in many ways.
This book is primarily about the way he promoted and managed the competition between his kids to see who would take over the reins. Family companies almost always fail in some way. The third generation curse is a real problem. Only time will tell if Lachlan can beat those odds. As Rupert knows only too well, money trumps all - and Elisabeth, James and Prue bear out this fact. But can News Corp survive the post-Trump era? I suspect that the pendulum will swing fairly quickly back to the left come the next election and Trump will fade from view (except to the extent that the Trump-Epstein files (TM - Jimmy Kimmel) continue to dominate the front pages, and Trump has no more tricks to play. How Lachlan navigates this change will likely dictate his legacy and the future of the company.
I have had a longtime interest in the Murdoch's. I am originally from Melbourne and am familiar with Rupert's father, Sir Keith Murdoch's reputation in conveying the tragedy of the Gallipoli campaign to the powers that be in London and Canberra. It is fair to say that our sense of nationalism owes much to this mismanaged campaign that led to the deaths of so many young Australians. Sherman notes as much in this book and suggests that much of Rupert's drive comes from the need to emulate his father's reputation as a great newspaperman.
Of course, Rupert went on to dominate the global media world, doing things both good and bad, never stopping, but always looking forward to the next deal. These are all very much public knowledge, from his acquisition of papers in the UK, USA and Asia, as well as the missteps along the way. His ruthlessness in business was mirrored in his personal life - from notifying his wife of divorce by email to having one of his children fire another sibling from the company, he could be cruel and heartless, but he was also a loving father in many ways.
This book is primarily about the way he promoted and managed the competition between his kids to see who would take over the reins. Family companies almost always fail in some way. The third generation curse is a real problem. Only time will tell if Lachlan can beat those odds. As Rupert knows only too well, money trumps all - and Elisabeth, James and Prue bear out this fact. But can News Corp survive the post-Trump era? I suspect that the pendulum will swing fairly quickly back to the left come the next election and Trump will fade from view (except to the extent that the Trump-Epstein files (TM - Jimmy Kimmel) continue to dominate the front pages, and Trump has no more tricks to play. How Lachlan navigates this change will likely dictate his legacy and the future of the company.
February 24, 2026
Over de megalomane Rupert Murdoch
Vreugdevuur van de Murdochs vertelt het verhaal van de meedogenloze, megalomane Rupert Murdoch, die via de media macht uitoefent over onze wereld.
Auteur
De Amerikaanse Gabriel Sherman is niet enkel journalist, auteur en scenarioschrijver van onder andere ‘The Apprentice’. Zijn boek ‘The loudest voice’ over Roger Ailes, die een belangrijke rol speelt in het verhaal van Murdoch werd een mini-serie met Russel Crowe. Bam!
Cover
De familiefoto op de omslag geeft de satirische titel nog een extraatje. Mooi!
Vreugdevuur van de Murdochs: het verhaal
Je krijgt de levensloop te lezen van de ‘koude’ Rupert Murdoch, die niet alleen zowel zakelijke als persoonlijke beloftes verbreekt, maar enkel en alleen interesse heeft hoe hij zijn imperium kan uitbreiden.
Vooral de parallelle verhaallijn hoe hij zijn vijf (!) – waaronder Jerry Hall – echtgenotes en vooral zijn kinderen tegen elkaar opzet in een Hunger Games. Zo erg zelfs dat ze uiteindelijk moeten getuigen in een rechtszaak van hun 93-jarige vader als ‘bezwaar makende kinderen’.
Blijkbaar is de succesvolle serie ‘Succession’ (ik ben zo erg fan hiervan!) op Rupert Murdoch gebaseerd en in het boek merk je dat hij paranoia werd wie tips naar de producers lekte.
Mijn gedacht
Uiteraard word je verontrust over hoeveel invloed media hebben op de wereldpolitiek en ook je eigen mening. Inhoudelijk is het boek erg sterk, want je leest letterlijk hoe invloedrijke figuren (waaronder Margaret Thatcher en Donald Trump) bewerkt worden door Murdoch. De schrijver heeft diepgaand onderzoek gedaan (getuige de 70 bladzijdes bronnen, noten en register), maar toch lijkt het mij wel meer een beschrijving dan een openbaring om de verstrekkende gevolgen te laten inzien van macht bij één persoon. Toch erg interessant.
Monopoly is a terrible thing, till you have it. (Rupert Murdoch)
Vreugdevuur van de Murdochs vertelt het verhaal van de meedogenloze, megalomane Rupert Murdoch, die via de media macht uitoefent over onze wereld.
Auteur
De Amerikaanse Gabriel Sherman is niet enkel journalist, auteur en scenarioschrijver van onder andere ‘The Apprentice’. Zijn boek ‘The loudest voice’ over Roger Ailes, die een belangrijke rol speelt in het verhaal van Murdoch werd een mini-serie met Russel Crowe. Bam!
Cover
De familiefoto op de omslag geeft de satirische titel nog een extraatje. Mooi!
Vreugdevuur van de Murdochs: het verhaal
Je krijgt de levensloop te lezen van de ‘koude’ Rupert Murdoch, die niet alleen zowel zakelijke als persoonlijke beloftes verbreekt, maar enkel en alleen interesse heeft hoe hij zijn imperium kan uitbreiden.
Vooral de parallelle verhaallijn hoe hij zijn vijf (!) – waaronder Jerry Hall – echtgenotes en vooral zijn kinderen tegen elkaar opzet in een Hunger Games. Zo erg zelfs dat ze uiteindelijk moeten getuigen in een rechtszaak van hun 93-jarige vader als ‘bezwaar makende kinderen’.
Blijkbaar is de succesvolle serie ‘Succession’ (ik ben zo erg fan hiervan!) op Rupert Murdoch gebaseerd en in het boek merk je dat hij paranoia werd wie tips naar de producers lekte.
Mijn gedacht
Uiteraard word je verontrust over hoeveel invloed media hebben op de wereldpolitiek en ook je eigen mening. Inhoudelijk is het boek erg sterk, want je leest letterlijk hoe invloedrijke figuren (waaronder Margaret Thatcher en Donald Trump) bewerkt worden door Murdoch. De schrijver heeft diepgaand onderzoek gedaan (getuige de 70 bladzijdes bronnen, noten en register), maar toch lijkt het mij wel meer een beschrijving dan een openbaring om de verstrekkende gevolgen te laten inzien van macht bij één persoon. Toch erg interessant.
Monopoly is a terrible thing, till you have it. (Rupert Murdoch)
March 26, 2026
A searing and often brutal tale of a media family at war, Bonfire of the Murdochs makes TV’s Succession look almost tame in comparison, says Andy Walker in this book review.
Like most people on the left, I have no time for the media mogul Rupert Murdoch. His business modus operandi represents everything that is wrong about, not just the media industry, but the capitalist system itself. Greed is good, shafting people who get in your way is fair game and anything that enables you to make more profits is absolutely fine – all of this is part and parcel of the Murdoch approach.
In Bonfire of the Murdochs, author Gabriel Sherman chronicles a man who acts in a totally transactional way where his family ends up at each other’s throats, at his behest, and where even personal relationships become part of ‘the deal’ and are totally subordinate to making money and boosting the share price. That Rupert Murdoch is a stain on the international media industry is beyond doubt. The man who gave us the Sun, the News of the World, page three girls and the phone hacking scandal is clearly beneath contempt. But this is also a man who was fawned over by politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, desperate to curry favour with someone that they believed could help to ease their way into office.
Murdoch’s family business – and it is absolutely a family business – is a depressing catalogue of nepotism on the grandest of scales where mediocrity is lavishly rewarded and personal relationships are traded and bartered to benefit the greater good of the company. No wonder that the Murdoch siblings ended up in a blood feud pitted against each other (and their father) as they tried to gain control of a billion-dollar enterprise. But this is capitalism in tooth and claw and that is how it works.
Like most people on the left, I have no time for the media mogul Rupert Murdoch. His business modus operandi represents everything that is wrong about, not just the media industry, but the capitalist system itself. Greed is good, shafting people who get in your way is fair game and anything that enables you to make more profits is absolutely fine – all of this is part and parcel of the Murdoch approach.
In Bonfire of the Murdochs, author Gabriel Sherman chronicles a man who acts in a totally transactional way where his family ends up at each other’s throats, at his behest, and where even personal relationships become part of ‘the deal’ and are totally subordinate to making money and boosting the share price. That Rupert Murdoch is a stain on the international media industry is beyond doubt. The man who gave us the Sun, the News of the World, page three girls and the phone hacking scandal is clearly beneath contempt. But this is also a man who was fawned over by politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, desperate to curry favour with someone that they believed could help to ease their way into office.
Murdoch’s family business – and it is absolutely a family business – is a depressing catalogue of nepotism on the grandest of scales where mediocrity is lavishly rewarded and personal relationships are traded and bartered to benefit the greater good of the company. No wonder that the Murdoch siblings ended up in a blood feud pitted against each other (and their father) as they tried to gain control of a billion-dollar enterprise. But this is capitalism in tooth and claw and that is how it works.
February 28, 2026
Fascinerend inkijkje in een media-imperium
‘Vreugdevuur van de Murdochs’ schetst een meeslepend en onthullend portret van mediamagnaat Rupert Murdoch en de immense invloed die hij decennialang uitoefende op politiek en publieke opinie. Auteur Gabriel Sherman – bekend van The Loudest Voice in the Room – baseert zich op diepgravend onderzoek en een indrukwekkende hoeveelheid bronnen, wat het boek inhoudelijk bijzonder sterk maakt.
Sherman laat niet alleen Murdochs zakelijke meedogenloosheid zien, maar ook de complexe en vaak schrijnende dynamiek binnen zijn familie. De rivaliteit tussen zijn kinderen leest soms als een aflevering van Succession – niet toevallig een serie die sterk door Murdochs clan geïnspireerd zou zijn. Het persoonlijke en het politieke raken voortdurend met elkaar verweven.
Daarnaast biedt het boek een verontrustend maar boeiend inzicht in Murdochs invloed op wereldleiders als Margaret Thatcher en Donald Trump. Je beseft al lezend hoe groot de impact van media kan zijn op mondiale besluitvorming én op onze eigen beeldvorming.
Hoewel het soms meer beschrijvend dan onthullend aanvoelt, blijft het een intrigerend en degelijk onderbouwd werk. Een aanrader voor wie geïnteresseerd is in macht, media en de dunne lijn tussen invloed en controle.
‘Vreugdevuur van de Murdochs’ schetst een meeslepend en onthullend portret van mediamagnaat Rupert Murdoch en de immense invloed die hij decennialang uitoefende op politiek en publieke opinie. Auteur Gabriel Sherman – bekend van The Loudest Voice in the Room – baseert zich op diepgravend onderzoek en een indrukwekkende hoeveelheid bronnen, wat het boek inhoudelijk bijzonder sterk maakt.
Sherman laat niet alleen Murdochs zakelijke meedogenloosheid zien, maar ook de complexe en vaak schrijnende dynamiek binnen zijn familie. De rivaliteit tussen zijn kinderen leest soms als een aflevering van Succession – niet toevallig een serie die sterk door Murdochs clan geïnspireerd zou zijn. Het persoonlijke en het politieke raken voortdurend met elkaar verweven.
Daarnaast biedt het boek een verontrustend maar boeiend inzicht in Murdochs invloed op wereldleiders als Margaret Thatcher en Donald Trump. Je beseft al lezend hoe groot de impact van media kan zijn op mondiale besluitvorming én op onze eigen beeldvorming.
Hoewel het soms meer beschrijvend dan onthullend aanvoelt, blijft het een intrigerend en degelijk onderbouwd werk. Een aanrader voor wie geïnteresseerd is in macht, media en de dunne lijn tussen invloed en controle.
February 28, 2026
Yikes! What an odd family (or families, I guess, since he's had 5 wives). The HBO show Succession, which was very well made, did a good job portraying the weird Murdoch milieu.
Rupert Murdoch didn't come across quite as hardcore of an ideologue as I'd thought he'd be, but he definitely still, overall, has an affinity for the Fox News slop that feeds peoples' ever-growing brainworms. He mostly just seems like an insecure, broken, robotic dude, laser focused on growing his fiefdom, almost by any means necessary, no matter who gets hurt, without the desire to use his noggin for much else.
Murdoch has an estimated net worth around $23 billion. On last year's Forbes billionaires list world ranking, he was #87. The list isn't an exact science, of course; suffice it to say, he's one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He's a guy who has been at just about every powerful table that exists. What's staggering about him is that, despite this, he has a huge persecution fetish. The ubiquitous "THEY" are always coming to get him.
If he wants to find the world's boogeymen he should stop wondering about what's hiding under his bed and take a look in the mirror, because he's a main one.
Rupert Murdoch didn't come across quite as hardcore of an ideologue as I'd thought he'd be, but he definitely still, overall, has an affinity for the Fox News slop that feeds peoples' ever-growing brainworms. He mostly just seems like an insecure, broken, robotic dude, laser focused on growing his fiefdom, almost by any means necessary, no matter who gets hurt, without the desire to use his noggin for much else.
Murdoch has an estimated net worth around $23 billion. On last year's Forbes billionaires list world ranking, he was #87. The list isn't an exact science, of course; suffice it to say, he's one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He's a guy who has been at just about every powerful table that exists. What's staggering about him is that, despite this, he has a huge persecution fetish. The ubiquitous "THEY" are always coming to get him.
If he wants to find the world's boogeymen he should stop wondering about what's hiding under his bed and take a look in the mirror, because he's a main one.
March 6, 2026
The author states that 2nd wife Anna forgoes about a $2 billion divorce settlement and instead receives only $100 million in cash along with the Trust that all four children will have an equal share + voting rights in the business.
When I heard this, it didn’t seem correct because I thought it was common knowledge that Anna got one of the largest divorce settlements ever. Doing research I found “Anna Murdoch received an estimated $1.7 billion in assets, including $110 million in cash, from her 1999 divorce from media mogul Rupert Murdoch after 32 years of marriage. The settlement was primarily in News Corp. stock.”. If the author is NOT correct regarding this minor point what else is NOT correct?
Everybody is unlikeable, and it’s irking that they keep getting wealthier and more powerful.
When I heard this, it didn’t seem correct because I thought it was common knowledge that Anna got one of the largest divorce settlements ever. Doing research I found “Anna Murdoch received an estimated $1.7 billion in assets, including $110 million in cash, from her 1999 divorce from media mogul Rupert Murdoch after 32 years of marriage. The settlement was primarily in News Corp. stock.”. If the author is NOT correct regarding this minor point what else is NOT correct?
Everybody is unlikeable, and it’s irking that they keep getting wealthier and more powerful.
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 19, 2026
Excelente libro te mantiene entretenido desde el primer capitulo. Una biografia fluida que da bastante informacion interesante de como pensaba Rupert Murdoch en sus negocios.
Ofrece bastante contexto de la dinamica familiar la autora mantiene mucha objetividad sin dramatizar ninguna suceso. Por el titulo habria esperado mas de la dinamica familiar y la sucesion sin embargo lo que tiene es lo que es no hay exageracion de la autora y no trata de escribir por escribir de la situacion sino al contrario proporciona la informacion y la relata de excelente manera.
Ofrece bastante contexto de la dinamica familiar la autora mantiene mucha objetividad sin dramatizar ninguna suceso. Por el titulo habria esperado mas de la dinamica familiar y la sucesion sin embargo lo que tiene es lo que es no hay exageracion de la autora y no trata de escribir por escribir de la situacion sino al contrario proporciona la informacion y la relata de excelente manera.
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March 29, 2026It's an easy read and evidently based on a considerable amount of research. But what a depressing story! Money doesn't buy happiness. A father's love and attention are apparently conditioned on his children's agreement and support of daddy's business aspirations and machinations. Fox News is dangerous, manipulative, and even the anchors know that it spews inaccurate garbage. Daddy believes that the purpose and measurement of success is how much money a business earns. I read the book because my child went to school with one of the Murdochs so I was curious.
March 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this. It brings together decades of gossip and speculation into a really interesting narrative about the rise of Murdoch’s empire and his relationship with his children. It’s less about the ‘succession’ and more about the inter family dynamics with a powerful, cruel patriarch in my view. Absolute catnip to a Succession fan like me and reading about developments that were (coincidentally or not) captured in the show was very satisfying.
March 30, 2026
This Book is a Must Read
This book is rigorously researched and presented. It will stand the test of time as the truths about the Murdoch family, and about Fox, unavoidably surface while America decides if it wants to lead the world with truth, science, reason and justice or continue to slide into the cesspool of authoritarianism, false narratives and conspiracies, greed and exploitation. A sad tale of a family destroyed by lack of a moral compass.
This book is rigorously researched and presented. It will stand the test of time as the truths about the Murdoch family, and about Fox, unavoidably surface while America decides if it wants to lead the world with truth, science, reason and justice or continue to slide into the cesspool of authoritarianism, false narratives and conspiracies, greed and exploitation. A sad tale of a family destroyed by lack of a moral compass.
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.
March 8, 2026
Interesting read on trhe murdochs. Only reason I didn't give it 5 is I wish there was more detail on some events, still a good book. Reading it, you can understand why people said the Murdochs were the basis for the series "Succession". ruthless in business and in his personal life. Divorced his 4th wife via email. Enjoyable read.
February 22, 2026
A deep dive into how Richard Murdoch has become the modern incarnation of King Midas. The man has amassed billions, and built a business empire that feeds into the lives of so many, and yet he’s managed to almost completely isolate himself from those closest to him.
February 27, 2026
Fast and focused on Rupert Murdock's corporate acquisitions from the start in Australia through the present day. While more detail could have been used in areas, keeping the narrative strictly on the M&As and the looming succession battle made for a tight read.
March 12, 2026
Bonfire of the Murdochs
If only we knew what goes on within any family. Murdochs or one’s own.
This is a story. The names are very, very familiar, but we can never know what went on because it is family lore.
Ultimately this is a very sad story.
If only we knew what goes on within any family. Murdochs or one’s own.
This is a story. The names are very, very familiar, but we can never know what went on because it is family lore.
Ultimately this is a very sad story.
March 14, 2026
Backstabbing, power plays, lawsuits, challenges to wills and trusts, battles to be “the favorite “child. This book has it all. Unfortunately, I did not find it interesting on any level. By the time I got to the end of the book, I thought: “who cares“.
March 20, 2026
Liberal bias by this author is nauseating\if can overlook that...
If you can filter out the author's simplistic reflexive recitation of liberal nonsense to Flesh out facts its subject is fascinating and story epochal
If you can filter out the author's simplistic reflexive recitation of liberal nonsense to Flesh out facts its subject is fascinating and story epochal
March 26, 2026
Succession, a Shakespeare family tragedy, truth versus “the money angle”, first born rites?, a worldly empire built on “lies” and some great research into the lives of this family….Oh my! A quick read with a “heavy” heart on this readers morals. Enjoy
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