What do you think?
Rate this book
Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family –– and the World
The real succession story of the Murdoch empire is more shocking than the fictional TV series.
When Rupert Murdoch made a fateful decision about who should inherit his media colossus, he believed that pitting his children against each other would produce the most capable heir. Twenty-five years later, that gamble would tear apart one of the world’s most powerful families and trigger a multi-billion dollar reckoning in a succession battle featuring betrayals, lawsuits, and revenge plots.
In Bonfire of the Murdochs, bestselling author Gabriel Sherman tells the inside story of this epic family war, one whose seeds were planted a half-century ago in Australia when the complicated patriarch left his homeland to conquer the world and please the ghost of his judgmental father. That quest culminated in a media empire that controlled Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and tabloids on three continents, which wielded more political and cultural power than any single company in modern times.
But Rupert’s plan to rip up the secret trust controlling his empire and anoint his conservative firstborn son Lachlan as successor set him on a collision course with his three more liberal children What price would Rupert pay to secure his legacy? For the aging patriarch, this would be his final and most personal deal.
Based on interviews with more than 150 sources, Bonfire of the Murdochs is a richly textured narrative where each child plays their predestined role in a blood feud that explodes in a courtroom showdown. There, Murdoch’s children weaponize his own secrets against him. It is a tragedy Shakespeare would have appreciated, where getting everything you want costs everything you love.
When Rupert Murdoch made a fateful decision about who should inherit his media colossus, he believed that pitting his children against each other would produce the most capable heir. Twenty-five years later, that gamble would tear apart one of the world’s most powerful families and trigger a multi-billion dollar reckoning in a succession battle featuring betrayals, lawsuits, and revenge plots.
In Bonfire of the Murdochs, bestselling author Gabriel Sherman tells the inside story of this epic family war, one whose seeds were planted a half-century ago in Australia when the complicated patriarch left his homeland to conquer the world and please the ghost of his judgmental father. That quest culminated in a media empire that controlled Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and tabloids on three continents, which wielded more political and cultural power than any single company in modern times.
But Rupert’s plan to rip up the secret trust controlling his empire and anoint his conservative firstborn son Lachlan as successor set him on a collision course with his three more liberal children What price would Rupert pay to secure his legacy? For the aging patriarch, this would be his final and most personal deal.
Based on interviews with more than 150 sources, Bonfire of the Murdochs is a richly textured narrative where each child plays their predestined role in a blood feud that explodes in a courtroom showdown. There, Murdoch’s children weaponize his own secrets against him. It is a tragedy Shakespeare would have appreciated, where getting everything you want costs everything you love.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 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!
April 7, 2026
Gabriel Sherman often relates the Murdoch family dynasty to the show Succession in his book Bonfire of the Murdochs. (I can't comment on that comparison, because I've never seen the show.) Rupert Murdoch, the famous patriarch of the family, enjoys manipulating his family, as well as nearly everyone else around him. Murdoch has been married five times, and famously broke with Jerry Hall via email. She was given 30 days to vacate their California home and later discovered surveillance cameras at her Oxfordshire home. Over the course of 74 years, starting in Australia, Murdoch has changed the business of reporting the news. His main goal always was to sell more advertising and make more money. In 1969 he realized that including photos of glamourous models at The Sun boosted sales significantly. This practice continued for 45 years. At 95, Murdoch is seen as a ruthless businessman, who is also brutal with his family. Sherman's book provides an interesting look at the extremes people reach in service of greed.
February 24, 2026
Blijft een ongelofelijk verhaal dat eindeloos nieuwe hoofdstukken krijgt
May 1, 2026
Bonfire of the Murdochs is a sharp, almost ironic study of power, legacy, and ideological drift. Having followed The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty and the real-time succession drama, what stands out is the contradiction at the family’s core: a young Rupert Murdoch, once skeptical of entrenched elites and inherited privilege, ultimately building one of the most influential and insular media empires of the modern age.
The book captures how ideology within the Murdoch empire is less about conviction and more about alignment with power and audience. The shift from disdain toward Donald Trump to tacit or overt accommodation of his movement underscores a pragmatic, even opportunistic elasticity rather than a coherent political philosophy.
What’s particularly compelling is the generational paradox: despite their cosmopolitan education and attempts to modernize the brand, the Murdoch children remain tethered to their father’s instincts proving that succession in such dynasties is less about inheritance of assets and more about inheritance of worldview.
Murdoch’s rise itself is a study in timing and aggression, leveraging postwar media fragmentation, tabloids, and later cable news to consolidate influence across continents yet that same centralization now fuels the family’s internal fractures.
The book captures how ideology within the Murdoch empire is less about conviction and more about alignment with power and audience. The shift from disdain toward Donald Trump to tacit or overt accommodation of his movement underscores a pragmatic, even opportunistic elasticity rather than a coherent political philosophy.
What’s particularly compelling is the generational paradox: despite their cosmopolitan education and attempts to modernize the brand, the Murdoch children remain tethered to their father’s instincts proving that succession in such dynasties is less about inheritance of assets and more about inheritance of worldview.
Murdoch’s rise itself is a study in timing and aggression, leveraging postwar media fragmentation, tabloids, and later cable news to consolidate influence across continents yet that same centralization now fuels the family’s internal fractures.
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.
April 7, 2026
A fascinating, thoroughly researched narrative nonfiction about the Murdochs and the power struggle among Rupert Murdoch's children to gain control of the company. This book completely gripped me and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to rewatch Succession with these events in mind.
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.
April 17, 2026
Entertaining. Although if you watched the Succession series, you hardly need to read the book. And although labelling such a chauvinistic story as 'entertaining' makes me uneasy.
Top quote: Pursuit of profit without values is a recipe for disaster.
I underestimated the ability of a profit motive to make people do terrible things; to make companies make terrible things.
One consideration: there seems to be a common thread occurring more often than not with the lives of people who attain great notoriety and power: having had a neglectful, harsh, or in other ways unpleasant father. What a horrible teaching. And what miserable lives it generates, once you go past the transient veneer of happiness that money and fame bring to these people.
Emotional intelligence and being a nurturing, attentive parent may not be a recipe for buying multimillion mansions on all continents and flying in a private jet, but I'll happily take that over the madness you read in this book.
Top quote: Pursuit of profit without values is a recipe for disaster.
I underestimated the ability of a profit motive to make people do terrible things; to make companies make terrible things.
One consideration: there seems to be a common thread occurring more often than not with the lives of people who attain great notoriety and power: having had a neglectful, harsh, or in other ways unpleasant father. What a horrible teaching. And what miserable lives it generates, once you go past the transient veneer of happiness that money and fame bring to these people.
Emotional intelligence and being a nurturing, attentive parent may not be a recipe for buying multimillion mansions on all continents and flying in a private jet, but I'll happily take that over the madness you read in this book.
April 3, 2026
This wasn’t what I was expecting - which isn’t a bad thing. What I was expecting was much more procedural, a play by play of the court drama that led to Lachlan becoming heir-apparent.
This is very much instead, a decades long biography of the trainwreck that is this family with far too much money, far too much power, and far too much influence. I’ve read accounts on Murdoch that I’ve enjoyed more, but I appreciated how expansive the focus on the whole family is, since that’s much rarer. It’s very evident that this is well researched, but I equally find it fascinating that there were maybe three? sources in the entire 150 who had their name attributed to their quote. That I think itself, mores than the biography and what was said, is the most indicative of the power, sway, and fear this family has instilled and will always, it seems keep.
This is very much instead, a decades long biography of the trainwreck that is this family with far too much money, far too much power, and far too much influence. I’ve read accounts on Murdoch that I’ve enjoyed more, but I appreciated how expansive the focus on the whole family is, since that’s much rarer. It’s very evident that this is well researched, but I equally find it fascinating that there were maybe three? sources in the entire 150 who had their name attributed to their quote. That I think itself, mores than the biography and what was said, is the most indicative of the power, sway, and fear this family has instilled and will always, it seems keep.
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.
April 6, 2026
This book offers a compelling insight into Rupert Murdoch’s media empire and the immense influence he’s wielded over journalism and politics. The family dynamics are just as gripping: his relationships with his adult children are fraught, heartbreaking, and shockingly strategic. It’s hard not to feel for them, even as some prove themselves to be just as ambitious and calculating in their own ways.
As a piece of well-reported journalism, it’s engaging and highly readable. While it may not stick with me quite as much as the Roger Ailes biography, it’s still a riveting portrait of a polarizing, powerful figure who has shaped the modern media landscape in profound ways.
As a piece of well-reported journalism, it’s engaging and highly readable. While it may not stick with me quite as much as the Roger Ailes biography, it’s still a riveting portrait of a polarizing, powerful figure who has shaped the modern media landscape in profound ways.
April 15, 2026
First part of the book is Murdoch's bio. Only the last fourth of the book is about the ruthless ways in which Murdoch spent decades pitting his adult children against one another to vie to be his successor.
Am being generous in giving it three stars as the book is not well written. The book is thin on analysis and reads more like a recitation of facts. Though Sherman interviewed many people for his book, it doesn't seem as though he had access to anyone who knew the Murdochs well. Or perhaps Sherman was cautious because he was writing about a powerful man with a net worth of over $22 billion.
Am being generous in giving it three stars as the book is not well written. The book is thin on analysis and reads more like a recitation of facts. Though Sherman interviewed many people for his book, it doesn't seem as though he had access to anyone who knew the Murdochs well. Or perhaps Sherman was cautious because he was writing about a powerful man with a net worth of over $22 billion.
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.
Read
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.
May 2, 2026
Audio. 4 1/2 stars. Very interesting dive into the disintegration of a super wealthy family. Lots of juicy dirt. I would hear bits and pieces of the Murdoch empire and shenanigans over the years, but this was a very nice summary of those news tidbits. Also interesting to read how Murdoch built his empire by scheming and screwing his rivals and how his kids fought for control both for his affection and his empire. Intriguing how Murdoch actually hated Trump but kept dishing out the MAGA BS just for the money. Ideology definitely did not drive Murdoch. Just the power and money.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews