Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family –– and the World

by Gabriel Sherman

The real succession story of the Murdoch empire is more shocking than the fictional TV series.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, History, Audiobook, Business, Journalism

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

GABRIEL 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.

Reviews

[Alexw · Rating 3 out of 5]

You really need a flow chart to show Murdoch's family & his many wives. At age 84 he marries age 59 super model Jerry Hall (Rockstar Mick Jagger's ex-wife) & proceeds to cheat on her & divorce her with an email.
His previous wife gives him 3 heirs & there is a constant battle over his will.
Add to the fact that Murdoch becomes hooked on sleeping pills, fall into an overdose coma, erroneously publishes fake Hitler's diaries & continues to publish magazines under sex sells & scandals.
A truism is that if you want to be a successful businessman, you have to be able to rip off your brother & Murdoch does just that but to his wives & kids.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Maggie Driver · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read while watching Succession. I’ve never been happier to come from a “normal” family.

[Dodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Gretchen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is craaazyyyy omg they should make a tv show about this

[Simonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nežiūrėjau visų netflix serialų, tai šita istorija man visai nauja. O vertinu 5*, nes manau gerai parašyta; geras balansas tarp asmenybės ir verslo sprendimų: gal ne mano skonis taip pabaigoje nupiešti neigiamo monstro įvaizdį, bet labai smagus skaitinys.

[Elias Marseille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blijft een ongelofelijk verhaal dat eindeloos nieuwe hoofdstukken krijgt

[Richa · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bonfire of the Murdochs focuses on their family’s dynamics, which is what drew me to it after enjoying Succession. I was hoping to see clearer parallels between the real Murdochs and the fictional Roy family. Unfortunately, the audiobook didn’t quite work for me. The narrator had a habit of oddly chirping each character’s name whenever it began a sentence, and it became weirdly distracting. While the book moves at a brisk pace and provides an overview of the Murdoch saga, I never found it especially compelling or rich in the kinds of juicy behind-the-scenes details that make a biography memorable. By the end, I understood the broad strokes of what happened, but I didn’t come away feeling like I really knew the people involved. Kind of dull despite the drama.

[Laney Becker]

A non-fiction account of Rupert Murdoch and the mess he calls a family.

[Nick Byers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This family deserves to be broke for what Rupert Murdoch has done to America.

[Mel Muscarolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Anthony Eales · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Renee Mcintire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book club pick. Primarily. I couldn’t get in to the writing. It read like a Wikipedia article on Rupert. “He did a deal. Screwed someone over. Got married. Did a revenge deal. Yacht. Divorced / Married. Screws someone over. Hired & fired a son. Yacht, yacht.” Repeat 30X.

ANYTHING semi-interesting or juicy as far as family drama goes was glossed over or mentioned in a quick sentence. The succession aspect, which is why this book was picked for book club - was barely even talked about. By the time it was, I had completely lost interest.

Why write this book? Not enough new info. Repetitive. No in depth debate on how Fox News has affected America? No family deep dives? Saw a lot of reviews disapproving of his obvious bias and while I happen to be on the same side - it did come off poorly in this style of book.

Thank god it was short. Skimmed it primarily and felt like a waste of time.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Barbara Rahll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this after Death in the Jungle was... something. Cult of personality to cult of money and personality.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to go rewatch Succession

[Debbie Appelbaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the book. Fascinating to hear some of the back stories; but a little stilted and just the stringing of facts in its style. But a quick listen!

[Drew Pavlou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting reporting but pretty standard leftist account of conservative media empire

[Walt Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love “Succession” you’ll love to hate the real life family who inspired the show

[Jessica Volmar · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I recently rewatched Succession so this book was especially entertaining watching for plot points from the TV series.

[RD McClenagan]

What an absolutely broken family and tragic story.

[Gert-Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

interessant boek.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining audiobook

[John Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of how we ended up at this dumpster fire.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Gregory Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Summer Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting to me because I was unfamiliar with the Murdoch dynasty, but it lacked depth or analysis. It read like a wikipedia page detailing out the life of Rupert Murdoch with the same level of superficial detail. I wish it had explored the succession more. It did a good job of carrying the narrative and organizing the family dynamics.

[Tim Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of 180 odd pages, only the last 40 detailed the trust shenanigans that took place in Delaware. Too much of the beginnings that has already been described by others. Some interesting tidbits.