New York: A years-long family feud over the future of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has ended, with his son Lachlan Murdoch set to take control of the business. The agreement secures the conservative editorial stance of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Post even after the 94-year-old media mogul’s passing.

Lachlan To Take Charge

Under the deal announced Monday, Lachlan will control a new trust holding shares in Fox Corp. and News Corp. His siblings — Prue MacLeod, Elizabeth Murdoch, and James Murdoch — will no longer be beneficiaries of any trust with stakes in the companies. Instead, they are expected to sell their holdings in the coming months and receive cash payouts.

End Of A Bitter Dispute

The arrangement concludes years of legal wrangling and family tension that had threatened to split control of the Murdoch empire among Rupert’s four eldest children. The saga, which inspired the hit TV series Succession, played out behind closed doors in Nevada, where Rupert had attempted to amend the family trust to secure Lachlan’s sole control.

In December, a Reno court blocked that attempt, ruling that Rupert and Lachlan had acted in “bad faith.” Monday’s announcement brings a negotiated end to the dispute, with the companies calling it a “mutual resolution of the legal proceedings.”

What It Means For The Family

Lachlan, currently chair of News Corp, is widely regarded as the most politically conservative of Rupert’s children. His leadership ensures that the right-leaning orientation of Fox and other outlets will continue.

Meanwhile, his older siblings — who are considered more politically moderate — will walk away with significant financial inheritances but no influence over the companies’ direction. Rupert’s younger daughters, Chloe and Grace, from his marriage to Wendi Deng Murdoch, will also benefit from the new family trust.

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