Former tabloid tycoon Rupert Murdoch is celebrating his 94th birthday with a long history of scandals trailing behind him. Known as a “puppet master,” Murdoch’s career has been marred by allegations of sexual assault at Fox, involvement in a phone-hacking controversy, and a recent lawsuit tied to Trump’s election fraud claims, according to RadarOnline.com.
Murdoch, who reached his 94th birthday on March 11, has had a remarkable career as a media mogul and the founder of News Corporation, which later split into News Corp and 21st Century Fox (now Fox Corporation). Born in Australia in 1931, Murdoch’s rise to fame began in the 1950s and 1960s when he inherited and expanded his father’s small newspaper business. Over the years, Murdoch built a global media empire, including major television networks like Fox, newspapers such as The Times and The Sun, and numerous other media properties worldwide.
Despite his success, Murdoch’s legacy is tarnished by controversies that have plagued his career. One of the most notorious scandals involved the illegal phone tapping scandal at his British tabloid News of the World. In 2011, it was revealed that the newspaper had engaged in unlawful phone tapping of celebrities, politicians, crime victims, and even the families of deceased soldiers and murder victims. The scandal led to the closure of the publication, with top executives, including the editor and head of News International, being arrested and charged. Murdoch faced tough questions before a UK Parliamentary committee, apologizing for the incident but facing scrutiny over his oversight of the scandal.
In 2016, the Fox News sexual harassment scandal rocked Murdoch’s empire. High-ranking figures at the network, including founder Roger Ailes and host Bill O’Reilly, were accused of sexual misconduct. Murdoch and his company were criticized for protecting these men and their actions, leading to Ailes’ resignation in 2016 and O’Reilly’s firing in 2017. Critics accused Murdoch of enabling a toxic culture at Fox News and delaying action against the accused individuals.
In 2023, Murdoch faced another legal challenge with his involvement in the 2020 U.S. Election fraud claims. The Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit alleged that Fox News spread false claims about election fraud for the sake of ratings, despite knowing they were untrue. Murdoch testified under oath that he and his network’s stars were aware of the falsity of Trump’s fraud claims but allowed them to air. The lawsuit resulted in a significant settlement and further damaged Murdoch’s reputation, highlighting the tension between ratings-driven media practices and journalistic integrity.
In the midst of these controversies, Murdoch announced his retirement as the chairman of both News Corporation and Fox Corporation in 2023, stepping back from the day-to-day management of his media empire. Despite his retirement, Murdoch remains involved as the chairman emeritus of both companies. In his personal life, Murdoch married his fifth wife, Elena Zhukova, in June 2024, following a brief engagement to Ann Lesley Smith and a divorce from Jerry Hall. Murdoch’s children have also been vocal about their father’s controversial legacy, with son James calling him a “misogynist” and daughter Elisabeth accusing him of causing turmoil within the family.
As Murdoch enters his 94th year, his career is marked by both success and scandal, leaving a complex legacy in the world of media and politics.
