ABC News Daily How Lachlan Murdoch won the succession fight
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Sep 9, 2025 
Join Paddy Manning, a journalist and author of 'The Successor', as he unravels the dramatic succession battle within the Murdoch family. Discover how Rupert Murdoch's recent decision to hand control of his media empire to Lachlan reshapes the media landscape. Manning reveals the intense family dynamics and legal battles among Rupert's children, exploring their contrasting ideologies and the financial stakes involved. With Lachlan at the helm, what does the future hold for the Murdoch legacy in an evolving media environment?
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Origins Of The Murdoch Family Trust
- The 1999 trust concentrated voting control in Rupert and his four elder children to settle his divorce and preserve family control of the media empire.
- That structure risked a four-way split after Rupert's death because his shares would expire under the trust terms.
Voting Power And Political Faultlines
- The trust owned roughly 40% of voting shares in Fox and News Corp, giving the family outsized influence over the empire's direction.
- Only Lachlan aligned politically with Rupert, creating a potential ideological clash with his three liberal siblings.
Project Harmony In Reno Court
- In 2023 Rupert stepped down and he and Lachlan launched a Nevada court bid to create super voting shares for Lachlan called Project Harmony.
- The bid sought to disenfranchise James, Elizabeth and Prudence by giving Lachlan outsized voting power in the trust.
