Rupert Murdoch: Net Worth, Legal Battles & Empire

Few figures in modern media have shaped the news we consume quite like Rupert Murdoch. At 94, his £21.7 billion empire spans continents, from The Times in London to Fox News in New York. But 2025 has brought fresh legal pressure — Prince Harry’s phone-hacking settlement with Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers — and a family trust battle that will decide who controls it all.

Net worth (2025 estimate): US$21.7 billion (Forbes) ·
Age: 94 (born March 11, 1931) ·
Children: 6 ·
Spouses: 4 (divorced 3) ·
Key UK holdings: The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, TalkTV ·
Notable legal dispute: Prince Harry’s phone-hacking lawsuit

Six key facts sum up the man and his empire:

Is the Murdoch family still rich?

Short answer: very. Rupert Murdoch’s net worth is pegged by Forbes at US$21.7 billion, making him the 31st-richest American and 71st globally, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the Forbes list. His wealth comes from a media empire that includes News Corp and Fox Corp.

• News Corp — publishes The Times, The Sun, The Wall Street Journal, and holds HarperCollins.
• Fox Corp — operates Fox News, Fox Broadcasting, and local TV stations.
• Family trust — the majority of shares are held in a trust that, after a 2025 legal battle, reportedly gives Lachlan Murdoch full voting control (Wikipedia).

The implication: even after settlement costs topping $1 billion in legal payouts and apologies, the Murdochs are not going anywhere.

Why is Prince Harry suing Rupert Murdoch?

Prince Harry has been pursuing legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the British publishing arm of Murdoch’s empire, over allegations of phone hacking and unlawful information gathering. The case reached a dramatic conclusion on 22 January 2025, when Harry settled his claim just before the High Court trial was set to begin. NGN offered a “full and unequivocal apology” and admitted to intruding into Harry’s private life between 1996 and 2011, according to The Independent (UK news outlet). The settlement also covered past intrusions into the private life of Princess Diana, CBS News (US broadcast network) reported.

• Harry’s barrister David Sherborne called it a “monumental victory” (AP via YouTube).
• NGN denied any unlawful activity at The Sun even as it settled (The Independent).
• The case was the first time a Murdoch-owned newspaper admitted wrongdoing in this long-running saga (CBS News).

What this means: the settlement cost NGN an undisclosed sum, but the real blow is reputational — the Sun, Britain’s best-selling daily, now stands formally accused.

What does Rupert Murdoch own in the UK?

Murdoch’s UK holdings are concentrated in News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp.

The pattern: Murdoch’s UK influence rests almost entirely on print media. TalkTV has struggled, while The Sun and The Times remain powerful agenda-setters.

Why this matters: any future regulation of UK press or online harms will directly shape the profitability of these titles.

Why is Rupert Murdoch so famous?

Murdoch’s fame stems from building the world’s most politically influential media conglomerate. He founded News Corp in 1979 and launched Fox News in 1996, creating a conservative news powerhouse that reshaped American politics (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).

• Political impact: Fox News became the dominant cable news channel for Republican voters. Murdoch’s newspapers in the UK have backed every winning prime minister since Margaret Thatcher.
• Global reach: His empire spans five continents — from the Times of London to the Australian.
• Scandal: The 2011 phone-hacking scandal, which closed the News of the World, made his name synonymous with tabloid excess.

The trade-off: fame brought fortune, but also left a legacy of legal liabilities that now stretch into the billions.

Who is richer, Trump or Murdoch?

The gap is wide. According to Forbes valuations cited by Wikipedia, Murdoch’s net worth of US$21.7 billion dwarfs Donald Trump’s estimated $2.5 billion (Forbes 2025).

The pattern: Murdoch is nearly nine times wealthier, but both face massive legal bills. For Trump, the bigger risk is personal; for Murdoch, it’s corporate.

Does Piers Morgan still work for Rupert Murdoch?

Piers Morgan left TalkTV in 2024 after a short-lived evening show. He had previously worked for Murdoch-owned newspapers (The Sun, Daily Mirror) but fell out and later reconciled. In 2025, Morgan reportedly turned down a new offer from Murdoch to return, as covered by Wikipedia. His current venture is a YouTube channel and a show on Fox Nation (US), not directly under Murdoch.

The catch: Morgan’s relationship with Murdoch is transactional — he leaves when the platform doesn’t fit his personal brand, which now thrives on social media.

Timeline: Murdoch’s rise and current battles

• 1931 — Born in Melbourne, Australia.
• 1952 — Inherits the Adelaide newspaper The News.
• 1969 — Acquires The Sun in the UK.
• 1981 — Buys The Times and The Sunday Times.
• 1985 — Becomes U.S. citizen, starts Fox network.
• 1996 — Launches Fox News.
• 2011 — Phone-hacking scandal: News of the World closes.
• 2023 — Steps down as chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp.
• 2024–2025 — Prince Harry lawsuit proceeds; succession court cases.

The pattern: Murdoch built the empire in 40 years, and the last five years have been spent defending it in court and in the family trust.

Confirmed facts vs what’s still unclear

Confirmed

• Murdoch net worth exceeds $20 billion (Wikipedia/Forbes)
• Prince Harry settled on 22 Jan 2025 (The Independent)
• NGN issued an apology (The Independent)
• Murdoch owns The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun
• Six children; Lachlan is News Corp chair

What’s unclear

• Exact terms of the Prince Harry settlement
• Whether TalkTV will survive beyond 2026
• Succession timeline beyond Lachlan’s reported control
• Murdoch’s ongoing political influence behind the scenes

Quotes and perspectives

“This is a monumental victory.”

— David Sherborne, barrister for Prince Harry, on the settlement (AP via YouTube)

“The legal ordeal has already cost the company over $1 billion in payouts and legal fees.”

— CBS News (US broadcast network), reporting on the broader phone-hacking saga

“NGN offered a full and unequivocal apology.”

— News Group Newspapers statement, per The Independent (UK news outlet)

“Murdoch’s family trust was the subject of a U.S. court case over who would control News Corp and Fox Corp.”

— Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)

What’s at stake for the UK and US

The Murdoch empire is entering a new phase. For British readers, the Prince Harry settlement confirms that phone hacking is not a closed chapter — it still haunts the Sun and its publisher. For American audiences, the trust case means Lachlan Murdoch will steer Fox News into the 2028 election cycle with no sibling dissent. For the Murdoch family, the choice is clear: either Lachlan consolidates the legacy, or the legal and political costs erode it further.

The scandal surrounding the News of the World phone hacking scandal remains one of the most significant legal challenges Murdoch has faced in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• J.K. Rowling Net Worth 2025: Billionaire Again — Another high-profile wealth profile.
• The Times of Israel: News, Bias, Owner & Coverage Guide — Understanding media ownership and bias.