Gabriel Sherman’s new book Bonfire of the Murdochs is full of juice on the “dynastic feud” surrounding Rupert Murdoch’s empire, says Tina Brown on Substack. Among his warring children are Lachlan, the tattooed favourite with “MAGA swagger”; the prodigal son James, with his MBA-speak and liberal sensitivities; Elisabeth, the “high-strung dynamo daughter”; and their marginalised half-sister Prudence. The bitter legal fight to be his successor, which played out in a Nevada desert courthouse last year, was the inevitable conclusion of the toxic dynamic that has shaped their entire lives.

Murdoch’s approach to parenting was “carnivorous”: overpromote the kids, then blame them when they fail. He threw a 29-year-old Lachlan into the “cage fight of corporate politics” by installing him as deputy COO of News Corp, where he was essentially “eaten alive”. Elisabeth was “thrilled by the validation” when her father bought her production company for $670m in 2011 and told her she was his preferred successor. As soon as she signed the deal, he stopped talking to her. In 2007, just as James was proving himself as CEO of BSkyB, Murdoch elevated him to chairman and CEO of News Corp in Europe and Asia, meaning he was at the helm when the News of the World phone-hacking scandal broke. Squeaky clean James persuaded his “pridefully combative” father to close the publication – a decision for which Murdoch Sr never forgave him, later instructing Elisabeth to fire her own brother. “The siblings didn’t speak for years.” It’s a wonder they’re not all in a psychiatric ward, “but it’s hard to shed tears”. In the end, “Lachlan got the kingdom”, while the others, who took $1.1bn each to walk away, “got their freedom”.

😇👺 When Murdoch was trying to buy Times Newspapers in the 1980s, he courted my late husband, Sunday Times editor Harry Evans, with “solemn pledges” to preserve editorial independence – only to trash those promises the moment he took control. He sacked Harry after 13 months, the morning after Harry’s father’s funeral, having written him a sentimental condolence letter about “the precious bond of a father and son”.

Bonfire of the Murdochs by Gabriel Sherman is available to pre-order here.

Advertisement

The light you read under matters more than you think.
Ordinary bulbs could be straining your eyes without you realising, leaving you squinting at the page, struggling with small print, or stopping sooner than you'd like. Serious Lights use Daylight Wavelength Technology™ to replicate the full spectrum of natural daylight so words sharpen and colours stay true.

This exclusive bundle pairs the popular HD Essential reading light with a free portable HD ROAM Light worth £99.99, saving you £225 in total when you use code A145 at checkout. Click here to find out more.

Valentine’s Day is still a good two weeks away, but why not surprise yourself – and your beloved – by getting things sorted well in advance? Anyone who takes out an annual subscription to The Knowledge between now and 14 Feb will get a free copy of our excellent little Book of Love Etc, worth £12.99 (and don’t worry, we’ll take care of postage and packaging). It’s a wonderful collection of romantic notes and quotes, with the odd passionate poem thrown in.

It’s not all bleeding hearts, of course. Our spiritual guide in these matters has always been the immortal Jilly Cooper, who said: “The secret to a happy marriage is bed springs creaking from laughter.”

As we’ve said so many times, The Knowledge is outrageously good value – just £40 for the whole first year, or 11p a day. With this offer, you not only solve the thorny issue of romantic present-buying, you also get the satisfaction of having made the best financial decision of the year.

Let us know what you thought of today’s issue by replying to this email
To find out about advertising and partnerships, click here
Been forwarded this newsletter? Try it for free
Enjoying The Knowledge? Click to share