Mirror Review
September 10, 2025
Lachlan Murdoch, the eldest son of media titan Rupert Murdoch, has formally taken control of the family media empire. This includes News Corp and Fox Corp., valued at an estimated $42 billion.
“These companies are my legacy,” Rupert Murdoch stated during the legal dispute, emphasizing his desire for a successor who would protect the “conservative voice in the English-speaking world.”
The New Era of Murdoch Media
With the family feud settled through a multi-billion-dollar agreement, 54-year-old Lachlan now has sole voting control over a new family trust.
This trust holds a commanding 36% of Fox’s voting shares and 33% of News Corp’s, effectively giving him control until 2050.
His siblings, Prudence, Elisabeth, and James, will step away from control, each compensated with a reported $1.1 billion.
This consolidation of power in Lachlan, who is seen as closely aligned with his father’s conservative ideology, signals a continuation, rather than a departure, from the established editorial and political leanings of the Murdoch empire.
1. Maintaining the Conservative Voice
Fox News reaches 2.2 million nightly prime-time viewers, dwarfing rivals CNN and MSNBC. Lachlan Murdoch’s takeover makes one thing clear: Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Times in the UK will keep their conservative stance.
Rupert Murdoch wanted a “protector of the conservative voice,” and Lachlan fits that role. This ends all speculation that these outlets might lean moderate under different leadership.
His brother James may have preferred that shift, but under Lachlan, the editorial line stays firmly right-leaning.
2. Profit Over Politics
Lachlan shares his father’s ideology, but he doesn’t copy his playbook.
Biographer Paddy Manning puts it simply: “He does not aspire to be the same political kingmaker or editor-in-chief figure that Rupert was.”
Instead, Lachlan prioritizes money-making moves. He’s pushed ventures in sports betting, streaming, and online real estate
That means he’ll likely focus on revenue growth and shareholder returns, while still keeping the conservative identity central to the business model.
3. Expansion in Streaming and Digital
Lachlan has already shown his digital ambition.
Fox’s $440 million purchase of Tubi, the free streaming service, is now one of its strongest growth engines.
Analysts at Lightshed Partners believe Fox could get more aggressive with acquisitions, especially in streaming and digital media.
Expect him to buy more assets, expand content offerings, and fight harder for audience share in a crowded market.
4. Commitment to Australian Media Assets
Lachlan lives in Australia and has a long history with the company’s local media arm. He’s unlikely to let go of The Australian, Sky News Australia, or the state tabloids.
Print may be shrinking worldwide, but his personal ties and early career in Sydney suggest he’ll keep backing these outlets.
For Australia’s conservative media ecosystem, that means business as usual.
5. Stability With New Challenges
By ending the succession drama, Lachlan brings stability.
Analysts like Robert Fishman of MoffettNathanson note that “Fox can now turn its attention fully toward strategic initiatives without fear of a succession standstill.”
Yet challenges loom:
- Print decline — Newspaper circulation continues to slide worldwide.
- Streaming wars — Competition for eyeballs and digital advertising dollars is intensifying.
- Regulatory pressure — Consolidation of media power will likely attract scrutiny in the U.S., UK, and Australia.
What to Watch Next
- Sports Rights: Will Lachlan go all-in for NBA and FIFA rights to cement Fox as a global sports giant?
- Tubi’s Growth: Can the free streaming model scale to rival subscription platforms, or will competition eat away at its momentum?
- Global Politics: How will UK and Australian editorial lines adapt to shifting governments, and what backlash might follow?
- Next Generation: With control secured until 2050, will Lachlan quietly prepare his daughters to inherit a leaner, more digital-first empire?
End Note
The Murdoch saga has closed one chapter and opened another.
Lachlan Murdoch now controls one of the most influential media machines on earth. He may be less of a political kingmaker than Rupert Murdoch, but he is just as determined to keep the conservative message strong while chasing new revenue streams.
The question is not whether Fox and News Corp will remain powerful, but whether Lachlan can adapt fast enough to survive the industry’s digital disruption.
The era of Lachlan Murdoch has begun. The $42 billion question now is how he chooses to wield it.
