Childhood and Education Journey of Rupert Murdoch in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Rupert Murdoch, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American media mogul who built a global empire through News Corp. His holdings have included major publishing outlets in the UK, Australia, and the US, such as HarperCollins, Sky News Australia, and Fox News. He formerly owned Sky and 21st Century Fox. As one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with a net worth exceeding $20 billion, Murdoch's significant media influence has led to him being described as an oligarch. His vast reach has given him considerable sway over both media narratives and political discourse.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

March 1931: Rupert Murdoch Born

In March 1931, Keith Rupert Murdoch was born in Australia. He later became a prominent media mogul.

1952: Father's Death

In 1952, Keith Arthur Murdoch, Rupert's father, passed away.

1952: Took Over The News

In 1952, after his father's death, Murdoch took over the running of The News, a small Adelaide newspaper owned by his father.

1956: Murdoch Marries Patricia Booker

In 1956, Rupert Murdoch married Patricia Booker, a former shop assistant and flight attendant from Melbourne.

1958: Birth of Prudence Murdoch

In 1958, Rupert Murdoch and Patricia Booker had their only child, Prudence Murdoch.

July 1964: Political Alignment

In July 1964, Murdoch's newspaper, The Australian, began consistently supporting Sir John McEwen, creating a division within the coalition government.

1967: Murdoch Divorces Patricia Booker

In 1967, Rupert Murdoch and Patricia Booker divorced.

1967: Murdoch married Anna Torv

In 1967, Rupert Murdoch married Anna Torv, a Scottish-born cadet journalist.

August 1968: Elisabeth Murdoch was born

In August 1968, Elisabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv, was born in Sydney, Australia.

September 1971: Lachlan Murdoch was born

In September 1971, Lachlan Murdoch, the son of Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv, was born in London, UK.

December 1972: James Murdoch was born

In December 1972, James Murdoch, the son of Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv, was born in London.

1982: Dirty Laundry released

In 1982, Don Henley released "Dirty Laundry", which he would later dedicate to Murdoch and Bill O'Reilly during his tours.

September 1985: Murdoch Becomes US Citizen

On 4 September 1985, Rupert Murdoch became a naturalized US citizen to meet legal requirements for owning US television stations.

1985: Became a US Citizen

In 1985, Murdoch became a naturalized US citizen, giving up his Australian citizenship to meet the legal requirement for US television network ownership.

1986: Purchase of Misty Mountain

In 1986, Rupert Murdoch purchased Misty Mountain, a house in Beverly Hills designed by Wallace Neff, which was previously owned by Jules C. Stein.

1988: Family Business was published

In 1988, Murdoch's companies published "Family Business", a novel written by his wife Anna Torv.

1991: Coming to Terms was published

In 1991, Murdoch's companies published "Coming to Terms", a novel written by his wife Anna Torv.

1993: Elisabeth Murdoch married Elkin Kwesi Pianim

In 1993, Elisabeth Murdoch married Elkin Kwesi Pianim after graduating from Vassar College.

1995: Elisabeth Murdoch re-sold television stations for profit

In 1995, Elisabeth Murdoch quickly re-organized and re-sold the NBC-affiliate television stations in California for a $12 million profit.

1996: The Fourth Estate published

In 1996, Jeffrey Archer published "The Fourth Estate", featuring thinly fictionalized versions of Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell.

1997: Elisabeth Murdoch met Matthew Freud

In 1997, Elisabeth Murdoch met Matthew Freud.

1998: Elisabeth Murdoch divorced Elkin Kwesi Pianim

In 1998, Elisabeth Murdoch divorced Elkin Kwesi Pianim.

June 1999: Murdoch and Torv divorced

In June 1999, Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv divorced, with Anna receiving a settlement of US$1.2 billion in assets.

June 1999: Murdoch married Wendi Deng

On June 25, 1999, just 17 days after divorcing Anna Torv, Rupert Murdoch married Wendi Deng.

1999: Supported Australian Republic

In 1999, Murdoch campaigned for the formation of an Australian republic during the referendum.

1999: The Chimp Channel aired featuring a Murdoch parody

In 1999, the Ted Turner-owned TBS channel aired an original sitcom, "The Chimp Channel", featuring a character thought to be a parody of Rupert Murdoch.

November 2001: Grace Murdoch born

In November 2001, Grace Murdoch, daughter of Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, was born in New York.

2001: Elisabeth Murdoch married Matthew Freud

In 2001, Elisabeth Murdoch married Matthew Freud.

2001: Grace Murdoch was born

In 2001, Grace Murdoch, daughter of Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, was born.

July 2003: Chloe Murdoch born

In July 2003, Chloe Murdoch, daughter of Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, was born in New York.

2003: Chloe Murdoch was born

In 2003, Chloe Murdoch, daughter of Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, was born.

2003: Murdoch Buys "Rosehearty" Home

In 2003, Rupert Murdoch bought "Rosehearty", an 11 bedroom home on a 5-acre waterfront estate in Centre Island, New York.

2005: News Corporation Stake Estimated Value

In 2005, the family's 28.5% stake in News Corporation was estimated to be worth about $6.1 billion.

October 2007: Comments on Australian Politics

In October 2007, at a News Corporation meeting, Rupert Murdoch declined to comment directly on the Australian federal election or whether John Howard should remain prime minister.

2007: Criticism of Kevin Rudd

In 2007, Murdoch criticized Kevin Rudd, Howard's successor, for his ambitions regarding climate change.

2008: Criticism of Rudd's Fiscal Policies

In 2008, Murdoch criticized Rudd's fiscal policies.

November 2009: Communication with Gordon Brown

In November 2009, it was revealed that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Murdoch were in regular communication.

2009: Rudd's Accusations

In 2009, in response to accusations by Rudd that News Limited was running vendettas against him and his government, Murdoch opined that Rudd was "oversensitive".

September 2011: Tony Blair revealed as Grace Murdoch's godfather

In September 2011, it was revealed that Tony Blair is Grace Murdoch's godfather.

2011: News Corp newspaper ownership

According to the Finkelstein Review of Media and Media Regulation, News Corp Australia owned 23% of the nation's newspapers in 2011.

2012: Mother's Death

In 2012, Dame Elisabeth Joy (née Greene), Rupert Murdoch's mother, passed away.

2012: Hacks telemovie broadcast on Channel 4

In 2012, the satirical telemovie "Hacks" was broadcast on the UK's Channel 4, featuring a character that made obvious comparison to Rupert Murdoch.

May 2013: Murdoch Purchases Moraga Estate

In May 2013, Rupert Murdoch purchased the Moraga Estate, an estate, vineyard and winery in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.

June 2013: Murdoch filed for divorce from Deng

On June 13, 2013, Rupert Murdoch filed for divorce from Wendi Deng in New York City, citing that the marriage had been irretrievably broken for more than six months.

August 2013: Article investigating Murdoch's ownership of Australian newspapers

In August 2013, Terry Flew wrote an article investigating claims that Murdoch owned 70% of Australian newspapers, showing News Corp Australia owned 23% of the nation's newspapers in 2011.

2013: News Corp accused of supporting Liberal government

In 2013, News Corp papers were accused of supporting the campaign of the Australian Liberal government and influencing public opinion during the federal election. Murdoch tweeted regarding public sector workers.

2013: Anchorman 2 features a character inspired by Murdoch

In 2013, the film "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" featured an Australian character inspired by Rupert Murdoch.

2014: Rupert Murdoch's estimated wealth

In 2014, Forbes estimated Rupert Murdoch's wealth at USD 13.7 billion.

November 2015: Tony Abbott's statement on Murdoch's impact

In November 2015, former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott stated that Murdoch "arguably has had more impact on the wider world than any other living Australian".

January 2016: Murdoch announced his engagement to Jerry Hall

On January 11, 2016, Rupert Murdoch announced his engagement to Jerry Hall.

March 2016: Murdoch married Jerry Hall

On March 4, 2016, Rupert Murdoch married Jerry Hall in London, marking his fourth marriage.

2017: Dunbar Published

In 2017, Edward St Aubyn's novel Dunbar was published, with the lead character at least partly inspired by Rupert Murdoch.

2018: Sale of Misty Mountain to James Murdoch

In 2018, Rupert Murdoch sold the Misty Mountain house in Beverly Hills to his son James Murdoch.

2018: Succession first aired

In 2018, the TV show Succession, featuring Logan Roy, a character inspired by Murdoch, first aired.

2019: Murdoch Purchases Holmwood Estate

In 2019, Rupert Murdoch and his wife Jerry Hall purchased Holmwood, an 18th-century house and estate in the English village of Binfield Heath.

2020: Murdoch Isolates and Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

In late 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall isolated in their Binfield Heath home. He received his first COVID-19 vaccine on December 16.

June 2022: Report of Murdoch and Hall's impending divorce

In June 2022, The New York Times reported that Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall were set to divorce.

July 2022: Hall filed for divorce from Murdoch

On July 1, 2022, Jerry Hall filed for divorce from Rupert Murdoch, citing irreconcilable differences.

August 2022: Murdoch and Hall divorce finalised

In August 2022, the divorce between Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall was finalised.

September 2022: Murdoch met Ann Lesley Smith

In September 2022, Rupert Murdoch and Ann Lesley Smith first met at an event.

2022: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard wrote 'Evilest Man' about Murdoch

In 2022, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard wrote the track "Evilest Man" about Rupert Murdoch, for their album Omnium Gatherum.

April 2023: Murdoch called off engagement to Smith

In April 2023, Rupert Murdoch suddenly called off his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, two weeks after it was announced.

September 2023: Stepping Down as Chairman

In September 2023, Murdoch announced he would be stepping down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp.

2023: Young Rupert: The Making of the Murdoch Empire published

In 2023, Walter Marsh's biography "Young Rupert: The Making of the Murdoch Empire" was published, focusing on Murdoch's early life and career.

2023: Succession concluded

In 2023, the TV show Succession, featuring Logan Roy, a character inspired by Murdoch, concluded.

March 2024: Murdoch became engaged to Elena Zhukova

In March 2024, Rupert Murdoch became engaged to Elena Zhukova.

June 2024: Murdoch married Elena Zhukova

In June 2024, Rupert Murdoch married Elena Zhukova at his estate in California.

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