Murdoch Kids Tackled Future Of Dad’s Empire After Watching "Succession" Episode

Rupert Murdoch’s four eldest children, vying for control of his media empire, began discussing its future after watching an episode of HBO’s Succession, Sydney Lake reported for Fortune.

The ruling, detailed in a sealed court document obtained by The New York Times, adds to the growing tension in a saga resembling the plot of the hit HBO series. I Photo: Succession Facebook

The ongoing drama over the fate of Murdoch’s vast media empire reached a critical juncture when a Nevada commissioner ruled against his attempt to amend the family trust.

The change would have placed Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert's eldest son, firmly in control and solidified Fox News' right-leaning editorial stance.

The ruling, detailed in a sealed court document obtained by The New York Times, adds to the growing tension in a saga resembling the plot of the hit HBO series, as also reported by ABC and NBC News.

In a 96-page opinion, Nevada Probate Commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. criticized the proposed trust changes as a “carefully crafted charade” to entrench Lachlan Murdoch’s executive control over the empire.

Gorman warned that this arrangement would sideline the other beneficiaries of the $12 billion estate. Rupert Murdoch, 93, argued that Fox News’ conservative perspective is financially advantageous to the trust's beneficiaries.

Both Rupert and Lachlan plan to appeal the decision, The New York Times reported.