The fate of Rupert Murdoch’s vast media empire, including Fox News, is now in the hands of a Reno probate commissioner, who will decide whether the 93-year-old media mogul can change his succession plan to preserve the right-wing editorial bent of his influential outlets.
Murdoch and his eldest children descended on a Reno courthouse to appear for evidentiary hearings in a secret trial to determine whether the 93-year-old can alter the family trust that he established decades ago, giving his four oldest children equal votes over the future of his conservative media empire after he dies. Murdoch wants to amend the trust so that his eldest son and chosen successor, Lachlan, will remain in charge for decades to come.
But the three other Murdoch children — James, Elisabeth and Prudence — oppose the change, and have challenged it in court. According to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, Murdoch fears his other three children could moderate the highly profitable and famously right-wing slant promoted by some of his outlets like Fox News, which he believes would diminish the company’s value.
The legal proceedings, which took place outside of public view, wrapped up on Tuesday. Now, the family members wait for a decision.
In the coming days or weeks, a probate commissioner will issue a report and recommendation on whether Murdoch can change the family trust, according to Elyse Tyrell, an attorney in Las Vegas who specializes in trusts and estates. The opinion will not be made public.
But it could be a while before that happens.
