Rupert Murdoch loses bid in real-life ‘Succession’ battle with kids – BBC News
Recent news reports indicate that the real-life Murdoch saga has taken on a dramatic edge reminiscent of HBO’s “Succession”. When an episode of the series depicted a turbulent battle for control, it coincided with heightened tensions within the Murdoch family regarding their succession plan. Rupert Murdoch attempted to amend the family trust—a document originally structured to ensure equal voting rights among his four eldest children—to favor his eldest son, Lachlan. This move was designed to consolidate power and steer the media empire along a particular ideological path, but it immediately drew a strong reaction from his other children.In response, his other three eldest children—James, Elisabeth, and Prudence—mobilized legal action to block this amendment. Their strategy was to preserve the original trust provisions that guarantee parity in voting rights and prevent any one sibling from gaining unilateral control. Media outlets reported that these legal challenges were even inspired by the on-screen drama of *Succession*, with at least one family representative reportedly drafting a “succession memo” as a preemptive strike against replicating the power struggles depicted in the show. This legal and public relations counter-move underscored the siblings’ commitment to maintaining a balanced structure for the family business rather than ceding control to a single heir.
As for the current status of the feud, a Nevada court recently ruled against Rupert Murdoch’s proposed trust amendment, describing the conduct of both Rupert and Lachlan as having been executed in “bad faith.” This decision effectively preserves the original arrangement—in which all four of his eldest children maintain equal voting rights upon his death. However, while this legal setback halts any immediate changes, the underlying familial divisions remain unresolved. The feud continues in a state of simmering discontent, with differing visions for the future of the media empire keeping the possibility of further disputes alive, and the long-term resolution still unsettled.