Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has become collector Dasha Zhukova’s new stepfather after he tied the knot for the fifth time, exchanging vows with retired Russian biologist Elena Zhukova at his Californian vineyard. The intimate ceremony occurred on a sunny Saturday, with the 93-year-old tycoon and his 67-year-old bride surrounded by close family and friends.
Rumours of their romance began swirling soon after Murdoch’s engagement to ex-police chaplain Ann Lesley Smith was called off in April 2023. The couple reportedly met at a glamorous party hosted by one of Murdoch’s ex-wives, Chinese-born entrepreneur Wendi Deng.
Australian-born Murdoch boasts a media empire that includes Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, the Sun, and the Times. He has six children from his previous marriages. Last year, he stepped down as chairman of Fox and News Corp, passing the baton to his son Lachlan, but he remains chairman emeritus of News Corporation.
Murdoch’s former spouses include:
Australian flight attendant Patricia Booker.
Scottish journalist Anna Mann.
Chinese-born entrepreneur Wendi Deng
American model-actress Jerry Hall.
Meanwhile, Elena Zhukova was previously married to Russian oil billionaire Alexander Zhukov, with whom she shares a daughter, Dasha Zhukova. Dasha, a well-known art socialite and businesswoman, was married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich until 2017.
Murdoch’s storied career began in Australia in the 1950s, eventually leading him to the UK, where he acquired the News of the World and the Sun in 1969. His American ventures include the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal, and in 1996, he launched Fox News, which has since become the most-watched TV news channel in the US.
Despite his immense success, Murdoch’s life hasn’t been without controversy. The infamous UK phone-hacking scandal involving the News of the World and the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler remains a dark chapter in his legacy.
In September, Murdoch announced his decision to step back from the forefront of his media empire, entrusting leadership to his son Lachlan while assuming the role of chairman emeritus of both Fox and News Corp.
Top Photo: Courtesy News Corp
I’m not sure you could make this one up! We wish them well