The New Yorker’s Ken Auletta on Profiling the Murdochs | 10

Rupert Murdoch’s media empire reflects his lifelong obsession with news, political influence, and hands-on management. As a proprietor rather than a mere executive, he built a global media conglomerate while maintaining direct control over editorial output, particularly at the *New York Post*. His decision to sell core film and television assets to Disney stemmed from an inability to compete with the massive capital investments of streaming giants like Netflix. Within the family, the succession plan favored Lachlan, whose political alignment and personality mirrored his father’s more closely than those of his siblings, James and Elizabeth. While Murdoch’s business acumen remains undeniable, his legacy is marred by the polarizing effects of Fox News and the ethical failures associated with his tabloid operations, leaving the future of his remaining media holdings uncertain without his singular, driving presence.