Murdoch family succession battle revealed in Nevada court ruling

Unsealed documents from a Nevada probate court have revealed details of a failed attempt by Lachlan Murdoch to secure control of the Murdoch family media empire. The court ruling describes a scheme known as ‘Project Family Harmony,’ which was reportedly driven by Lachlan’s former lieutenant, Siobhan McKenna.

The plan aimed to reorganize the Murdoch Family Trust, which holds the voting shares for major outlets including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Australian. Under the existing structure, the four votes held by 95-year-old Rupert Murdoch would dissolve upon his death, leaving his four eldest children with one vote each. Lachlan Murdoch sought to reorganize the trust to ensure he maintained control, fearing he could be outvoted by his siblings.

The judge noted that the conflict between the brothers was partly based on ‘false assumptions’ regarding whether James Murdoch was fueling press speculation about the succession. Ultimately, the Nevada court rejected the proposed reorganization.