Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch gets engaged to Elena Zhukova
Rupert Murdoch, the media tycoon, has confirmed his engagement to his girlfriend, as announced by his team.
The 92-year-old mogul has reportedly been in a relationship with retired Russian molecular biologist Elena Zhukova, 67, for several months now.
Their wedding, anticipated to be held at his Moraga vineyard and estate in California later this year, will mark Mr. Murdoch’s fifth marriage but his sixth engagement.
He relinquished his roles as chairman of Fox and News Corp just last year.
As per the report by the New York Times, which first unveiled the news, the wedding ceremony is scheduled for June, with invitations already dispatched.
Australian-born Mr. Murdoch was speculated to have started dating Ms. Zhukova shortly after his engagement to ex-police chaplain Ann Lesley Smith was abruptly called off in April 2023.
The two are believed to have crossed paths at a party hosted by one of his former wives, Chinese-born entrepreneur Wendi Deng.
Mr. Murdoch’s past spouses include Australian flight attendant Patricia Booker, Scottish-born journalist Anna Mann, Ms. Deng, and US model and actress Jerri Hall.
Ms. Zhukova, on the other hand, was previously married to Russian oil billionaire Alexander Zhukov. Their daughter Dasha, known as a socialite and businesswoman, was formerly married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich until 2017.
Rupert Murdoch began his career in Australia in the 1950s – eventually buying the News of the World and The Sun newspapers in the UK in 1969.
He later purchased several US publications including the New York Post and Wall Street Journal.
In 1996, he launched Fox News – now the most-watched TV news channel in the US.
Through News Corp, which was founded in 2013, Mr Murdoch remains the owner of hundreds of local, national, and international media outlets.
His career has not been without controversy. One of his most damaging moments was the notorious UK phone hacking scandal that erupted after it emerged that the News of the World had listened to murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s voicemails.
In September, Mr Murdoch announced he was stepping back from the leading role in his media empire – handing the reins to his son Lachlan and later taking on the role of Chairman Emeritus of both Fox and News Corp.
The New York Times reports that Mr Murdoch’s marriage to Ms Zhukova would be unlikely to affect the future of his businesses, which are held in a trust by his four eldest children.
