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Lachlan Murdoch crowned as siblings take billion-dollar bow
MUMBAI: The Murdoch family succession drama has finally reached its climax. Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert’s favoured son and ideological ally, has emerged with undisputed control of Fox Corp and News Corp after a protracted courtroom battle in Nevada. The denouement sees three siblings—Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch—cut out of the empire altogether, each walking away with a billion-dollar payday.
The companies announced on Monday that all litigation over the Murdoch Family Trust had been terminated. New trusts will be created for Lachlan and his half-sisters Grace and Chloe, with their combined holdings pooled into a new vehicle, LGC Holdco. That entity will command about 36.2 per cent of Fox’s Class B voting shares and 33.1 per cent of News Corp’s Class B stock. Crucially, sole voting power sits with Lachlan as managing director. The arrangement runs until 2050, effectively locking in his control for a generation. Rupert, 94, retains the honorary role of chairman emeritus.
The three departing heirs are not just sidelined—they are barred from returning. Their buyouts, partly funded by the sale of 16.9 million Fox and 14.2 million News Corp shares previously held by the trust, will be followed by the disposal of their remaining token stakes. A long-term standstill agreement ensures they, or their affiliates, cannot repurchase stock or interfere with the companies. Within six months, they will be gone in every sense: no shares, no votes, no say.
The outcome caps years of intrigue. James Murdoch, increasingly estranged from the empire, has openly backed Democrats and liberal causes. Elisabeth, once seen as a rival for the top job, nurtured her own ambitions in television. Prudence, though less visible, was part of the bloc resisting Rupert’s 2023 bid to rewrite the trust in Lachlan’s favour. That manoeuvre was struck down by a Nevada court last winter, which found Rupert, Lachlan and their advisers had acted in “bad faith.” The ruling forced negotiations that culminated in this week’s truce.
For Rupert, the settlement is as much about politics as power. By engineering billion-dollar exits for his dissenting heirs, he has secured not only Lachlan’s throne but also the conservative orientation of his media empire, anchored by Fox News. The prospect of a posthumous coup—James and Elisabeth uniting to steer the company leftward—has been neutralised.
Fox’s board endorsed the outcome, calling Lachlan’s leadership “important to guiding the company’s strategy and success.” Investors may also breathe easier: the messy trust fight, which threatened to destabilise one of the world’s most influential media conglomerates, has been neatly resolved.
It is an ending with all the hallmarks of the Murdoch mythos: courtroom secrecy in Reno, billion-dollar pay-offs, siblings sidelined, and one heir enthroned. Rupert, the ultimate showman, has once again scripted the finale to his family saga—leaving Lachlan in command until mid-century.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
