Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch Marries for the Fifth Time

Billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, aged 93, has embarked on his fifth journey down the aisle, exchanging vows with Elena Zhukova, a 67-year-old retired molecular biologist of Russian descent. The lavish ceremony took place at Murdoch’s vineyard estate in Bel Air, California, surrounded by close friends and family, including notable figures such as Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, and News Corp’s chief executive Robert Thomson.

The Sun, one of Murdoch’s own publications, captured the event in stunning photographs, showcasing the bride in an elegant off-the-shoulder gown and the groom donning a sleek black suit paired with a yellow tie. This union comes less than three months after the couple announced their engagement, marking Murdoch’s latest romantic endeavor following his divorce from model and actor Jerry Hall in 2022.

Murdoch’s marital history reads like a saga of its own, with previous unions to Wendi Deng, Anna Torv, and Patricia Booker. His engagement to dental hygienist-turned-conservative-radio host Ann Lesley Smith, which occurred just last year, was called off shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, Zhukova brings her own wealth of experience to the relationship, having been previously married to billionaire energy investor and Russian politician Alexander Zhukov.

Despite stepping down from his leadership roles at Fox News’s parent company and News Corp media holdings in November, Murdoch’s legacy in the media landscape remains profound. His decision to pass the torch to his son, Lachlan, signifies a generational shift in one of the world’s most influential media empires, encompassing iconic outlets such as Fox News, The Times of London, and The Wall Street Journal. As Murdoch and Zhukova embark on this new chapter together, the world watches with fascination, eager to see what unfolds next in the saga of the media magnate’s life.