3 6 Ke·2025-09-29 03:13Core Points - The Murdoch family has reached a settlement worth approximately $3.3 billion, establishing Lachlan Murdoch as the sole successor of the media empire, ensuring the continuation of Rupert Murdoch's conservative editorial direction and further concentrating assets and voting rights [1][2][3] Group 1: Settlement Details - Lachlan Murdoch will exclusively control the voting rights of the family trust until 2050 [3] - The three siblings—Prudence, Elisabeth, and James—will each receive approximately $1.1 billion, totaling around $3.3 billion, in exchange for relinquishing their voting rights over the family trust [3][4] - The family trust controls key assets including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Times, among others, which span across the US, UK, and Australia [3][4] Group 2: Implications of the Settlement - The concentration of power in Lachlan's hands means the family media group's conservative editorial stance will continue [3][8] - The settlement is viewed as a "success but costly" for Rupert Murdoch, as it allows Lachlan to operate without constraints from his siblings [3][8] - The settlement also clarifies the boundaries of control and benefits, with the older siblings exiting voting rights for cash, while Lachlan's daughters, Grace and Chloe, remain within the family holding structure without cash buyouts [4][6] Group 3: Historical Context - The family trust was established in 1999 to secure voting rights for the four older children, leading to a long-standing power struggle [15][17] - The court's December 2024 ruling against modifying the irrevocable family trust forced the parties back to the negotiation table, culminating in the settlement in September 2025 [7][10][17] Group 4: Governance Insights - The settlement reflects a shift from "shared governance" to a "single central authority," reinforcing Lachlan's management rights [8][10] - The role of the trustee, Cruden Financial Services, has been emphasized as crucial in managing the governance pressures and executing the settlement [8][10] Group 5: Family Office Developments - Following the resolution of the inheritance dispute, Prudence Murdoch's family office, Macdoch UK, appointed a new Chief Investment Officer, Olivia Macdonald, signaling a new phase in asset governance and long-term allocation [19][21] - Macdoch UK operates with a dual-center structure in London and Sydney, focusing on balancing long-term returns with liquidity [22][24]