Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, 92, has announced his decision to step back from his leadership role in his media empire. However, age seems to pose no hindrance to matters of the heart, as he prepares to start a new phase in his personal life. Murdoch's office revealed on March 7 his plans to marry his girlfriend, Elena Zhukova, 67, a retired molecular biologist with whom he began a relationship last April.
Murdoch Announces Sixth Engagement Amid Relationship Speculations
Reports surfaced on March 7 indicating that the media mogul is engaged once again, marking his sixth engagement. This development follows reports from last April regarding Murdoch's relationship with Zhukova, which started just four months after his brief engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, a 67-year-old conservative radio host.
Invitations for Murdoch's forthcoming wedding, set to be hosted at Moraga on June 1, his California vineyard and estate, have already been sent out, as reported by the UK-based daily, The Times.
Murdoch's Relationship with Zhukova
Murdoch met Zhukova through a family gathering organised by his third former wife, Wendi Deng, with whom he was married for 14 years until filing for divorce in 2013.
Who is Elena Zhukova?
Zhukova has made a name for herself as a molecular biologist, focusing on diabetes research, including her work at the University of California, Los Angeles. Originally from Moscow, she moved to the US during the waning years of the Soviet Union. Her former husband, Alexander Zhukov, became a billionaire energy investor and currently resides in London as a British citizen. Zhukova has described her family as part of the "usual, normal Moscow intelligentsia".
From Art World to Family Ties
Their daughter, Dasha Zhukova, 42, is a Russian-American art collector and philanthropist who was previously married to Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch and former owner of the Premier League football club Chelsea.
Murdoch's last wife was the former supermodel Jerry Hall, from whom he divorced in 2022. His other previous wives were Wendi Deng, Anna Murdoch Mann, and Patricia Booker. He has six children in total.
Murdoch's Retirement and Family Dynamics
Murdoch declared his retirement as the chief of News Corp last year, transitioning into an emeritus role while his son Lachlan assumed greater leadership responsibilities. According to a report in the New York Times, the prospect of Murdoch's marriage is unlikely to impact the future trajectory of the company significantly. The firm is effectively governed through a family trust, with shares belonging to him and his four eldest children. One child is from his first wife, Patricia Booker, while the other three are from his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann.
Murdoch's Health Concerns Amid Milestone Birthday
The billionaire media tycoon, originally hailing from Australia and now a citizen of the US, is set to celebrate his 93rd birthday on March 11, despite facing recent health challenges. Notably, a significant incident occurred aboard his son Lachlan's superyacht in 2018, witnessed by his most recent wife Hall. Murdoch suffered a slip and was reportedly left "moaning in agony" on the floor, highlighting the gravity of his health concerns, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
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