From Model To Molecular Biologist: A Deep Dive Into Rupert Murdoch's Five Wives And Billion-Dollar Love Life
The romantic life of media titan Rupert Murdoch has always been as dramatic and newsworthy as the headlines his own empire generates. The 94-year-old Chairman Emeritus of News Corp and Fox has made headlines once again in the last year, proving that age is no barrier to finding love, or at least, walking down the aisle.
As of this current date, December 19, 2025, the Australian-born billionaire is officially married for the fifth time. This comprehensive article delves into the full biography of all five women who have been Rupert Murdoch's wife, from his first marriage in the 1950s to his most recent wedding in 2024, providing the fresh, updated context you need.
The Five Wives of Rupert Murdoch: A Complete Biographical Timeline
Rupert Murdoch's total number of wives stands at five, a remarkable journey spanning nearly seven decades of high-profile marriages, significant divorce settlements, and the birth of six children. Each union brought a distinct personality into the Murdoch orbit, influencing his family, business, and public perception. Here is a detailed look at the women who married the media mogul.
1. Patricia Booker (1956–1967)
- Role: First Wife
- Profession: Former flight attendant and shop assistant from Melbourne, Australia.
- Marriage Dates: 1956 to 1967 (11 years)
- Children with Rupert Murdoch: Prudence Murdoch (born 1958).
- Notable Fact: Patricia Booker was the first woman to marry Murdoch when he was just 25 and beginning his ascent in the media world. Their daughter, Prudence, is the only child from his first two marriages not involved in the News Corp family trust.
2. Anna Maria Torv (1967–1999)
- Role: Second Wife
- Profession: Scottish journalist and author.
- Marriage Dates: 1967 to 1999 (32 years)
- Children with Rupert Murdoch: Elisabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and James Murdoch.
- Notable Fact: Anna Torv's marriage was Murdoch's longest. Their divorce was one of the most expensive in history at the time, with a widely reported (though often disputed) settlement amount of $1.7 billion. Their three children hold key roles in the Murdoch business empire.
3. Wendi Deng (1999–2013)
- Role: Third Wife
- Profession: Chinese-born American entrepreneur, socialite, and media executive.
- Marriage Dates: 1999 to 2013 (14 years)
- Children with Rupert Murdoch: Grace Murdoch and Chloe Murdoch.
- Notable Fact: The marriage to Wendi Deng began just 17 days after his divorce from Anna Torv was finalized. She gained significant global attention in 2011 when she famously defended her husband from a pie attacker during a parliamentary hearing in London. Their two daughters are beneficiaries of a non-voting stake in the family trust.
4. Jerry Hall (2016–2022)
- Role: Fourth Wife
- Profession: American model and actress.
- Marriage Dates: March 2016 to August 2022 (6 years)
- Children with Rupert Murdoch: None. (She has four adult children from her previous relationship with Mick Jagger).
- Notable Fact: Their wedding was a relatively low-key affair in London, with Murdoch tweeting that he was "the luckiest and happiest man in the world." The surprise divorce settlement in 2022 brought an end to his shortest marriage.
5. Elena Zhukova (2024–Present)
- Role: Current Wife
- Profession: Retired molecular biologist, specializing in diabetes research.
- Marriage Dates: June 1, 2024–Present
- Children with Rupert Murdoch: None.
- Notable Fact: Elena Zhukova is Russian-born and the mother of Dasha Zhukova, a prominent socialite and arts patron who was previously married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The couple met through Murdoch’s third wife, Wendi Deng, and celebrated their wedding at Murdoch’s Moraga vineyard estate in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.
The Shock Engagement and Wedding of 2024
The world was surprised in March 2024 when news broke that Rupert Murdoch was engaged for the sixth time, just months after breaking off a short-lived engagement to Ann Lesley Smith in 2023. The new fiancée was Elena Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist he had been dating since the summer of 2023.
The engagement quickly led to a wedding on June 1, 2024, cementing Zhukova's status as the fifth Mrs. Murdoch.
The ceremony was held at the picturesque Moraga winery, Murdoch's own vineyard estate in Bel-Air, California.
Zhukova, 67 at the time of the wedding, is a scientist who spent her career at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in diabetes research.
Her connection to the Murdoch family circle is noteworthy: she was introduced to the media mogul by Wendi Deng, his third wife, highlighting the unusual and often interwoven nature of the elite social spheres they inhabit.
The Enduring Legacy: Children and the Murdoch Empire
Beyond the personal dynamics of his marriages, the common thread running through Rupert Murdoch’s love life is its direct impact on the future of his global media empire, which includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the UK's *The Sun* and *The Times* newspapers. His six children from three of his marriages—Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, James, Grace, and Chloe—are key stakeholders in the family's assets.
The three children from his second marriage to Anna Maria Torv—Lachlan, Elisabeth, and James Murdoch—have been deeply involved in the corporate structure of the company.
Lachlan Murdoch, in particular, has taken on the mantle of his father’s successor, becoming the Chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation and the Executive Chairman and CEO of News Corp. This succession planning was a central point of discussion during the divorce from Anna Torv, ensuring the family's control over the vast media holdings.
The two youngest children, Grace and Chloe, from his marriage to Wendi Deng, hold non-voting shares in the family trust, a detail that was a significant factor in the negotiations of the Wendi Deng divorce settlement in 2013.
The Billion-Dollar Question: Divorce Settlements and Wealth
The end of a Murdoch marriage is often as scrutinized as the beginning, particularly regarding the financial settlements. While the precise figures of his high-asset divorces are rarely public, the scale of the wealth involved is staggering.
The split from Anna Maria Torv in 1999, which ended a 32-year marriage, is the most legendary. It was widely reported that she received a settlement of $1.7 billion, though the exact figure remains a matter of speculation and myth in the media world.
The divorce from Jerry Hall in 2022 was described as a "relatively short marriage" of six years, and the settlement was finalized quickly and amicably.
His current marriage to Elena Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist, continues the pattern of high-profile, late-life unions for the media mogul. The focus remains on the personal happiness of the couple and the stability of the family's future, which is constantly evolving alongside the billionaire's personal life.
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