Rupert Murdoch (93) marries fifth time; weds Elena Zhukova (67)
At 93, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has entered into matrimony for the fifth time. The former chairman of Fox and News Corp reportedly married 67-year-old Elena Zhukova on Saturday at his California vineyard. The couple, who began dating in 2023, confirmed their engagement to the New York Times earlier this year in March. Before Zhukova, Murdoch was engaged to Ann Lesly Smith but called off the wedding in August last year.
Murdoch's Vineyard: The venue for the nuptials
The nuptial ceremony was held at Murdoch's exclusive Bel Air vineyard and estate, Moraga. This secluded property in Los Angeles was purchased by Murdoch in 2013. In a picturesque scene, the new Mrs. Murdoch looked stunning in an elegant white dress, holding a small posy of Lily of the Valley flowers. Murdoch, on the other hand, donned a dark suit, white shirt, and a patterned yellow tie. The happy couple beamed for the wedding photographer.
Meet Murdoch's bride: A retired molecular biologist from Moscow
Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist and Moscow native, was reportedly introduced to Murdoch by his third wife, Wendi Deng. This marks Zhukova's third marriage. She was previously married to billionaire Alexander Zhukov and is the mother of Darrya Zhukova, who was once wedded to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the former owner of English Premier League soccer team Chelsea. Meanwhile, Murdoch has six children from his previous marriages.
Murdoch's previous marriages and family life
Murdoch's children from his three marriages are Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, James, Grace, and Chloe. His fourth marriage to model Jerry Hall ended in 2022 after six years. Earlier, he called off his weddding to Smith due to reported concerns about Smith's ultra-conservative and evangelist views. The ex-couple first met in September 2022.
Understanding News Corp's challenges amid Murdoch's wedding celebrations
The wedding comes amid a troubling period for News Corp's Australian publishing empire. Journalists were informed on Wednesday about a newsroom restructure that could lead to more job losses as the company aims to save up to $65M. Despite stepping down as CEO of News Corp in 2023, Murdoch remains involved in the media empire as a chairman emeritus, having passed on leadership to his eldest son Lachlan.
