Real-life 'Succession': Who are the Murdochs battling for power over their father's media empire?

Transcript

00:00Rupert Murdoch has failed in his attempt to give his eldest son control of his media empire.

00:04This is just the latest twist in the epic family saga that was the inspiration for

00:09the hit HBO series Succession. After a fierce battle in court, a commissioner blocked the move

00:13which would take voting power away from Murdoch's three other children and give it all to his son

00:18Lachlan. So who are the siblings vying for power? Lachlan is the eldest son and evidently his

00:24father's ideal heir. Apparently he sought to prove himself outside of the family business

00:28but has ended up firmly back in the fold. He was the inspiration for the character of Kendall Roy

00:33in Succession. When his father stepped down as chairman of Fox and News Corp in 2023,

00:38Murdoch requested that the family trust be amended to give Lachlan total control and voting power

00:43without his siblings interference upon his death. However, this request has been blocked. Elizabeth

00:48is Rupert's first child with his second wife and is believed to be the inspiration for the

00:52character of Shiv Roy. She's held a series of jobs within her father's companies but,

00:56much like her brother, wanted to make her own way in the world and established two production

01:01companies. She's spoken about her need for her father's approval so, despite her liberal politics,

01:05is unlikely to try and overthrow Lachlan. James Murdoch is viewed as the rebel of the family,

01:10much like Roman Roy. He dropped out of Harvard to launch his own hip-hop label and eventually

01:14became deputy COO of News Corp in 2011. However, he resigned from family business in 2020 and has

01:21said he has no interest in establishing his own dynasty. Prudence is Rupert's oldest child and

01:26the only child from his first wife. She's also the only child apparently not directly competing

01:30for his business affections, therefore is often forgotten about. At a press conference in 1997,

01:36her father spoke about his three children, omitting Prue, so they haven't had the best

01:41relationship. It's thought she's the inspiration for Connor Roy. Elizabeth, James and Prudence

01:45said they welcome the commissioner's decision to retain equal power but Mr Murdoch's legal team

01:50say they plan to appeal the case. The writing team behind Succession say the characters are

01:54amalgamations of various media barons and their families. But, while Succession may

01:58have ended with a final fourth season, the Murdoch story is still rolling on.