At 92, media mogul Rupert Murdoch to get married for fifth time
NEW YORK: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has officially confirmed his engagement to his girlfriend, retired Russian molecular biologist Elena Zhukova, marking his sixth engagement and fifth marriage.
The 92-year-old billionaire has reportedly been in a relationship with Zhukova (67) for several months.
The wedding, scheduled to take place at his Moraga vineyard and estate in California later this year, is anticipated to be a private affair.
Invitations have already been dispatched for the June ceremony, as disclosed by The New York Times, which first broke the news.
Murdoch’s romance with Zhukova blossomed following his broken engagement to ex-police chaplain Ann Lesley Smith in April 2023.
The couple reportedly met at a party hosted by one of Murdoch's former wives, Chinese-born entrepreneur Wendi Deng.
Murdoch, a prominent figure in the media industry, has had a colourful marital history.
His previous marriages include unions with Australian flight attendant Patricia Booker, Scottish-born journalist Anna Mann, Deng, and US model and actress Jerry Hall.
Meanwhile, Zhukova was previously married to Russian oil tycoon Alexander Zhukov, and their daughter Dasha Zhukova is a well-known socialite and businesswoman who was formerly married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Having launched his career in Australia in the 1950s, Murdoch acquired prominent media outlets such as the News of the World and The Sun newspapers in the UK, as well as The New York Post and Wall Street Journal in the US.
He is also the founder of Fox News, the most-watched TV news channel in the US.
Despite his illustrious career, Murdoch's tenure has not been without controversy, notably the UK phone hacking scandal involving the News of the World.
In September, he announced his retreat from the leading role in his media empire, passing the reins to his son Lachlan and assuming the position of Chairman Emeritus of both Fox and News Corp.
The impending nuptials between Murdoch and Zhukova are unlikely to have a significant impact on Murdoch's businesses, which are held in trust by his four eldest children, according to The New York Times.