Rupert Murdoch, the influential media mogul who has shaped the tabloid landscape across three continents, is embarking on a new chapter in his personal life, proving that love knows no age. At 92, Murdoch has announced his engagement to Elena Zhukova, with plans to tie the knot in June, The New York Times reports. This would mark Murdoch’s fifth marriage, highlighting a personal journey as dynamic and newsworthy as his professional empire.
Murdoch, whose romantic endeavors have often captivated public interest, had a brief engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, a conservative radio broadcaster, which was called off less than a month after it was announced. His engagement to Zhukova, a 67-year-old former molecular biologist who emigrated from Russia to the United States, adds another fascinating chapter to his storied life. Zhukova is not unfamiliar with high-profile relationships herself, being the mother of Dasha Zhukova, an entrepreneur and art patron formerly married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
The wedding is set to take place at Murdoch’s Moraga Estate winery in California, a venue that promises a blend of elegance and personal significance for the couple. Murdoch’s previous marriage to model Jerry Hall, who had a longstanding relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, ended, adding to the tapestry of his complex personal narrative.
Murdoch’s matrimonial history began with Patricia Booker, an Australian flight attendant, and was followed by a more than thirty-year marriage to Anna Torv, a newspaper reporter. His third marriage to Wendi Deng concluded in 2013. Each relationship and subsequent chapter in Murdoch’s life has been as varied and vibrant as the media empire he built, which includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other significant media outlets. With an estimated worth of over $20 billion according to Forbes, Murdoch’s influence extends far beyond the realms of media and into the very fabric of contemporary culture.
As Murdoch prepares to marry Zhukova, his life continues to be a testament to the belief in the enduring power of love, ambition, and reinvention, regardless of age.
