Rupert Murdoch; Elena Zhukova.Photo:Noam Galai/Getty; David X Prutting/BFA/Shutterstock
Noam Galai/Getty; David X Prutting/BFA/Shutterstock
Rupert Murdochis engaged again – this time to current girlfriend Elena Zhukova
The former chairman of Fox and News Corps, 92, and the retired molecular biologist, 67, are taking their relationship to new heights as they prepare totie the knot.
On Thursday, reports circulated that Murdoch and Zhukova will wed this June — it will be the fifth time the media mogul has said “I do,” and it is currently his sixth engagement.
According toThe New York Times, the media mogul and his bride-to-be began dating over the summer, and invitations for the wedding have already gone out. The ceremony will be held at Murdoch’s California vineyard and estate, Moraga, both the Times andABC Newsreported.
Rupert Murdoch; Elena Zhukova.Steven Ferdman/Getty; David X Prutting/BFA/Shutterstock
Steven Ferdman/Getty; David X Prutting/BFA/Shutterstock
Zhukova and the Australian native are said to have met through his third wifeWendi Deng, theNew York Timesreported, citingThe Daily Mail.
Murdoch and Deng, 55, secretly wed on his yacht in New York Harbour in 1999, approximately two weeks after he finalized his divorce from his second wife Anna Maria Torv, themother of his three kids Elisabeth, Lachlan and James. Little is known about Murdoch’s late first wife Patricia Booker, whom he shared one daughter with named Prudence.
Rupert Murdoch.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty
“I don’t think I ever considered myself just a rich wife,” she said in the same interview. “When E-Trade first started, I was at home moving stocks around.”
They were married for 14 years, during which time Deng protected Murdoch from apie-throwing assailant.
His last engagement was announced in March 2023 toAnn Lesley Smith, though the couple called it off in April of the same year.
Zhukova is also a divorcee, being previously married to Alexander Zhukov, a billionaire energy investor who now resides in London as a British citizen, theNew York Timessaid.
Before coming to the United States, she was a resident of Moscow.
Katya Zhukova, Elena Zhukova, Dasha Zhukova.Billy Farrell Agency/Shutterstock
Billy Farrell Agency/Shutterstock
Her career as a molecular biologist led her to study diabetes at institutions such as the University of California in Los Angeles.
Zhukova has a daughter, Dasha Zhukova, who works as a philanthropist and entrepreneur. Dasha was also previously married, but ended her relationship with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in 2017.
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Murdoch’s family is a bit larger as the entertainment mogul hassix childrenwith three of his four wives.
In fact, the Murdochs inspired the storyline of the fictional Roy family on the HBO hit seriesSuccession.
His eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, followed in his father’s footsteps and became the new chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp after Rupert retired from his duties in September 2023.
Rupert holds an honorary “chairman emeritus” status with the company.
source: people.com
