How Prudence, Luz Murdoch were never considered heirs; handmaiden daughters

The Struggle for Power and Approval in the Murdoch Dynasty

The Murdoch family, a powerhouse in global media, has long been a paradigm of patriarchal control, where women, despite their talents and ambitions, have often been sidelined in favor of their male counterparts. The story of Rupert Murdoch’s daughters—Prudence, Elisabeth (Liz), and Gretel Packer—reveals a complex web of family dynamics, power struggles, and the enduring challenge of female succession in a male-dominated empire. While their brothers, Lachlan and James, have occupied central roles in the family business, the sisters have navigated a far more fraught path, often caught between their desire for approval and the constraints of a system rigged against them.

Prudence, the eldest of Rupert’s children, has long been cast as the family peacemaker, a role that, while noble, has afforded her little recognition or influence within the business. Despite her efforts to mediate conflicts, particularly between her father and brother James, Prudence has largely distanced herself from the family enterprise. Her decision to avoid direct involvement in the business seems to stem from a desire to maintain a sense of independence and peace, away from the toxic dynamics that have often characterized the Murdoch clan. Yet, even in her efforts to stay neutral, Prudence has sometimes been drawn into the vortex of family politics, as evidenced by her role in trying to convince James to sell his stake in the business at her father’s behest. Her advice to Rupert to approach James with more warmth and fatherly concern, as revealed in emails presented during a legal hearing, highlights both her attempt to bridge the gap between her father and brother and the limited influence she ultimately wielded.

Liz Murdoch, on the other hand, came closer than any of her sisters to being a viable successor to Rupert’s throne. Her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen were evident when she founded Shine, a production company that achieved significant success before being acquired by her father’s empire. However, Liz’s potential was ultimately stifled by the very system she sought to navigate. Her decision to suggest that her brother James be sacrificed during the phone-hacking scandal, in an effort to protect the family’s reputation, proved to be a fateful and deeply regrettable move. The episode not only damaged her relationship with James but also left her grappling with feelings of guilt and betrayal. Liz’s journey reflects the broader challenges faced by women in patriarchal structures, where the pursuit of approval and success often comes at a steep personal cost.

The relationship between Rupert Murdoch and his daughters is perhaps most poignantly illustrated by the conflict over the family trust. When Rupert sought to ensure that Lachlan, his eldest son, would retain control of the business after his death, he orchestrated a restructuring of the trust that effectively cut out Liz and her sister Elisabeth (Gretel) Packer. Liz, in particular, was shocked and hurt by this move, feeling violated and forsaken. Her confrontation with her father during this period revealed the deep-seated tensions between them, as well as the broader power imbalances at play. Rupert’s suggestion that Liz was being manipulated by James only added fuel to the fire, prompting a fiery response from her. The exchange laid bare the underlying dynamics of a family in which women were often seen as pawns in a game controlled by men.

James Murdoch, Rupert’s youngest son, has been scathing in his assessment of his father’s attitude toward women. “He is a misogynist,” James told The Atlantic, a characterization that underscores the deep-seated gender biases that have shaped the Murdoch dynasty. While Rupert has denied such allegations, the evidence from his treatment of his daughters suggests that James’s words carry more than a grain of truth. From his manipulation of Liz during the phone-hacking scandal to his dismissive attitude toward Prudence and Gretel, Rupert’s actions have often betrayed a troubling disregard for the agency and autonomy of the women in his life.

In the end, it may be the sisters—Prudence, Liz, and Gretel—who emerge as the true victors in this dynastic drama. While they may still yearn for their father’s approval, they have each, in their own way, found a measure of peace by stepping away from the toxic power struggles that have defined the Murdoch empire. Their journeys serve as a testament to the resilience of women in the face of systemic patriarchy, as well as the enduring complexities of family dynamics. For the brothers, however, the battle for control and legacy rages on, a reminder that in the world of the Murdochs, the pursuit of power remains an all-consuming endeavor.