As HBO's hit series Succession draws to a close, attention turns to the real-life corporate drama that inspired it: the Murdoch family's battle for control of a global media empire. Author Paddy Manning, who wrote The Successor: The High-Stakes Life of Lachlan Murdoch, sheds light on the high-stakes succession planning of 92-year-old Rupert Murdoch.
Manning reveals that Rupert Murdoch's refusal to step down could trigger a fierce power struggle after his death. The media mogul has reportedly chosen his eldest son, Lachlan, as his successor, but Manning believes the other siblings may not back this decision.
The parallels between the Murdochs and the fictional Roy family on Succession are striking. It has been reported that in Rupert Murdoch's divorce settlement with Jerry Hall, she was forbidden from feeding storylines to the show's writers, highlighting the family's sensitivity to the portrayal of their internal dynamics.
Manning explains that the outcome of this succession battle will have significant implications for the future of News Corp and Fox, two of the world's most influential media companies. The drama, he says, is far from over.
