Guess the fifth time is a charm, Media mogul Rupert Murdoch at the age of 93 gets married for the fifth time to a retired Russian Molecular Biologist Elena Zhukova aged 67 in a small ceremony held at his vineyard in California.
Wedding photos release show the couple looking lovely and happy. They kept it simple yet classy as Murdoch is seen wearing a black suit, yellow tie, and a pair of Reebok Flexagon running shoes. His beautiful wife wore a simple off-shoulder white gown with white heels.
Murdoch and his family’s net worth is estimated to be around 20 billion as per Forbes’s richest people. His media empire includes The Sun, The Wall Street Journal, and Fox News among others just to mention a few. In November 2023 he handed over his media empire to his son Lachlan as he shifted to a retired life.
Even though Murdoch seems to have found a companion at last it begs the question why has he married so many times? And why bother getting married at such an old age?
We may never really get the answers to these questions but here is a deep dive into his past 4 marriages.
Patricia Booker
Rupert’s first wife Patricia was an Australian flight attendant, the two got married in 1956 and were together for roughly 10 years. They divorced in 1967, they had one child together a girl Prudence, Rupert’s firstborn.
Anna Maria Torv
The same year that Rupert got divorced he went ahead and married his second wife Anna who was a newspaper reporter. Rupert and Anna were married for 30 good years before they decided to call it quits in 1999, having had 3 kids together two sons James and Lachlan, and one daughter Elizabeth.
Wendi Deng
At this point, he was on a roll and just two weeks after his divorce was finalized with Anna, he married his third bride Wendi in the same year 1999. This blissful union lasted for 14 years they got divorced in 2013. Rupert and Wendi had two daughters together, Chloe and Grace.
Jerry Hall
This time he decided to take some time before choosing his next wife. In 2016 he marries for the fourth time to a model Jerry Hall who was Rolling Stones Frontman Mick Jagger’s longtime partner. In 2022 Jerry filed for a divorce from Murdoch. They lasted for roughly 7 years and had no kids.
Mogul Rupert Murdoch’s four ex-wives and current wife
Elena Zhukova
After dating for less than a year they announced their engagement in March and got married in June of this year. The two met at a family event that Rubert’s third wife Wendi hosted in the summer of 2023.
It’s reported that before Elena, Rupert was engaged to another lady Ann Smith who is a dental hygienist turned radio host in 2023. Soon after they announced their engagement, they called it off.
Rupert Murdoch’s love story raises different concerns among readers;
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Authenticity of Love
- Skeptics might question the authenticity of the relationship, suspecting motives other than love, such as financial gain or social status, especially considering the significant age difference likely present.
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Dependency and Care
- At 93, the practicalities of daily life and health care are significant factors. Critics might argue that this marriage could place an undue caregiving burden on his new spouse or be an arrangement for convenient care.
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Societal Norms and Ageism
- This marriage challenges societal norms about age and relationships, potentially sparking debate about whether there should be age-related boundaries or ethical considerations in marriage.
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Questionable Judgment
Marrying for the fifth time at such an advanced age might raise concerns about his decision-making capacity and whether he is fully aware of the implications of his choices.
Impact on Previous Families
The new marriage might be viewed as dismissive of his previous spouses and families, raising questions about his respect for past relationships and commitments.
Mogul Rupert Murdoch and wife laughing
Inheritance Concerns
His repeated marriages could complicate inheritance issues, potentially leading to disputes among his children, previous spouses, and the new wife over his estate.
Potential Exploitation
There might be concerns about potential exploitation, with the possibility that his advanced age makes him vulnerable to being taken advantage of emotionally or financially.
Final Thoughts
Rupert Murdoch’s love life is a clear example of what most people experience and that is trying to find that perfect one to spend the rest of your life with. There is no such thing as a perfect spouse and it is never too late to find your person.