View source for James Murdoch

{{Short description|American and British businessman (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} 
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name         = James Rupert Jacob Murdoch
| name               = James Murdoch
| image              = James Murdoch 2008- NRKbeta (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Murdoch in 2008
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=y|1972|12|13}}
| birth_place        = [[London]], [[England]], UK
| citizenship        = {{Plainlist|
*United Kingdom
*United States}}
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Kathryn Murdoch|Kathryn Hufschmid]]|2000}}
| children           = 3
| parents            = {{ublist|[[Rupert Murdoch]]|[[Anna dePeyster]] (née Torv)}}
| family             = [[Murdoch family|Murdoch]]
| education          = [[Harvard University]] (attended)
| boards             = [[Tesla, Inc.]]
}}
'''James Rupert Jacob Murdoch''' (born 13 December 1972) is an American and British businessman. He is the younger son of media mogul [[Rupert Murdoch]] and the former [[chief executive officer]] (CEO) of [[21st Century Fox]] from 2015 to 2019.

He was the chairman and CEO for Europe and Asia of [[News Corporation]] until 2013 when it was split into [[News Corp]] and 21st Century Fox.  He was formerly a director of News Corp and was a member of the office of the chairman. Until April 2012, he was the chairman and CEO of [[Sky Group|Sky plc]], Europe and Asia, where he oversaw assets such as [[News UK|News International]] (publisher of ''The News of the World'' newspaper), [[Sky Italia]], [[Sky Deutschland]], and [[Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific|STAR TV]].

Murdoch was executive chairman of News International from 2007. He previously held a non-executive chair at [[Sky UK|British Sky Broadcasting]], in which News Corporation had a controlling minority stake. In April 2012, he was forced to resign as chairman of BSkyB in the wake of the ongoing [[News International phone hacking scandal|phone hacking scandal]], in which he was implicated and severely criticised in a parliamentary report. He was reappointed chairman of the company following its merger with its Italian and German sister companies to form [[Sky plc]].

In July 2020,  he resigned from the board of News Corp due to disagreements with its editorial content and strategic direction. In 2021, Murdoch set up the Indian arm of his family office, Lupa Systems India, as a joint venture with businessman [[Uday Shankar (businessman)|Uday Shankar]]. 

{{as of| September 2024}}, the whole Murdoch family is involved in a court case in the US in which James, his sister [[Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman)|Elisabeth]] and half-sister [[Prudence MacLeod|Prudence]] are challenging their father's bid to amend the family trust to ensure that his eldest son, [[Lachlan Murdoch|Lachlan]], retains control of News Corp and Fox Corp, rather than benefiting all of his six children, as is specified in the "irrevocable" terms of the trust.

==Early life and education ==
James Rupert Jacob Murdoch<ref>{{cite book | last=Whittingdale | first=J. | title=News International and phone-hacking: eleventh report of session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes | publisher=Stationery Office | series=HC (Series) (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons) | issue=v. 1 | year=2012 | isbn=978-0-215-04501-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_A5oaHAltDoC&pg=PA67 | access-date=16 September 2024 | page=67}}</ref> was born on 13 December 1972 at Wimbledon Hospital in [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], [[London]], England.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rohm|first=Wendy Goldman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KB4WpkldZeIC&dq=james+murdoch+born+london+hospital&pg=PA67|title=The Murdoch Mission: The Digital Transformation of a Media Empire|date=12 March 2002|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-471-20539-5|language=en}}</ref><ref name =eb>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Murdoch|title=James Murdoch |website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> He is the fourth child of billionaire media mogul [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s six children, and the third with Scottish-born journalist and author [[Anna Murdoch Mann]] (née Torv),<ref name="Observer Profile">{{cite news  | last = Robinson  | first = James  | title = Triumph of the family man  |work=The Observer  | date = 9 December 2007| url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/dec/09/bskyb.newscorporation  | access-date =9 December 2007| location=London}}</ref> the others being [[Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman)|Elisabeth]] and [[Lachlan Murdoch|Lachlan]].<ref name=clarke2024/> 

As a youngster James was regarded as the brightest of the Murdoch children, but also considered something of a rebel.<ref name="BBC Profile" /> He first came to public notice as a 15-year-old intern at the Sydney ''[[The Daily Mirror (Sydney)|Daily Mirror]]'' but made headlines in the rival ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' after he was photographed asleep on a sofa at a press conference.<ref name="BBC Profile" />

Murdoch attended [[Horace Mann School]]<ref name="BBC Profile" /> in New York City. He then studied film and history at [[Harvard University]], where he was a member of the ''[[Harvard Lampoon]]''. He dropped out of university in 1995 without completing his studies to follow the [[Grateful Dead]] and set up a [[hip hop]] record label.<ref name="BBC Profile" /><ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/03/magazine/rupert-murdoch-fox-news-trump.html How Rupert Murdoch’s Empire of Influence Remade the World]"  ''New York Times''. 3 April 2019.</ref> With university friends Brian Brater and [[Jarret Myer]], he backed the establishment of [[Rawkus Records]], an [[Independent record label|independent]] hip hop record label. The company was bought by News Corporation in 1998.<ref name="BBC Profile" />

==Business career==
In 1996, Murdoch joined News Corporation and was appointed chairman of [[Festival Records]]. He took charge of News Corporation's internet operations, where he invested in a series of ventures, including financial website [[TheStreet]] and the short-lived online music site Whammo, with mixed results.<ref name="BBC Profile" /> He also continued to contribute cartoons to US magazine ''[[Gear (magazine)|Gear]]''.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

He is credited with sparking his father's interest in the internet, and he reportedly tried to persuade his father to buy internet company [[PointCast]] for US$450 million. It was subsequently sold to another company for $7&nbsp;million.<ref name="BBC Profile" />

After installing a new management team at Festival, Murdoch purchased the controlling 51% share of [[Mushroom Records]] in 1999, and the merged group was rebranded as Festival Mushroom Records (FMR).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mongol|title=James Murdoch Bio, Facts, CEO of 21st Century Fox, Party, Net Worth, Married, Wife, Age, Wiki, Fox News, Career, Family, Salary, Famous, Nationality|url=https://factmandu.com/james-murdoch|access-date=1 November 2020|website=FactMandu|language=en-US}}</ref> It was at first thought that News Corporation might use FMR as the foundation of a new international entertainment company, but FMR struggled while Murdoch was in charge and after his departure its fortunes declined rapidly.  FMR was closed in late 2005 and its remaining assets were sold: the recording catalogue was sold to the Australian division of [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music]] for A$10&nbsp;million in October 2005, and the publishing division was sold to [[Michael Gudinski]] a month later, for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite web|title=MICHAEL GUDINSKI AM|url=http://www.vmacongress.com/speaker/michael-gudinski-am|access-date=18 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012855/http://www.vmacongress.com/speaker/michael-gudinski-am|archive-date=19 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In May 2000, Murdoch was appointed chairman and chief executive of News Corporation's ailing Asian satellite service [[Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific|Star Television]], which at the time was losing £100 million a year, and he moved to Hong Kong.<ref name="BBC Profile" />

In February 2003, Murdoch became a director of BSkyB. Later that year, he controversially became CEO of BSkyB, in which News Corporation owned a controlling minority stake. His appointment sparked accusations of [[nepotism]], with some commentators and shareholders feeling that the job had not been opened to outsiders and that Murdoch was too young and inexperienced to run one of the UK's top companies<ref>{{cite news  | last = Bell  | first = Emily  | title = Rupert and the joys of nepotism  |work=The Guardian   | date = 5 November 2003| url = https://www.theguardian.com/Columnists/Column/0,,1078016,00.html  | access-date =6 March 2007| location=London}}</ref> He was an executive vice-president of News Corporation (the controlling shareholder of BSkyB) and served on the board of directors of [[News Datacom]] and of News Corporation.<ref name="BBC Profile">{{cite news  | title = James Murdoch: A chip off the old block?  |publisher=BBC News  | date = 4 November 2003| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3132678.stm  | access-date =6 March 2007 }}</ref>

Following the surprise resignation of his brother [[Lachlan Murdoch]] from his executive positions at News Corporation in July 2005, James was viewed as his father's heir-apparent.<ref name="Robinson">James Robinson [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/28/james-murdoch-bbc-mactaggart-edinburgh-tv-festival "James Murdoch hits out at BBC and regulators at Edinburgh TV festival"], ''The Guardian'', 28 August 2009</ref>

[[File:James Murdoch.jpg|thumb|right|Murdoch at a digital media conference in 2006]]
In December 2007, Murdoch stepped down as CEO from [[Sky UK|BSkyB]] and was appointed non-executive chairman of the company (a position formerly held by his father, Rupert).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7131975.stm |publisher=BBC News  | title=Murdoch son gets key media role | date=7 December 2007 | access-date=5 May 2010 | first=Robert | last=Peston}}</ref>

In a related announcement, Murdoch also took "direct responsibility for the strategic and operational development of [[News Corporation]]'s television, newspaper, and related digital assets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newscorp.com/2012/06/28/news-corporation-announces-intent-to-pursue-separation-of-businesses-to-enhance-strategic-alignment-and-increase-operational-flexibility/|title=News Corporation Announces Intent to Pursue Separation of Businesses to Enhance Strategic Alignment and Increase Operational Flexibility &#124; News Corp|date=28 June 2012|access-date=1 August 2020}}</ref> This included holdings such as [[News UK|News International]], [[Sky Italia]], [[Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific|STAR Group ltd]] and possibly other News Corporation related [[asset]]s. He was based at [[News UK|News International]]'s headquarters in [[Wapping]], [[North East (London sub region)|East London]].{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In February 2009, Murdoch was appointed a non-executive director with the British pharmaceutical company [[GSK plc|GlaxoSmithKline]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/feb/02/james-murdoch-in-glaxosmithcline-role | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=James Murdoch takes GlaxoSmithKline role | first=Chris | last=Tryhorn | date=2 February 2009 | access-date=5 May 2010}}</ref>

In August 2009, Murdoch delivered the [[James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture]] at the [[Edinburgh International Television Festival]], in which he attacked the [[BBC]] and UK media regulator [[Ofcom]] calling the BBC's expansion "chilling" and also said: "In this all-media marketplace, the expansion of state-sponsored journalism is a threat to the plurality and independence of news provision, which are so important for our democracy."<ref name="Robinson"/><ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/29/murdochs-son-bbc-expansio_n_271985.html Murdoch's Son: BBC Expansion Is "Chilling," A Threat To Independent Journalism]. ''The Huffington Post''. 29 August 2009.</ref> The BBC chairman, [[Michael Lyons (BBC chairman)|Sir Michael Lyons]] officially responded, "We have to be careful not to reduce the whole of broadcasting to some simple economic transactions. The [[BBC]]'s public purposes stress the importance of the well-tested principles of educating and informing, and an impartial contribution to debate in the UK."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Media/documents/2009/08/28/bbc-mactaggart-response.pdf |title=BBC Trust response to 2009 MacTaggart Lecture | work=The Guardian | location=London | access-date=24 November 2020}}</ref>

In April 2010, Murdoch and his associate [[Rebekah Brooks]] entered the offices of ''[[The Independent]]'' to complain about an advertisement campaign by the newspaper.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2010/apr/22/murdoch-wade-crash-independent|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=8 September 2010 | title=Murdoch-Wade posse crash Independent's office – that's pretty uncool, isn't it? | first=Michael | last=White | date=22 April 2010}}</ref> 

Until April 2012, he was the chairman and CEO of [[Sky Group|Sky plc]], Europe and Asia, where he oversaw assets such as [[News UK|News International]] (publisher of ''The News of the World'' newspaper), [[Sky Italia]], [[Sky Deutschland]], and [[Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific|STAR TV]].{{cn|date=September 2024}} 

He was executive chairman of News International from 2007<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/dec/09/bskyb.newscorporation|title=Triumph of the family man|last=Robinson|first=James|newspaper=The Observer |date=9 December 2007|via=The Guardian}}</ref> until February 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sabbagh|first=Dan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/feb/29/james-murdoch-resigns-news-international-chairman|title=James Murdoch resigns as News International chairman|date=29 February 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 February 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He previously held a non-executive chair at [[Sky UK|British Sky Broadcasting]], in which News Corporation had a controlling minority stake. In April 2012, he was forced to resign as chairman of BSkyB in the wake of the ongoing [[News International phone hacking scandal|phone hacking scandal]], in which he was implicated.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/apr/03/james-murdoch-step-down-bskyb-chairman Murdoch steps down as BSkyB chairman] Dan Sabbagh, 3 April 2012, ''The Guardian'' (London)</ref>

In April 2014, it was announced that Murdoch would join the board of advertising start-up True[X] Media.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gelles|first=David|title=James Murdoch Joins Board of Advertising Start-Up|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/james-murdoch-joins-board-of-advertising-start-up/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|access-date=18 April 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 April 2014}}</ref>

In June 2015, his father, Rupert, announced that he would be leaving his position as CEO of [[21st Century Fox]] and James would take over the position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/11/rupert-murdoch-preparing-to-step-down-as-ceo-from-21st-century-fox.html|title=Murdoch prepping to step down from 21st Century Fox|first=David|last=Faber|website=[[CNBC]]|date=11 June 2015}}</ref>

In January 2016, Murdoch became the chairman of Sky, Britain's subscription broadcaster.<ref name=BBCMurdochSky>{{cite news|last1=Ahmed|first1=Kamal|title=James Murdoch takes over at Sky|date=29 January 2016|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35436401|publisher=BBC News |access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>

In July 2017, Murdoch became an independent director on the board of [[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tesla.com/blog/tesla-welcomes-linda-johnson-rice-and-james-murdoch-new-independent-directors-its-board|title=Tesla Welcomes Linda Johnson Rice and James Murdoch as New Independent Directors to its Board|date=17 July 2017|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref>

In October 2018, Murdoch left Sky after [[Comcast]] took the majority control of the company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/james-murdoch-quits-sky-as-comcast-takes-control-11522135|title=James Murdoch quits Sky as Comcast takes control|website=Sky News|access-date=1 August 2020}}</ref>

In March 2019, 21st Century Fox was sold to [[The Walt Disney Company]], ending Murdoch's tenure as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/whats-next-james-murdoch-1200454|title=James Murdoch, Adrift From Fox and Disney, Plots an Independent Future|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=15 April 2019|language=en|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> 

Murdoch was a director of News Corp in August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1564708/000119312519219463/d741099d10k.htm|title=10-K|website=www.sec.gov|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> In July 2020, he resigned from the board. His resignation letter stated that his resignation was "due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the company's news outlets and certain other strategic decisions".<ref name="WapoResign">{{cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |last2=Lee |first2=Edmund |title=James Murdoch Resigns From Board of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/business/media/james-murdoch-resigns-news-corp.html |work=The New York Times |date=31 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="GuardianResignation">{{cite news |title=James Murdoch resigns from board of News Corporation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jul/31/james-murdoch-resigns-board-news-corporation?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_rif_is_fun |work=the Guardian |date=31 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Media mogul Rupert Murdoch's son leaves News Corp board |url=https://www.netindian.in/news/international/media-mogul-rupert-murdochs-son-leaves-news-corp-board |access-date=1 August 2020 |work=NetIndian |agency=IANS |date=1 August 2020}}</ref> He criticised the "ongoing denial of the role of [[climate change]]" seen in the Australian outlets, following the particularly devastating [[2019–20 Australian bushfire season]].<ref name=clarke2024>{{cite web | last1=Clarke | first1=Carrington | last2=Ryan | first2=Brad | title=Rupert Murdoch's family feud over future of News Corp and Fox plays out in Nevada court | website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | date=17 September 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/rupert-lachlan-james-murdoch-news-corp-fox-court-nevada/104358816 | access-date=17 September 2024}}</ref> 

In 2021, Murdoch set up the Indian arm of his family office, Lupa Systems India, as a joint venture with businessman [[Uday Shankar (businessman)|Uday Shankar]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Laghate |first1=Gaurav |last2=Mahanta |first2=Vinod |date=2022-05-01 |title=Uday Shankar and James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree invests $600 million in Allen Career Institute |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/uday-shankar-and-james-murdochs-bodhi-tree-to-invest-600-million-in-allen-career-institute/articleshow/91236958.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-03-10 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> The aim of the joint venture was to focus on media, education, and the healthcare sectors in Asia, particularly India. In May 2022, Lupa India (renamed to Bodhi Tree Systems) announced a $600 million investment in the test-prep company Allen Career Institute Private Limited for a 36% stake, and completed the deal in July.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Laghate |first1=Gaurav |last2=Mahanta |first2=Vinod |date=2022-05-01 |title=Uday Shankar and James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree invests $600 million in Allen Career Institute |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/uday-shankar-and-james-murdochs-bodhi-tree-to-invest-600-million-in-allen-career-institute/articleshow/91236958.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-03-10 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> In April 2023, Bodhi Tree acquired a 13% stake in the [[Reliance Industries|Reliance]]-owned media and entertainment company, [[Viacom18]], and subsequently increased it to 16% by August 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farooqui |first=Javed |date=2023-08-23 |title=Bodhi Tree raises holding in Viacom18 in '953-cr deal |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/bodhi-tree-raises-holding-in-viacom18-in-953-cr-deal/articleshow/102917870.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-03-10 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> In February 2024, Viacom18 and [[Disney Star|Disney-Star India]] entered into a joint venture to form an $8.5 billion entity.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Farooqui |first1=Javed |last2=Mahanta |first2=Vinod |date=2024-03-10 |title=RIL-Disney merger: A Starlit Jiography |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/ril-disney-merger-a-starlit-jiography/articleshow/108355760.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-03-10 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

==2011 phone hacking scandal and aftermath ==
On 7 July 2011, James Murdoch announced the closure of the British tabloid newspaper the ''[[News of the World]]'' in the wake of a [[News International phone hacking scandal|phone hacking scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Owen |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/blog/2011/jul/07/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking-live-coverage |title=News of the World to close on Sunday – live coverage &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=7 July 2011 |date=7 July 2011}}</ref>

On 19 July 2011, along with his father, Rupert, he appeared at a hearing of the Commons [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee|Culture, Media and Sport Committee]]. He appeared once again before the same committee on 10 November 2011.  James maintained that until late in 2010 he was unaware that more than one "rogue reporter" from the ''[[News of the World]]'' tabloid had been involved in phone hacking.<ref name=GuardianCMSS20110719>{{cite news|title=James and Rupert Murdoch at the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee – full transcript |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/jul/20/james-rupert-murdoch-full-transcript |last1=Sedghi|first1=Amy |last2=Rogers|first2=Simon |date=20 July 2011 |access-date=24 November 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034038/http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/jul/20/james-rupert-murdoch-full-transcript |archive-date=12 November 2020 }}</ref> This statement was [[News media phone hacking scandal#Period of denials (2007–2010)|challenged by the formal legal manager and editor for the newspaper]], who claimed they had informed James of the [[News International phone hacking scandal reference lists#Key evidentiary documents|"Transcript for Neville"]] email, a potential "smoking gun" indicating several of the newspaper's journalists may have been involved, during the settlement negotiations with Gorden Taylor in 2008 and alerted him to the potential liability if this document became public.{{cn|date=September 2024}} On 22 July 2011, Britain's prime minister, [[David Cameron]], said that Murdoch had "questions to answer in Parliament," a day after former top executives of the ''News of the World'' accused the News Corporation executive of giving "mistaken" evidence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/07/22/britain.murdoch.mistaken/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426035559/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/07/22/britain.murdoch.mistaken/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 April 2012 | publisher=CNN | location=US | access-date=22 July 2011 | title=Cameron says James Murdoch has questions to answer in Parliament | date=22 July 2011}}</ref> 

In November 2011, British newspapers reported that Murdoch had resigned as chairman of News Group Newspapers, the holding company above ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'', ''[[News of the World]]'' and Times Newspapers Ltd, itself owner of ''[[The Times]]'' and ''[[The Sunday Times]]''. News Group Newspapers is the company subject to a series of lawsuits, all related to the phone hacking scandal. James Murdoch's resignation was also said to be related to the 12 October 2011 resignation{{clarify|date=February 2012}} of another [[Dow Jones & Company|Dow Jones]] executive, Andrew Langhoff, after a company whistleblower revealed an editorial scam and questionable circulation dealings at ''[[The Wall Street Journal Europe]]''.<ref>{{cite news| work=WSJ edition | location=US | title=Publisher of WSJ Europe Resigns After Ethics Inquiry| date=12 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/12/wall-street-journal-andrew-langhoff/ | work=The Guardian| location=UK | access-date=12 October 2011 | title=Wall Street Journal circulation scam claims senior Murdoch executive| date=12 October 2011 | first=Nick | last=Davies}}</ref>

In February 2012, News Corp announced that Murdoch would be stepping down as executive chairman of its British newspaper arm. The company said he would remain deputy chief operating officer of News Corp and focus on the company's international TV business,<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/james-murdoch-resigns-from-news-international-1.1249195 "James Murdoch resigns from News International"], The Associated Press via CBCnews, 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.</ref> including continued responsibility for BSkyB.<ref>Sabbagh, Dan, [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/feb/29/james-murdoch-resigns-news-international-chairman "James Murdoch resigns as News International chairman"], ''The Guardian'', 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.</ref> He stepped down also from the GlaxoSmithKline board.<ref>Werdiger, Julia, and Alan Cowell, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/world/europe/james-murdoch-gives-up-role-at-british-unit.html?hp "James Murdoch Gives Up Role at British Unit"], ''The New York Times'', 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.</ref> In April 2012, he stood down as chairman of BSkyB, but remained on the board.<ref>BBC News 24 and Ceefax</ref> He was replaced as chairman by [[Nicholas Ferguson (businessman)|Nicholas Ferguson]].{{cn|date=September 2024}} In May 2012, a highly critical UK Parliamentary report said that Murdoch "showed wilful ignorance of the extent of phone-hacking" and found him "guilty of an astonishing lack of curiosity" over the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/9238718/What-does-the-Select-Committee-report-mean-for-Murdochs-empire.html|title=What does the Select Committee report mean for Murdoch's empire?|first=Katherine|last=Rushton|date=1 May 2012|access-date=1 August 2020|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> It went on to say that both Murdoch and his father "should ultimately be prepared to take responsibility" for wrongdoing at the ''News of the World'' and News International.<ref>Culture, Media and Sport Committee, 11th report, News International and phone-hacking [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmcumeds/903/90302.htm SMS Select Committee Report, phone-hacking, May 2012]</ref> In September 2012, Murdoch was criticised by the British Office of Communications ([[Ofcom]]), which concluded that he "repeatedly fell short of the conduct to be expected of as a chief executive and chairman" and that his lack of action in relation to phone hacking was "difficult to comprehend and ill-judged".<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Carroll, Lisa and Lizzy Davies|title=Sky ruled fit for broadcast licence, but James Murdoch comes in for criticism|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/20/sky-broadcast-james-murdoch-criticised|date=20 September 2012|access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref>

==Family court case (2024)==
{{further|Succession of Rupert Murdoch}}
In September 2024, the whole Murdoch family is involved in a court case in [[Reno]], [[Nevada]], in which James, his sister [[Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman)|Elisabeth]] and half-sister [[Prudence MacLeod]] are challenging their father's bid to amend the family trust to ensure that his eldest son, [[Lachlan Murdoch|Lachlan]], retains control of News Corp and Fox Corp, rather than benefiting all of his six children, as is specified in the "irrevocable" terms of the trust. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Rupert wants his companies to remain politically conservative, and sees his other children as too politically liberal.<ref name=clarke2024/><ref name=rutenbert2024/> 

The irrevocable family trust was set up after Rupert and Anna Murdoch's divorce in 1999, to hold the family's 28.5% stake in News Corp. It relates only  to the children born before then, giving them equal say in the fate of the business after Rupert's death.<ref name=erskine2024/>  Chloe and Grace Murdoch, Rupert's children with third wife [[Wendi Deng Murdoch|Wendi Deng]], will have no say in the business,<ref name=hassall2024>{{cite web | last=Hassall | first=Greg | title=Lachlan Murdoch controls his family's media empire, but for how long and at what cost? | website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | date=8 September 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-08/bitter-battle-brewing-over-the-murdoch-family-succession/104036852 | access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> although will share the stock proceeds.<ref name=erskine2024>{{cite web | last=Erskine | first=Matthew F. | title=Succession: The Brewing Controversy Over The Murdoch Family Trust | website=Forbes | date=8 August 2024 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewerskine/2024/08/08/succession-the-brewing-controversy-of-the-murdock-family-trust/ | access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> The case follows Rupert's attempt to change the trust in 2023, and the Nevada [[probate|probate commissioner]]'s finding that he was allowed to amend the trust "if he is able to show he is acting in good faith and for the sole benefit of his heirs".<ref name=rutenbert2024>{{cite web | last1=Rutenberg | first1=Jim | last2=Mahler | first2=Jonathan | title=The Murdoch Family Is Battling Over the Future of the Fox Empire | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=24 July 2024 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/business/media/rupert-murdoch-succession-fox.html | access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> Rupert Murdoch is arguing interference by the other siblings would cause a financial loss to Fox, and therefore "in their own best interests if they have their votes taken away from them".<ref name=whittaker2024>{{cite web | last=Whittaker | first=Mark | title=Lachlan Murdoch: Holding the keys to the empire and, maybe, the future of democracy | website=Forbes Australia | date=8 September 2024 | url=https://www.forbes.com.au/news/billionaires/lachlan-murdoch-holding-the-keys-to-the-empire-and-democracy/ | access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref> He argues that preserving the outlet's conservative editorial stance against interference by the more politically moderate siblings would better protect its commercial value.<ref name=erskine2024/>

The case led to James, as well as sisters Elisabeth and Prudence, becoming estranged from their father; none of the three attended his wedding to his fifth wife, Elena Zhukova, in June 2024.<ref name=rutenbert2024/> 

A $3.3 billion settlement was reached on September 8, 2025, granting Lachlan control of the News Corp. and Fox Corp. media empire, "until at least 2050", with James receiving one third of the proceeds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2025-09-09 |title=Succession War Over, Lachlan Murdoch Turns to Next Era of Empire Building |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/lachlan-murdoch-rupert-murdoch-next-fox-news-corp-1236365893/ |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Murdochs Reach Deal to Resolve Succession Fight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/business/media/murdoch-family-trust-succession-deal.html}}</ref>

==Personal life and other activities==
Murdoch is a British citizen by birth and a naturalised US citizen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/29/james-murdoch-has-the-heir-apparent-changed-more-than-his-look |title=James Murdoch: has the heir apparent changed more than his look? |work=The Guardian|date=29 January 2016}}</ref> Apart from full siblings Elisabeth and Lachlan Murdoch, he has three half-siblings, including an elder half-sister [[Prudence MacLeod|Prudence]], and two younger half-sisters by his father's third marriage to [[Wendi Deng]],  Grace and Chloe.<ref name=clarke2024/>

Murdoch was instrumental in the formation of [[Team Sky|Sky Procycling]] and is a keen cyclist himself.<ref>Wiggins, B., 2012. ''My Time''. p. 239</ref> He maintains an early morning gym routine and has a black belt in [[karate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/29/world/europe/james-murdoch-profile/index.html |title=James Murdoch: Son of the Sun king |first1=Peter |last1=Wilkinson |first2=Barry |last2=Neild |publisher=CNN |date=29 November 2012 |access-date=27 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Premack|first=Rachel|title=James Murdoch is reportedly the top candidate to succeed Elon Musk as Tesla chairman — here's a look at his life and career|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/james-murdoch-career-2018-10|access-date=9 April 2021|website=Business Insider}}</ref> 

Murdoch married [[Kathryn Murdoch|Kathryn Hufschmid]] in 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2009/november/1329284930/malcolm-knox/rising-son |title=Rising son |work=The Monthly |date=November 2009 |access-date=27 July 2014 |first=Malcolm |last=Knox }}</ref> and they have three children: Anneka, Walter, and Emerson. Kathryn worked for the [[Clinton Foundation#Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI)|Clinton Climate Initiative]] from 2006 to 2011, a charitable foundation set up by the former U.S. president, [[Bill Clinton]].<ref name="Observer Profile" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kathryn Murdoch |url=http://www.qdvm.org/kathrynmurdoch |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Quadrivium |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Since 2014, James and Kathryn have run the Quadrivium Foundation,<ref>{{cite web | last1=Pompeo | first1=Joe | title=Kathryn Murdoch Wants to Flip the Dystopian Script With New "Protopian" Production Studio | website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date=21 July 2023 | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/kathryn-murdoch-james-murdoch-production-studio-protopian | access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Who we are | website=Quadrivium | date=29 March 2019 | url=http://www.qdvm.org/#who-we-are | access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref> which supports "initiatives that address the root causes of problems and where single actions can create multiple positive outcomes". It is focused on five key areas: democracy, technology and society, scientific understanding, [[climate change]], and the health of the world's oceans. It invests in evidence-based solutions to problems.<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=Quadrivium | date=29 March 2019 | url=http://www.qdvm.org/#hp-press | access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref> 

Murdoch has donated money to the [[Clinton Foundation]], the nonprofit organisation run by [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]], Bill, and [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>"[https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/05/clinton-foundation-donors-include-dozens-of-media-organizations-individuals-207228 Clinton Foundation donors include dozens of media organizations, individuals]"  ''Politico''. 15 May 2015.</ref>

In 2020, Murdoch and his wife each donated US$615,000 to the [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Biden campaign]].<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/us/elections/biden-vs-trump.html Biden is shrinking Trump's financial advantage with the help of giant donors.]"  ''New York Times''. 16 July 2020.</ref> In September 2024, he was one of 88 American corporate leaders who signed an [[open letter]] endorsing vice-president [[Kamala Harris]] for president.<ref name=clarke2024/> 

He has been highly critical of Fox News' promotion of [[Donald Trump]]'s false claims of [[election fraud]] after he lost the 2020 election. Fox was subsequently successfully sued for defamation, losing over $US787 million in costs.<ref name=clarke2024/>

==See also==
* [[News media phone hacking scandal]]
* [[News International phone hacking scandal]]
* [[Phone hacking scandal reference lists]]
* [[Metropolitan police role in phone hacking scandal]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{C-SPAN|9265031}}
*[http://journalisted.com/james-murdoch Published articles] at [[Journalisted]]
<!-- {{Bloombergtopic|james-murdoch|James Murdoch}} -->
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130618055336/http://www.forbes.com/profile/james-murdoch/ James Murdoch] at ''[[Forbes]]''
*{{Guardian topic}}
*{{NYTtopic|people/m/james_r_murdoch}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120312223636/http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/james-murdoch James Murdoch] at [[Los Angeles Times]]

{{2011 News Corporation scandal}}
{{News Corporation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murdoch, James}}
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