Who is Elisabeth Murdoch? Meet billionaire media-mogul Rupert Murdoch's daughter who was spotted sitting with Elon Musk at the Super Bowl

Samantha DelouyaFeb 16, 2023, 23:15 IST

Elon Musk sits between Elisabeth Murdoch and Rupert Murdoch at the Super Bowl on Feb 12.Fox

Elon Musk was recently seen sitting between billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his daughter Elisabeth.
She has said she has no ambition to take over her father's media empire, though some have speculated otherwise.

The complicated dynamics of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch's family have long been the subject of public intrigue. The name Murdoch is synonymous with influence and media, and the family empire includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, and other news organizations around the globe.

The family's $18.5 billion fortune, per Forbes, dates back to a chain of Australian newspapers that Rupert Murdoch inherited from his father.

Murdoch, who is 91, is expected to leave the company in the hands of one of his children. His two eldest sons, James and Lachlan, have long been considered Murdoch's likeliest successors, while their older sister, Elisabeth, has kept a lower profile, often operating behind the scenes.

However, a recent sighting of Elisabeth Murdoch with Elon Musk in her father's box at the Super Bowl has reignited speculation of who may gain control of the Murdoch empire.

Elisabeth has had a successful career in media, occasionally working within the family business but leaving it for long periods at a time. In true nepo-baby fashion, though, her last name and connections gave her a significant leg up.

See more about Elisabeth's fabulous life as she climbed the ranks in the media world:

Elisabeth Murdoch was born in 1968 in Sydney, Australia, and is the first of three children that Rupert Murdoch shares with his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann. Rupert Murdoch has 6 children in total.

Rupert Murdoch with his then-wife, Anna, and their baby daughter, Elisabeth, at London Airport in 1968.Evening Standard/Getty Images

Elisabeth Murdoch was born in 1968 in Sydney, Australia, and is the first of three children that Rupert Murdoch shares with his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann. Rupert Murdoch has 6 children in total.

Murdoch moved to Manhattan at the age of six when her father took over the New York Post. She attended the private all-girls Brearly School on the Upper East Side. She then studied at Vassar College, where she met her first husband, Elkin Pianim.

Rupert Murdoch with children Lachlan, James, and Elisabeth, along with second wife, Anna Murdoch, at their home in New York City in 1989.Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images

Murdoch moved to Manhattan at the age of six when her father took over the New York Post. She attended the private all-girls Brearly School on the Upper East Side. She then studied at Vassar College, where she met her first husband, Elkin Pianim.

She joined her father's empire shortly after college, beginning her career at a local Fox station in Utah and then working at his cable TV unit, FX.

Elisabeth Murdoch and Elkin Pianim's wedding in 1993.Paul Harris/Getty Images

At 26 years old, with just a few years of TV management experience, she purchased two northern California television stations: KSBW in Salinas and KSBY in San Luis Obispo. She ran the stations with her then-husband.

The price tag was a hefty $35 million but came with loan guaranteed by her father.Gareth Davies/Getty Images

At 26 years old, with just a few years of TV management experience, she purchased two northern California television stations: KSBW in Salinas and KSBY in San Luis Obispo. She ran the stations with her then-husband.

Their management style apparently made waves at the local stations, resulting in high employee turnover. However, after just one year of ownership, Murdoch sold the two stations for a $12 million profit.

Murdoch made approximately $1 million for each month she owned the stations.Dave Benett/Getty Images

Their management style apparently made waves at the local stations, resulting in high employee turnover. However, after just one year of ownership, Murdoch sold the two stations for a $12 million profit.

At just 27, Rupert Murdoch placed his daughter as general manager of broadcasting at BSkyB in London.

She became in charge of all programming there less than one year later.Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

In 2000, she decided to exit the family business and carve out a path on her own. The next year, she founded the production company Shine Group.

Shine produced reality hits like "The Biggest Loser" and "Masterchef."David Moir/Reuters Pictures

In 2001, Murdoch married her second husband, PR executive and great-grandson of Sigmund Freud, Matthew Freud.

Elisabeth Murdoch and Matthew Freud.Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Murdoch has two children with her first husband, Elkin Pianim, and two children with her second, Matthew Freud. Murdoch and Freud would eventually divorce in 2014.

Elisabeth Murdoch and her daughter in 2005.Dave Benett/Getty Images

After 11 years away from the family empire, Murdoch was brought back into the fold when her father's company, News Corp, acquired Shine for $663 million.

News Corp said the purchase would be a way for the company to break into reality television outside of the US.Jorge Herrera/Getty Images

At the time, some News Corp shareholders sued Rupert Murdoch over the Shine deal, accusing him of "paying for nepotism."

News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch was criticized for purchasing his daughter's company.Drew Angerer-Pool/Getty Images

Elisabeth Murdoch remained at the newly acquired Shine for three more years but exited after the production company merged with two others: Endemol and Core Media. The merger created the world's largest independent TV producer.

Elisabeth Murdoch at the 2008 Emmy Awards.Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic

Elisabeth Murdoch remained at the newly acquired Shine for three more years but exited after the production company merged with two others: Endemol and Core Media. The merger created the world's largest independent TV producer.

In 2012, she publicly dropped out of the race against her siblings to take over her father's media empire. "I really harbor absolutely no ambition for that top job," she said at the Edinburgh International Television Festival that year.

Elisabeth Murdoch is often compared to Shiv Roy, a character from the show "Succession," which is about a family-owned media empire similar to News Corp.Dave M. Benett/Getty Images, HBO

In 2012, she publicly dropped out of the race against her siblings to take over her father's media empire. "I really harbor absolutely no ambition for that top job," she said at the Edinburgh International Television Festival that year.

Aside from running media businesses, Murdoch has also dabbled in venture investing, setting up Freelands Ventures, an early-stage VC fund. Her investments include a number in media, publishing, and entertainment companies, such as Artists, Writers & Artisans, an entertainment studio and comic book publisher founded by Marvel alumni.

Murdoch also enjoys horseback riding. Here she is riding at a charity sweepstakes race in 2010.ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Aside from running media businesses, Murdoch has also dabbled in venture investing, setting up Freelands Ventures, an early-stage VC fund. Her investments include a number in media, publishing, and entertainment companies, such as Artists, Writers & Artisans, an entertainment studio and comic book publisher founded by Marvel alumni.

Murdoch is also a noted philanthropist. In 2015, she launched the Freelands Foundation, which supports the arts and access to creative education. In 2020, Murdoch pledged $100 million in Disney shares to her foundation.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, meets Elizabeth Murdoch at the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Perk's Field on June 9, 2011 in London, EnglandArthur Edwards - WPA/Getty Images

Murdoch is also a noted philanthropist. In 2015, she launched the Freelands Foundation, which supports the arts and access to creative education. In 2020, Murdoch pledged $100 million in Disney shares to her foundation.

In 2017, Murdoch married her third husband, contemporary artist Keith Tyson. Bottles of champagne reportedly costing more than $1,200 each were served at the extravagant nuptials.

Elisabeth Murdoch and her husband Keith Tyson.Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Disney

In 2017, Murdoch married her third husband, contemporary artist Keith Tyson. Bottles of champagne reportedly costing more than $1,200 each were served at the extravagant nuptials.

In 2019, Rupert Murdoch sold several of his assets to Disney, including much of Fox's studio, FX, and National Geographic Networks for $71 billion. Elisabeth Murdoch reportedly took home roughly $2 billion from the transaction.

From left: James, Elisabeth, Rupert, and Lachlan Murdoch.Tom Stoddart/Getty Images

In 2019, Rupert Murdoch sold several of his assets to Disney, including much of Fox's studio, FX, and National Geographic Networks for $71 billion. Elisabeth Murdoch reportedly took home roughly $2 billion from the transaction.

That same year, she decided to dip her toes back into the world of media, cofounding the production company Sister. Sister produced the hit HBO miniseries "Chernobyl."

"Chernobyl" on HBO proved to be a hit for Murdoch's company.HBO

Murdoch recently announced that she would be setting up a new London school designed to get people from different backgrounds into the film industry, tackling nepotism.

Elisabeth Murdoch, with her brother James and her father, Rupert.ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Shanghai is the most expensive city for a high-end Valentine's Day date, followed by New York, and St. Petersburg, according to The Economist

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Who is Elisabeth Murdoch? Meet billionaire media-mogul Rupert Murdoch's daughter who was spotted sitting with Elon Musk at the Super Bowl

Elisabeth Murdoch was born in 1968 in Sydney, Australia, and is the first of three children that Rupert Murdoch shares with his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann. Rupert Murdoch has 6 children in total.

Murdoch moved to Manhattan at the age of six when her father took over the New York Post. She attended the private all-girls Brearly School on the Upper East Side. She then studied at Vassar College, where she met her first husband, Elkin Pianim.

She joined her father's empire shortly after college, beginning her career at a local Fox station in Utah and then working at his cable TV unit, FX.

At 26 years old, with just a few years of TV management experience, she purchased two northern California television stations: KSBW in Salinas and KSBY in San Luis Obispo. She ran the stations with her then-husband.

Their management style apparently made waves at the local stations, resulting in high employee turnover. However, after just one year of ownership, Murdoch sold the two stations for a $12 million profit.

At just 27, Rupert Murdoch placed his daughter as general manager of broadcasting at BSkyB in London.

In 2000, she decided to exit the family business and carve out a path on her own. The next year, she founded the production company Shine Group.

In 2001, Murdoch married her second husband, PR executive and great-grandson of Sigmund Freud, Matthew Freud.

Murdoch has two children with her first husband, Elkin Pianim, and two children with her second, Matthew Freud. Murdoch and Freud would eventually divorce in 2014.

After 11 years away from the family empire, Murdoch was brought back into the fold when her father's company, News Corp, acquired Shine for $663 million.

At the time, some News Corp shareholders sued Rupert Murdoch over the Shine deal, accusing him of "paying for nepotism."

Elisabeth Murdoch remained at the newly acquired Shine for three more years but exited after the production company merged with two others: Endemol and Core Media. The merger created the world's largest independent TV producer.

In 2012, she publicly dropped out of the race against her siblings to take over her father's media empire. "I really harbor absolutely no ambition for that top job," she said at the Edinburgh International Television Festival that year.

Murdoch is also a noted philanthropist. In 2015, she launched the Freelands Foundation, which supports the arts and access to creative education. In 2020, Murdoch pledged $100 million in Disney shares to her foundation.

In 2017, Murdoch married her third husband, contemporary artist Keith Tyson. Bottles of champagne reportedly costing more than $1,200 each were served at the extravagant nuptials.

In 2019, Rupert Murdoch sold several of his assets to Disney, including much of Fox's studio, FX, and National Geographic Networks for $71 billion. Elisabeth Murdoch reportedly took home roughly $2 billion from the transaction.

That same year, she decided to dip her toes back into the world of media, cofounding the production company Sister. Sister produced the hit HBO miniseries "Chernobyl."

Murdoch recently announced that she would be setting up a new London school designed to get people from different backgrounds into the film industry, tackling nepotism.