Rupert Murdoch and his two sons, Lachlan and James, were awarded much fatter compensation packages in fiscal 2018 _ more $150 million combined for the three executives _ as part of the spoils of orchestrating the $71.3 billion sale of much of their company, 21st Century Fox, to the Walt Disney Co.
The family's 87-year-old patriarch, Fox Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch, collected compensation valued at $49.2 million in the last fiscal year, a 68 percent increase over the previous year when his compensation amount reached $29.3 million, according to a regulatory filing Friday.
Rupert Murdoch masterminded the sale of the Fox properties, which nearly doubled the value of Fox's stock. Murdoch's 2018 compensation included $23.3 million in stock awards. He received $7.1 million in base salary, a $13 million bonus and $5.6 million in other benefits.
The elder Murdoch also will be eligible for a $21 million bonus in fiscal 2019, the company's proxy said. The family owns 17 percent of the company's stock.
Lachlan Murdoch, 47, who shares the executive chairman title with his father, received a $50.7 million compensation package in fiscal 2018, which included $36.7 million in stock awards. His base compensation was $3 million, and he received a $10 million bonus. His 2017 compensation was $20.6 million.
James Murdoch, 45, the company's chief executive, received compensation of $50.3 million. His base salary was $3 million, and he received stock awards of $36.7 million, the same as his older brother. James Murdoch's bonus in 2018 was $10 million. That compared with a 2017 compensation package of $20.3 million.
Next year, Lachlan and James Murdoch each will be eligible for a $16 million bonus.
