Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media mogul, is set to marry Elena Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist, on June 1 at his California vineyard and estate, Moraga. The couple reportedly began dating last summer after being introduced by Murdoch's third wife, Wendi Deng. Zhukova, who has a background in studying diabetes, including at the University of California, Los Angeles, is set to become Murdoch's fifth wife.
This upcoming marriage follows Murdoch's brief engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, a retired dental hygienist, in 2023, which was called off shortly after. Murdoch's marital history includes previous marriages to model Jerry Hall, Patricia Booker, Anna Maria Torv, and Wendi Deng, with whom he shares several children.
Zhukova, who hails from Moscow, was previously married to billionaire energy investor Alexander Zhukov. Murdoch, who recently stepped down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp., expressed confidence in his son Lachlan Murdoch taking over leadership of the companies.
In a letter to employees, Murdoch stated, 'For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change. But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole Chairman of both companies.'
