Anna Murdoch-Mann, Rupert Murdoch’s Ex-Wife and Former News Corp Director, Dies at 81

Anna Murdoch-Mann, writer, journalist, philanthropist and ex-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has died at the age of 81. Her death occurred on Tuesday at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by family, according to announcements from News Corp media outlets BBC and ABC News.

A Key Figure in the News Corp Empire

Married to Rupert Murdoch for 31 years, Murdoch-Mann played a significant role within News Corp, actively participating in the building of the media empire The Guardian. She was considered an influential advisor, with The Australian reporting that Murdoch “never made a major business decision without her input.”

Family and Children

Murdoch-Mann is survived by three children from her marriage to Rupert Murdoch: Elisabeth, James, and Lachlan, who currently serves as chairman of Fox and News Corp BBC. She was also a stepmother to Prudence Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s daughter from his first marriage.

Early Life and Career

Born Anna Torv in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1944, she emigrated to Australia with her family at the age of nine ABC News. After her parents’ divorce, she took on responsibility for raising her younger siblings. She began her journalism career at the Sydney Daily Mirror and the Sydney Daily Telegraph, where she met Rupert Murdoch ABC News.

Divorce and Settlement

The couple divorced in 1999 following Rupert Murdoch’s affair with Wendi Deng The Guardian. The divorce settlement totaled $1.7 billion (£1 billion) BBC. Shortly after, Rupert Murdoch married Deng.

Later Life and Philanthropy

Following her divorce, Murdoch-Mann married Wall Street financier William Mann in 1999, remaining with him until his death in 2017. She later married property developer Ashton dePeyster in 2019 The Guardian. She was a dedicated philanthropist, holding leadership roles at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Haiti’s Hospital Albert Schweitzer, and was recognized as a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

Literary Works and Succession Inspiration

Murdoch-Mann authored three novels: In Her Own Image (1985), Family Business (1988), and Coming to Terms (1992). Her experiences and insights into the Murdoch family dynamics are believed to have inspired the HBO series Succession The Guardian.