The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch

by Michael Wolff

  Were a modern love story: Barry Diller interview, January 28, 2008.

  “…passed like shadows in the night”: Former News Corp. executive, February 27.

  The Journal’s Wendi piece: John Lippman, Leslie Chang, and Robert Frank, “Meet Wendi Deng: The Boss’s Wife Has Influence at News Corp.—Murdoch Spouse, 31, Has Come a Long Way Since Leaving China a Dozen Years Ago,” Wall Street Journal, November 1, 2000.

  Wendi Murdoch early bio: Wendi Murdoch interviews, April 28 and May 18, 2008.

  Wendi works in a Chinese restaurant: Wendi Murdoch interview, May 19. “The first day I got fired from one restaurant, because they asked me if I had experience [laughs] and I said yes. And then I’m not getting it, how to carry that tray. [Laughs] Then I work in the kitchen and they gave me food for free. It was amazing. I got paid $20 and worked from eleven o’clock in the morning to eleven o’clock at night, but you get a leftover soup to take home. [Laughs] I mean for a whole month, I spent $9 for a whole month because I buy a whole bunch of instant noodles and you can eat every day. But in China it’s worse because when we grow up there’s not enough food so you just have like rice and water. You know, they have meat every day in the restaurant. I gained like ten pounds. I used to be a lot smaller. [Laughs] It’s a great life because you have meat every day. It’s amazing.”

  Wendi gets a summer job at Star TV: Wendi Murdoch interview, May 19. “The story say that I met Bruce Churchill on a airplane, and that by the end of the airplane I got myself a job. So what did I do on the plane, you know, in first class? [Laughs]…No, it’s not true…I interviewed with Bruce in Los Angeles, on my spring break. One of the Yale alumni introduced me. And I went into the office and he interviewed me. And he also interview other people, so went through the process. So me and also Dan Goldman, the other summer intern, we both got hired—he was from Columbia…I was summer intern out there for two and a half months, I was traveling, doing different…I never met Rupert. But people have so many different stories.”

  Wendi at Star TV: Interviews with former and current Star TV executives.

  “To be honest, a lot of young Chinese…”: Gary Davey interview, March 1, 2008.

  Rupert needs a translator: Gary Davey interview, March 1, 2008. Dover, Rupert’s Adventures, 134. Bruce Dover argues that Wendi had actually met Murdoch at a cocktail party just before the July 1, 1997, handover of Hong Kong. Dover said Murdoch told him after the party how “impressive” he found the young Chinese woman. Wendi denies this meeting.

  Wendi and Murdoch talk business: Gary Davey and other News Corp. executives.

  Wendi chronology: Wendi Murdoch first directed the author to use Gary Davey’s account of how she and Murdoch first met. But in a follow-up e-mail, she said, “I met Rupert at a business meeting in HK, Spring 1998.” News Corp. executives and family members say they believe the relationship started before the separation.

  Murdoch calls in sick for Wendi. Gary Davey says the phone call occurred months before Murdoch told Anna. Bruce Dover says the phone call occurred in late 1997, Dover, Rupert’s Adventures.

  marriage counselor: Dame Elisabeth interview, February 25, 2008.

  Separation announcement: Liz Smith, New York Post, April 20, 1998.

  “I’ve met a nice Chinese lady”: Prudence Murdoch, February 28, 2008.

  “hard, ruthless and determined.”: David Leser interview with Anna Murdoch, Australian Women’s Weekly, published July 25, 2001. Copy of interview transcript provided to the author.

  “…idiot brother-in-law”: Interviews with News Corp. executives.

  Prostate cancer: Wendi Murdoch, May 19, 2008.

  Wendi confused: May 19, 2008.

  WENDI MURDOCH: I didn’t know what is prostate cancer. It was a really scary experience. Thank God everything came out fine. Mike Milken really helped, though.

  LEELA DE KRETSER: Do you remember finding out?

  WENDI MURDOCH: He called me. We have to keep it a secret, don’t tell anybody else. But then when we came to Sloan-Kettering hospital, someone leaked from the doctor’s office and the stock price went down.

  DE KRETSER: Shit.

  WENDI MURDOCH: It was a really scary experience, he was so helpful. He was talking to me, explaining it to me, because he had himself. Rupert found out early, so. Every morning he’d go for radiation with the same person at St. John’s Hospital, I’d go with him. Just a really, umm, that’s why we started having children. Before, we hadn’t thought about when, but after that happen, we say, if I want to have children, we have to do this…So…It’s a big decision. Are you going to have kids?

  DE KRETSER: Yeah. Is that what happened?

  WENDI MURDOCH: Yeah. Because you have no choice. Because after radiation you’re not so sure. Then, I think compared to other people, at the time we couldn’t talk about it, we had to go to the hospital under a different name and everything. And I was very isolated, and a bit down, depressed. Once you open up to people, a lot of people go through the same thing. So many people. I never thought. I thought it just happened to us, but it’s not true.

  DE KRETSER: What about Lachlan and James and Elisabeth, were you able to talk to them about it?

  WENDI MURDOCH: In the beginning, Rupert didn’t want to say anything, but later on when it came out in the press, they all worry, duh, duh, duh. Like me, they were so shocked in the beginning. But then, they found out already during this process. Also, he stopped the radiation for one week, every day he did it from Monday to Friday, every day, right, but that one week we went to James’ wedding, the radiation. I think it bring the family closer and it was nice.

  AUTHOR: What kind of treatment? Did he have that pellet treatment, where they—

  WENDI MURDOCH: No. Radiation only.

  DE KRETSER: Was it the external beam, where they—

  WENDI MURDOCH: Yep. You go there, that machine. He go first in the morning, he had a different name, he’d go there get the key. Michael Milken helped with everything, just amazing. But also he just realized that all his friends have it, from Silvio Berlusconi to, umm, Intel, Andy Grove, everybody called and “I did this, I did that, you should try this.” A million people had it. It’s very common.

  AUTHOR: Yeah, totally. It’s the old man club.

  DE KRETSER: It’s one thing for the guys to talk, but if you’re the wife, though, you are going through your own special—

  WENDI MURDOCH: I didn’t talk to anybody. I don’t talk to anybody. I just remember it was very isolating. And I just feel like you want to be secretive, you don’t want to tell people, duh, duh, duh, that’s hard. [Laughs]

  Murdoch and the Google guys: Wendi Murdoch, April 28, 2008.

  Rupert is dimmer figure than Wendi (and submissive): Prudence Murdoch, February 28, 2008. “I think he says yes to have a peaceful life, and does what he wants, like most men. ‘Yes, dear. Yes, dear,’ but just do what you want. That’s not the same as being submissive. That’s appearing submissive. But I think Wendi, in a way, is almost the strongest woman he’s ever had…Because she seems to get away with more than anything. She goes on and on and on. And she’s quite violent because she handles the language not very well. And her intonation is not quite right. And so sometimes she really—it’s kind of like whoa—there’s no mucking about. I really like that about her. ‘Oh, Rupert!’ Rolls her eyes in front of everybody. And he’ll go, ‘Oh, I know.’ Then he is submissive. He’s kind of taken on more than he can handle in a way. But he’s got better at telling her to be quiet. Not that she listens.”

  Wendi accused of an affair: News Corp. executives did not—and do not—believe that Wendi was having an affair with the employee. Most were disgusted that the Los Angeles Times had made the phone call and told the story to demonstrate the types of attacks Wendi has suffered while an employee.

  Wendi making a movie: Wendi Murdoch and Zhang Ziyi have bought the production rights to Lisa See’s New York Times best seller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

  CHAPTER 13

&
nbsp; Times first covers Murdoch: “Working to Upgrade Masses,” New York Times, January 17, 1969.

  Murdoch wants to get the Times: Kiernan, Citizen Murdoch, 236.

  Times attack 1: Jo Becker, Richard Siklos, Jane Perlez, and Raymond Bonner, “Murdochracy: Murdoch, Ruler of a Vast Empire, Reaches Out for Even More,” New York Times, June 25, 2007.

  Times attack 2: Joseph Kahn, “Murdochracy: Murdoch’s Dealings in China: It’s Business and It’s Personal,” New York Times, June 26, 2007.

  Circulation: “Up, Up, Up, Again for New York’s Newspaper,” Daily News, May 1, 2007.

  Roger Ailes’ terrorism fears: Roger Ailes, conversation with the author.

  News Corp. hates Bill O’Reilly: News Corp. executives.

  Brian Lewis notes: News Corp. executive.

  “Is it true that Barack Obama is on the move…”: Celeste Katz, “Fox Prez ‘Obama’ Crack Ends Debate,” Daily News, March 10, 2007.

  Wendi Murdoch dines with Obama: Wendi Murdoch interview.

  Due diligence: John Nallen and Lon Jacobs interviews.

  CHAPTER 14

  Packer gets married to Erica Baxter: Jamie Packer’s wedding was part Scientology. The reception was held at the Hotel du Cap–Eden Roc.

  Murdoch worries about Lachlan: Murdoch interviews, January 12, March 21, and June 2, 2008.

  Murdoch children negotiations on trust: Interviews with Murdoch family members and News Corp. executives and advisors.

  Interviews with children: Prudence Murdoch in Vaucluse, Sydney, February 28, 2008; Lachlan Murdoch in Surrey Hills, Sydney, February 29, 2008; Elisabeth Murdoch, November 15, 2007; James Murdoch, Wapping, London, May 1, 2008.

  Lachlan is weak in the United States: News Corp. executive interviews.

  Lachlan supports Fight Club: Interview with former Fox executives.

  Chernin and Ailes take credit for pushing Lachlan out: Interviews with News Corp. and Hollywood executives.

  “A great magazine”: Murdoch interview, January 12, 2008.

  Lachlan and Jamie Packer’s deal: Miriam Steffens, “Nothing Joint-Ventured, Nothing Gained,” The Age, April 12, 2008.

  “I don’t understand it”: Murdoch interview, March 21, 2008.

  Anna Murdoch on Charlotte: After wondering about the blood of Murdoch and Freud running through her granddaughter’s veins, Anna Murdoch added, “But Charlotte is the most happy, sanguine child that you could ever imagine.” David Leser, Australian Women’s Weekly, July 25, 2001.

  Freud and Murdoch become friends: Interviews with Murdoch family members and News Corp. executives.

  Sailing anecdote: Rebekah Wade interview, October 2007.

  Freud knows Prue: Prudence Murdoch interview, February 28, 2008.

  Shine: Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, Ugly Betty, and The Office are among the shows licensed by Elisabeth Murdoch.

  James: Steve Hemsley, “Murdoch Clinches Mushroom Buyout,” Music Week, September 19, 1998; Jane Martinson, “James Murdoch Sets Net Aims,” Guardian, July 10, 1999; David Lieberman, “Murdoch Grew Up in an Atmosphere of Ritual Feuding with Other Media,” USA Today, August 1, 2007; Steve Clarke, “Murdoch, a Chip Off the Old Block,” Variety, December 17–23, 2007.

  James and Lachlan fight: News Corp., Murdoch interviews.

  James and Lachlan visit Blair: Campbell, The Blair Years, 603.

  “a little menace”: James Murdoch interview, June 2007.

  James’ personality: Prudence Murdoch interview, February 28, 2008. “I love James. He’s very smart. James…got so much responsibility that he’s become quite formal. He’s had to grow up very quickly. The way he’s handled that is he’s become quite formal in his ways. He’s always been quite like that, but I think more so recently.”

  Deal with Conrad Black: Former New York Post reporter, confirmed by News Corp. editors.

  James and ITV: Barry Flynn and Chris Whynn, “BSkyB’s Long-Term View Bets on US Pay-TV Model,” New Media Markets, August 13, 2004; Maggie Brown, “Are Branson’s TV Plans Virgin on Ridiculous?” PR Week, February 9, 1996; Simon Goodley, “BBC Breaks Ranks to Join BSkyB in Digital TV Bid,” Daily Telegraph, June 13, 2002; Robert Lea, “Branson the Star in ITV Merger Plan,” Evening Standard, November 10, 2006; Chris Tryhorn, “Branson Rages at Sky as ITV Rejects His Offer,” Guardian, November 22, 2006; Daniel Farey-Jones, “Sky Ordered to Reduce Stake in ITV Below 7.5%,” Brand Republic News, January 30, 2008.

  America’s Cup: “It’s All Over,” New Zealand Herald, July 4, 2007.

  Agent provocateur: James Murdoch interview, May 1, 2008.

  CHAPTER 15

  Murdoch is ready to walk away: Interviews with Dow Jones executives, board members, and Bancroft family members and advisors.

  Sweetener: News Corp. executive, conversation with the author, June 2007.

  Bancrofts out of the loop: Interview with Bancroft family members.

  “farted around and were dysfunctional”: Dow Jones advisor interview, January 10, 2008.

  Denver Trust: Interviews with Dow Jones board members and Bancroft family members and advisors.

  Billy Cox visits Murdoch: Andrew Steginsky, May 23, 2008.

  Murdoch calls Tom Hill: Bancroft family members.

  Due diligence: John Nallen interview, January 7, 2008.

  Dow Jones wants more: John Nallen interview, confirmed by Dow Jones executives.

  Board approves the deal: Interviews with board members.

  Kann meets with the Cook branch: Peter Kann interview, May 14, 2008.

  July 23 meeting: Interviews with Bancroft family members and their advisors.

  Crawford Hill e-mail: “Bancroft Cousin’s Letter: ‘Paying the Price for Our Passivity,’” Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2007.

  News Corp. wants 50 percent: Murdoch interview, September 19, 2007.

  Final negotiations: Interviews with Murdoch, News Corp. executives, family members, Dow Jones executives, and advisors.

  Final phone call: Andrew Steginsky, May 23, 2008.

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