Anna Murdoch-Mann, mother of News Corp heir, dies aged 81

BBC World · Feb 21, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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56 minutes agoOttilie MitchellRon Galella Collection via Getty ImagesAnna Murdoch-Mann, writer and ex-wife of media baron Rupert Murdoch, has died aged 81, his media outlets have announced.Married to the mogul for 31 years, she was described by the New York Post as an "active partner" in building News Corp.She was mother to three of Murdoch's children, Elisabeth, James, and Lachlan Murdoch - who is now chairman of Fox and News Corp - and stepmother to his daughter, Prudence.Murdoch-Mann was an active philanthropist and died on 17 February "surrounded by family" at her home in Palm Beach, Florida.Born Anna Torv in Glasgow and raised as a Catholic, she moved to Australia aged nine. After her parents' divorce, she is said to have brought up her own siblings.Murdoch-Mann became a reporter for the Sydney Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Daily Mirror, where she met Rupert Murdoch and served on the board of his company."He never made a major business decision without her input" The Australian, another title in his media stable, writes.She penned several novels during their marriage, including the 1988 Family Business about a multi-generational media dynasty. Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesMurdoch-Mann in 1987 with her then-husband and sons Lachlan (far-left) and James.Muriel McKay was killed by her kidnappers and there have been renewed efforts to find her body in recent years.The then-Murdochs divorced in 1999 in one of the most expensive separations in history - Murdoch-Mann received a $1.7bn (£1bn) settlement.Murdoch married his third wife, Wendi Deng, 17 days later, Australian media report.In an exclusive interview after her separation, Murdoch-Mann told Australian Women's Weekly "I think there's going to be a lot of heartbreak and hardship" over the succession for Murdoch's media empire."There's been such a lot of pressure that they needn't have had at their age," she added.This battle inspired the television series Succession, and played out in courts in real life. It concluded with Murdoch's eldest son Lachlan set to control the news group as of late last year.His mother also remarried, first to financier William Mann who died in 2017. Murdoch-Mann later wed her third husband, Ashton dePeyster, who survives her along with 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.The philanthropist served on the boards of several children's hospitals including in Los Angeles and Haiti. In 1998, she was made a Dame of the Order of St Gregory by Pope John Paul II.