SOCIETY
Who is Elena Zhukova, Rupert Murdoch’s new wife?
The media kingpin is no stranger to new relationships and has found a new wife in his old age. Time will tell if it lasts.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the 93-year-old chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp, recently surprised the world by saying “I do” for the fifth time.
His new wife, Elena Zhukova, has sparked curiosity as she steps into the spotlight alongside one of the most powerful figures in media.
The 67-year-old Russian-born scientist with a background far removed from the world of media empires. She boasts a career in molecular biology, reportedly working at the Baylor College of Medicine near Houston before moving to teach at UCLA. While details about her current scientific pursuits are scarce, it’s clear her expertise lies in a completely different field than her husband’s.
The couple reportedly met through Murdoch’s third wife, Wendi Deng. News of their relationship first surfaced in 2023 when they were spotted vacationing on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Murdoch was due to marry someone else in 2023, but the wedding was called off.
Their engagement was announced earlier this year, culminating in a star-studded wedding at Murdoch’s California estate in June 2024.
Murdoch still tying the not at 93
Murdoch’s personal life has been as headline-grabbing as his business ventures. This latest marriage marks his fifth trip down the aisle, following unions with Patricia Booker, Anna Torv, Wendi Deng, and Jerry Hall. While his professional life has seen immense success, his romantic endeavors have been a rollercoaster ride.
Murdoch’s longest marriage was to his second wife, Anna Torv. They were married in 1967 and divorced in 1999, lasting for 32 years. His shortest marriage was to his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. They tied the knot in 2016 and divorced in 2022, lasting only six years.