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Bonfire of the Murdochs Gabriel Sherman talks to Janine Perrett

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  • Run time: 60 minutes Subject to change

In his astonishing bid for global media dominance, did Rupert Murdoch lose his family in the process?

Truth promises to be stranger than fiction (particularly for fans of Succession) as bestselling author and journalist Gabriel Sherman unspools the story of how one of Australia’s best-known families and their global media colossus came undone in a Reno, Nevada courtroom. It’s a blood feud Shakespearean in its telling, the likes of which would make Logan Roy blush.

Rupert Murdoch spent decades building a global media empire. But when it came time to hand over the keys, the fight for his legacy became one of the most extraordinary family battles in modern history.

Why would a father risk tearing his own family apart? What really happened behind the closed doors of a Nevada courtroom? And how did a private succession battle shape the future of one of the world’s most powerful media empires?

Vanity Fair special correspondent and bestselling author Gabriel Sherman has spent more than two decades reporting on the Murdochs. Drawing on years of reporting and more than 150 interviews, his latest book, Bonfire of the Murdochs, reveals the true story behind the headlines.

Join Sherman for a gripping conversation with Janine Perrett, unveiling the backroom deals, sibling rivalries, shocking betrayals and the high price of protecting a legacy. Think Succession — only stranger, messier and entirely real.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Event details

His dream was to build a family business. And what he built was a business that destroyed his family.

Gabriel Sherman on Rupert Murdoch's legacy

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