Rupert Murdoch’s announcement on Thursday that he was stepping back from day-to-day oversight of his media empire cleared the way for his eldest son, Lachlan, to claim sole oversight of the businesses.
The move made it clear that Rupert Murdoch would like to see Lachlan run the companies.
But it didn’t answer the question of who will control the trust that votes the family’s shares after the elder Mr. Murdoch, 92, dies.
At that point, his four eldest children will have to work out his ultimate successor among themselves — and they appear to be divided.
Hours after Mr. Murdoch’s announcement on Thursday, some media executives who have worked with him argued that Mr. Murdoch would not have stepped down without some greater gambit in mind that further solidifies Lachlan’s control over the companies.
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