Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has married for the fifth time at age 93, tying the knot with Elena Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist, at his California vineyard estate, Moraga. The 67-year-old Zhukova, a quarter century younger than Murdoch, joined him in a ceremony that brought together high-profile guests from around the world.
Photographs published in The Sun, a British tabloid owned by Murdoch, show the couple beaming on their special day. Murdoch donned a black suit with a yellow tie, while Zhukova wore an off-the-shoulder white gown and carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley. Among the jet-set guests were Robert Kraft, the 82-year-old owner of the New England Patriots, and his 50-year-old wife, Dana Blumberg.
Murdoch’s personal life has long been a topic of fascination, especially within the tabloid industry he helped build. He was previously married to model Jerry Hall, the former partner of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Before Hall, Murdoch was married to Wendi Deng, Anna Torv, and Patricia Booker.
Zhukova, who emigrated from Russia to the United States, has a background in molecular biology. Her daughter, Dasha Zhukova, is a noted arts patron and entrepreneur, who was previously married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Murdoch, whose media empire spans influential outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Fox News, has six children from his previous marriages. His wealth, estimated at around $20 billion according to Forbes, positions him as one of the most powerful figures in global media.
Murdoch’s marriage to Zhukova follows a short-lived engagement last year to Ann Lesley Smith, a dental hygienist turned conservative radio host. Murdoch called off those nuptials less than a month after the announcement.