Rupert Murdoch is engaged to get married again

CNN
—

Within a year of calling off his last wedding, billionaire Rupert Murdoch popped the question to another partner, months after they started dating.

A media representative for the former News Corp chairman confirmed the news to CNN on Friday, just days before the billionaire's 93rd birthday next Monday.

This is the second time Murdoch has participated within a year. Last March, the media giant announced Plans to marry Anne Leslie Smith, A former dental hygienist and conservative radio host. But it was a wedding It was canceled weeks later.

This time, Murdoch will marry Elena Zhukova, a 67-year-old retired molecular biologist, according to The New York Times, which was first to report on the impending nuptials.

Murdoch and Zhukova reportedly began dating in the summer and plan to marry at Moraga Bel Air, a luxury vineyard owned by Murdoch in California.

Pictures of the couple together have been published in recent months on news sites. Zhukova is the mother of the Russian-American art collector Dasha ZhukovaEx-wife of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Murdoch was recently listed at No. 280 Bloomberg Billionaires Indexwith a net worth of $9 billion.

He resigned as chairman of News Corporation, the print publishing arm of his media empire, last November, handing control of the business to his eldest son Lachlan.

At the time, Murdoch said he would continue his “active role” at the company, assuming the title of chairman emeritus of Fox, the parent company of Fox News and other broadcast assets.

Murdoch was previously married to former flight attendant Patricia Booker, journalist Anna Murdoch, and entrepreneur Wendi Deng, who is said to have introduced him to Zhukova.

He married his fourth wife, former model Geri Hall, in 2016. Their divorce was finalized in August 2022.

It is not clear why Murdoch's latest engagement was called off.

on time, he said of the proposal To Smith: “I was so nervous…” I was afraid of falling in love – but I knew it would be the last. It better be. I am happy.”

Murdoch's office did not respond to a request for more information about the timing and location of his upcoming wedding.