Rupert Murdoch, sued by Trump, owns some of world's biggest news outlets. You won't believe his net worth

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is back in the limelight after US President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against his company the Wall Street Journal over a report that the commander-in-chief sent Jeffrey Epstein the card in 2003 as part of a collection collated by Ghislaine Maxwell.

A bombshell report in the WSJ claimed Trump wrote a 'bawdy' 50th birthday card to Epstein, which concluded: 'Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret.' In the text, the paper claimed Trump wrote: "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey' and that both of them know that 'there must be more to life than having everything." The message is said to have included an X-rated drawing of a naked woman, with Trump's famous signature squiggle written across her genitals to mimic pubic hair.

Trump has furiously denied all the allegations and hit the newspaper and its owner with a $10 billion lawsuit. "I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women,' Trump told the WSJ. 'It's not my language. It's not my words."


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Trump has denied writing the letter or drawing the picture, calling it "false, malicious, and defamatory." The President has reportedly asked Rupert Murdoch to not release or publish the article, calling it fake.

"We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS “article” in the useless “rag” that is, The Wall Street Journal. This historic legal action is being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list," The MAGA chief said.

Who is Rupert Murdoch?

Rupert Murdoch is the man behind some of the world's biggest news outlets. The 94-year-old has helped shape the media landscape in the UK, US and Australia with his ownership of powerful newspapers such as the Sun and the Times and broadcasters such as Sky and Fox News.

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An Australian-born American business tycoon, he is celebrated for establishing one of the world's largest media empires. He owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and numerous media outlets in the UK and Australia.

Though often associated with right-leaning coverage, Rupert Murdoch’s companies have occasionally drawn criticism from Trump and his supporters, especially when the coverage doesn’t align with their views. Rupert Murdoch and his media organization have long been friendly with Republicans and the Trump administration.

He appeared at Trump's inauguration and was spotted earlier this year in the Oval Office. However, their relationship has appeared to have soured a month later as Trump launched a blistering attack on Rupert Murdoch's newspaper.

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What is Rupert Murdoch's net worth?

Rupert Murdoch’s net worth is estimated at $23.1 billion in 2025, according to Forbes. That’s up from $21.7 billion in 2022, when he ranked among the wealthiest individuals—31st in the U.S. and 71st worldwide. Murdoch’s fortune is rooted in his control of media giants News Corp and Fox Corporation, which own influential outlets like Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Sun. His continued success stems from a sharp ability to expand his empire and stay ahead of evolving media trends.