GoKawiilJames Murdoch lost the succession battle for control of Fox News and The Wall Street Journal to his brother Lachlan, but he walked away with $3.3 billion and a plan to build his own media empire.
His company, Lupa Systems, is in talks to acquire major parts of Vox Media, including New York Magazine and a podcast network featuring Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, according to The New York Times. The deal would mark a full-circle moment: Rupert Murdoch bought New York Magazine in 1977, sold it in 1991, and now his left-leaning son is buying it back. Vox Media has been weighing a sale for months, with multiple bidders, including Versant Media, in the mix.
From Fox to Vox, the acquisition would make Lupa Systems a major US media player. James already backs Tribeca Film Festival, The 19th, and The Bulwark — a portfolio that’s very different from his father and brother’s conservative empire.