Famous Quote
“The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.”
Why #58
Murdoch built the most influential media empire in modern history from a single Australian newspaper. Fox News reshaped American politics, and his $71.3B sale to Disney proved his ability to maximize value across a 70-year career.
The Story
Rupert Murdoch inherited a single Australian newspaper from his father in 1952 and built it into the most powerful media empire in the world, spanning newspapers (The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, New York Post), television (Fox News, Fox Broadcasting, Sky), film (20th Century Fox, sold to Disney for $71.3B), and publishing (HarperCollins). No single person has had more influence over global media in the past 70 years.
Murdoch's influence is both celebrated and controversial. Fox News, launched in 1996, became the most-watched cable news network in America and reshaped conservative politics globally. His tabloid newspapers in the UK and Australia shaped elections, brought down prime ministers, and created a media culture that competitors had to adapt to or be destroyed by.
His business acumen is undeniable: he identified undervalued media assets, acquired them aggressively, and used them to build an empire that gave him political influence no unelected person should arguably have. The sale of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets to Disney for $71.3B in 2019 was one of the largest media deals in history and demonstrated Murdoch's ability to sell at the top of a market.
Key Achievements
Built a global media empire from one inherited Australian newspaper
Founded Fox News (1996) — most-watched U.S. cable news network
Sold 21st Century Fox entertainment assets to Disney for $71.3B
Owns The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, The Times of London
Built Sky into Europe's largest pay-TV company
HarperCollins — one of the 'Big Five' book publishers
By the Numbers
$71.3B
Fox/Disney Sale
30+
Countries with Operations
70+ Years
Media Career
#1 Cable News
Fox News Viewers
Fun Facts
He inherited a single Adelaide newspaper from his father and turned it into a global media empire.
He became a U.S. citizen in 1985 specifically so he could own American TV stations (FCC rules required it).
He has been married four times — his most recent marriage was at age 93.
He personally reviews front pages of his newspapers and is known for calling editors at all hours.
He once said his favorite newspaper was the New York Post, his tabloid that loses money but wields cultural influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the greatest entrepreneurs of all time?
The greatest entrepreneurs include Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta). Each built companies that fundamentally changed how the world works — from personal computing and smartphones to e-commerce, cloud computing, and social media.
What makes someone a successful entrepreneur?
Successful entrepreneurs share several traits: the ability to identify unmet needs, willingness to take calculated risks, relentless execution, and resilience in the face of failure. They combine vision with practical problem-solving and are willing to persist long after most people would quit. Capital and credentials matter far less than most people think — resourcefulness beats resources.
Can you become an entrepreneur without a business degree?
Absolutely. Many of the greatest entrepreneurs had no business education. Steve Jobs dropped out of college. Richard Branson left school at 16. Sara Blakely was selling fax machines. Henry Ford had no formal engineering training. Jack Ma was an English teacher. What matters is not the degree — it is the ability to see an opportunity, build something people want, and persist through failure.
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