Lexi Webster
Australian-born business magnate and media mogul Rupert Murdoch gave up his Australian citizenship in 1985 when he became a naturalized US citizen. Murdoch's decision to renounce his Australian citizenship was driven by his desire to satisfy the legal requirement for US television network ownership. At the time, US law stipulated that anyone controlling more than 25% of a television system had to be an American citizen. By acquiring US citizenship, Murdoch could expand his media empire in the United States, including his plans to buy Metromedia, the nation's largest group of independent television stations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of renouncing Australian citizenship | 1985 |
| Reason for renouncing Australian citizenship | To satisfy the legal requirement for US television network ownership |
| Murdoch's statement before Judge Shirley Wohl Kram | I hereby declare on oath that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen and that I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America |
| Australian citizenship law | Before 4 April 2002, Australian citizens who took up a new citizenship automatically lost their Australian citizenship |
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What You'll Learn
Murdoch's ownership of Fox
Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American retired business magnate, investor, and media mogul. In 1985, Murdoch expanded his interests in the film and television industry by taking ownership of Twentieth Century Fox, now known as 21st Century Fox, as well as several regional television stations in some of the top US markets. The following year, the FOX Television Stations group was created, comprising 25 stations across the US that became the foundation for the launch of the FOX Broadcasting Company in 1986.
In 1996, Murdoch entered the cable news market with the Fox News Channel, a 24-hour cable news station. This channel, now known as FOX News Channel, has been the leader in 24-hour news services for over twenty years. Murdoch also established globally renowned cable networks, including FOX Sports Network, FX, and the National Geographic Channels.
Murdoch served as CEO of 21st Century Fox from its inception as News Corporation in 1979 until 2015 and as its Chairman from 1991 to 2015. He then served as Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox from 2015 until the company's merger with The Walt Disney Company in March 2019. Following this merger, Murdoch led the establishment of Fox Corporation as a standalone, publicly traded company.
In 2023, Murdoch stepped down as Chairman of Fox Corporation, and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, runs the new Fox, which consists of its broadcast, cable news, business, and sports networks.
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Murdoch's Australian citizenship renunciation
Australian-born Rupert Murdoch is a retired business magnate, investor, and media mogul. He is the owner of hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world through his company News Corp.
Murdoch moved to New York City in 1974 to expand into the US market. However, he retained interests in Australia and the UK. In 1981, he bought The Times, his first British broadsheet.
In 1985, Murdoch became a naturalized US citizen, giving up his Australian citizenship. This was because US federal regulations barred an alien from owning more than 20% of a broadcast license, and he wanted to acquire a network of independent American television stations. Murdoch had been a resident of the US since 1973 and had a green card.
Murdoch swore before Judge Shirley Wohl Kram, "I hereby declare on oath that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen. And that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America."
When asked why he became a US citizen, Murdoch replied, "I wanted to. And I'm very happy and very grateful."
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Murdoch's US citizenship acquisition
Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American business magnate, investor, and media mogul. He owns hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world through his company News Corp. Murdoch's media empire began in 1952 when he took over the running of 'The News', a small Adelaide newspaper owned by his late father. Over the next two decades, he acquired several newspapers in Australia and New Zealand before expanding into the United Kingdom in 1969, taking over the 'News of the World' and 'The Sun'.
In 1974, Murdoch moved to New York City to expand into the US market. He made his first acquisition in the United States in 1973 with the purchase of the 'San Antonio Express-News'. Soon after, he founded 'Star', a supermarket tabloid, and in 1976, he purchased the 'New York Post'. In 1981, Murdoch acquired his first British broadsheet, 'The Times'.
In 1985, Murdoch became a naturalized US citizen, renouncing his Australian citizenship. This was a legal requirement for US television network ownership. In his application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Murdoch stated that he expected to become a US citizen before the closing of his $2 billion deal to acquire six independent television stations from Metromedia Inc., including Washington's WTTG-TV, Channel 5.
Murdoch's decision to become a US citizen was likely influenced by his growing media interests in the country and his desire to comply with FCC restrictions on foreign ownership. In addition to his US citizenship acquisition, Murdoch has been an active participant in American politics, advocating for increased legal immigration and supporting Republican candidates in presidential elections.
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Murdoch's Australian political involvement
Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born business magnate, investor, and media mogul. Murdoch's foray into the media business began in Australia when he took over the running of his father's small Adelaide newspaper, 'The News', in 1952. In the following decades, Murdoch acquired several newspapers in Australia, including 'The Daily Telegraph', 'The Australian', and 'The Herald Sun'. Murdoch also expanded his media empire internationally, including in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1985, Murdoch became a naturalized US citizen, giving up his Australian citizenship to comply with the legal requirements for US television network ownership.
Murdoch has had a significant influence on Australian political life through his media outlets. He has been known to exert his political influence by directing his editors and journalists, particularly during election campaigns. For example, after the 2010 Australian election, which resulted in a minority Labor government, Murdoch summoned his Australian editors and senior journalists to his home in California and expressed his disapproval of the Gillard government, advocating for a change in leadership. Subsequently, his newspapers, some of which had initially supported Gillard, strongly campaigned against her government on issues such as asylum seekers and climate change.
Murdoch's support for the Australian Labor Party under Gough Whitlam was also notable. However, this backing proved to be short-lived as Murdoch shifted his focus to strengthening his political connections in the United States. Despite his significant influence, Murdoch has generally refrained from openly commenting on Australian politics, stating that he "always gets into trouble" when he does so.
In addition to his direct involvement in Australian politics, Murdoch's media empire in Australia has had financial implications. Newspapers like 'The Australian' are reported to be subsidized despite promoting free-market ideologies. This discrepancy between their editorial content and financial dependence on subsidies underscores the complex dynamics within Murdoch's media empire.
Murdoch's political influence also extends beyond Australia and into the international arena, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. His media outlets, such as Fox News and News Corporation, have played a significant role in shaping political discourse and influencing public opinion in these countries. Additionally, Murdoch's personal politics have been described as more ideological than commonly perceived, as evidenced by his endorsement of Rick Santorum for US president.
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Murdoch's global media empire
Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American retired business magnate, investor, and media mogul. Murdoch's global media empire includes hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world. Murdoch's empire spans continents and has helped shape modern American politics.
Murdoch's media empire began in the early 1950s when he took over the running of his father's newspaper business, The News, a small Adelaide newspaper. In the 1950s and 1960s, Murdoch acquired several newspapers in Australia and New Zealand before expanding into the United Kingdom in 1969, taking over the News of the World, followed by The Sun. In 1974, Murdoch moved to New York City to expand into the US market. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1985, giving up his Australian citizenship to satisfy the legal requirement for US television network ownership.
In the US, Murdoch acquired influential publications such as The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and HarperCollins. He also owned significant television broadcasting channels, including Sky News Australia and Fox News, through the Fox Corporation. Murdoch's empire also included 21st Century Fox until 2019 and a 34% stake in Hughes Electronics, the operator of the largest American satellite TV system, DirecTV.
Murdoch's media empire has been involved in several controversies. In 2009, ratings studies showed that Fox News was responsible for nine of the top ten programs in the "Cable News" category. Additionally, Murdoch's support for Donald Trump during his presidency was evident in the news stories broadcast on Fox News. Murdoch's empire was also implicated in a phone-hacking scandal involving News of the World, which resulted in the newspaper's closure in 2011.
In September 2023, Murdoch retired and handed over the leadership of his businesses to his eldest son, Lachlan. However, there is a legal battle over who will control Murdoch's media empire after his death, with Murdoch attempting to alter his family trust to grant Lachlan full control, going against the wishes of his other children.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Murdoch renounced his Australian citizenship in 1985 when he became a naturalized US citizen.
Murdoch gave up his Australian citizenship to satisfy the legal requirement for US television network ownership. At the time, US law stated that anyone controlling more than 25% of a television system had to be a US citizen.
Before a judge, Murdoch swore, "I hereby declare on oath that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen and that I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America."
