10 Things You Didn't Know About Elisabeth Murdoch

The Murdoch family name is synonymous with media executives, and Elisabeth Murdoch is exactly that. She’s probably most known as the daughter of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, but Elisabeth has made a name for herself in the industry. While her father may always be the biggest Murdoch in the family, Elisabeth is not too far behind. She’s her own success story, and she’s someone that’s definitely worth knowing. If you’ve never acquainted yourself with Vassar alum Elisabeth Murdoch, here are 10 things about her to get your acquaintance started.

1. Background

We’re going to start with the most obvious facts. Born on August 22, 1968, Elisabeth is the second daughter out of three children from Rupert Murdoch’s second marriage. She was born in Sydney, Australia, and she’ll occasionally spend time there today. The Murdoch family maintains fairly close relationships with each member of their family, and Elisabeth was actually named after her grandmother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch.

2. Education

Elisabeth left Australia to attend school in the United States. For her secondary education, Elisabeth went to the Brearley School, an all-girls private school on the Upper East Side in New York City. The Brearly School has been around since 1884 and caters to some of the most affluent families worldwide. For college, Elisabeth attended and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Vassar is a private, liberal arts college that’s served as alma mater to some of the most successful people in the nation. Some of Vassar College’s most popular alumni include Meryl Streep, Anthony Bourdain, Grace Hopper, and Anne Hathaway among many others.

3. Career

It’s good to have connections, and Elisabeth happened to have the best in the bunch. Her career started off with a management position at one of her father’s networks, the FX Network. She’s bought and sold television stations. She’s found success but also failures in the industry. She’s been the subject of a nepotism controversy when her father’s News Corporation acquired her miniscule company, Shine Limited. She’s been through so much in her career, but it hasn’t stopped her from going.

4. Piano

Elisabeth’s first marriage was to a fellow Vassar graduate. Elkin Kwesi Pianim came from a family that had similar power status as the Murdochs. Pianim was the son of an economist and financier, Andrews Kwame Pianim. Elkin followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in the corporate finance industry. Elisabeth and Elkin got married in 1993, but they ended up divorcing in 1998. The couple had two children together, Cornelia and Anna.

5. Freud

Just three years after her divorce from Pianim, Elisabeth found herself at the altar again. This time, she was marrying a public relations executive, Matthew Freud. Freud also came from a powerful family background given that his father was a former Member of Parliament, Sir Clement Freud. Even more astonishing is the fact that Matthew also happens to be the great-grandson of famous Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. The couple got married in 2001 and stayed together for 13 years. They divorced in 2014. Elisabeth and Matthew also had two children together, Charlotte and Samson.

6. Tyson

Elisabeth has now been married three times. Her third marriage is to Keith Tyson, an English artist who was the recipient of the Turner Prize in 2002. Elisabeth and Keith got married in 2017, also three years after her last divorce. It’s unlikely that the couple plans on having any children considering Elisabeth’s age at this point. Many of those who know Elisabeth consider Keith as her lucky charm (“third time’s a charm”).

7. Chipping Norton

When Elisabeth was still married to Matthew Freud, she was a key member in the Chipping Norton set along with her then husband. The Chipping Norton set is a group of acquaintances with similar interests in media, politics, and showbusiness. As part of the group’s requirements, you have to reside within the area of Chipping North in Oxfordshire, England. During this time, the couple lived in Burford Priory. They also owned a home in the famous Notting Hill area. The group was notorious for the News International phone hacking scandal that plagued the Murdochs back in 2011.

8. Net worth

As of 2017, Elisabeth’s personal net worth is at $375 million. It was clear from her wedding ceremony to Keith Tyson that money was not an issue at all. The wedding was extremely lavish and stylish, and it showed money at every turn. While she might have accumulated her net worth through her own work, it probably doesn’t take into account any funds that her billionaire father might have set up for her. Elisabeth is used to a wealthy lifestyle, and she’s definitely got the means to maintain it even outside of her father’s wealth.

9. Mark Hix

Before she started dating Keith Tyson, Elisabeth was actually in another relationship. Mark Hix is a celebrity chef that’s quite a staple in London’s social scene. Elisabeth and Mark dated for nine months before they broke up, but what’s interesting is this: Mark and Keith are actually good pals. Elisabeth and Keith knew each other outside of Mark’s influence, but married couple did get to know each other better through Mark’s company. Although awkward at first, Mark and Keith have managed to stay friends despite it all.

10. Dual citizenship

Elisabeth maintains an American and English dual citizenship, and she works mainly out of London, England. She has a home at St. John’s Wood. One of her four kids was born in New York City, but the rest were born in London.