Anna Murdoch-Mann, author, philanthropist, and former wife of Rupert Murdoch, has died at 81.
Anna Murdoch-Mann, an author and philanthropist, died on Tuesday, February 17, at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 81. She was known for her three novels, extensive philanthropic work, and her 31-year marriage to media executive Rupert Murdoch, with whom she had three children. Her death was reported by the New York Post on Friday.
Early Life and Career
Born Anna Torv in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1944, she migrated to Australia with her parents at the age of nine. Following her parents' divorce, she took responsibility for raising her younger siblings.
Her career began as a reporter at the Sydney Daily Mirror, where she met Rupert Murdoch, who had recently purchased the paper. She also worked at the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
Marriage to Rupert Murdoch and News Corp
Murdoch-Mann was married to Rupert Murdoch for 31 years. During this period, she was involved in the development and growth of his media empire, News Corp. They had three children: Elisabeth, James, and Lachlan. Lachlan Murdoch currently chairs News Corp.
Their marriage concluded in a divorce in 1999, following Rupert Murdoch's affair with Wendi Deng. Murdoch-Mann stated she was subsequently removed from the News Corp board.
The divorce settlement was reportedly $1.7 billion.
In a 2001 interview with Australian Women’s Weekly, Murdoch-Mann discussed challenges within her marriage to Rupert Murdoch and expressed concerns about her children, including her stepdaughter Prudence, potentially competing for succession within the media empire.
These family dynamics were noted as inspiring the HBO series Succession.
An announcement in September 2025 indicated that Lachlan Murdoch would assume control of the media conglomerate, which includes Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and the Times in the UK. Her three oldest children were set to receive an estimated $1.1 billion each for their shares in the business.
Later Marriages and Family
After her divorce from Rupert Murdoch, she married Wall Street financier William Mann in October 1999. They remained married until Mann's death in 2017. In 2019, she married Ashton dePeyster.
She is survived by her husband, Ashton dePeyster, her three children, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Literary Works
Murdoch-Mann authored three novels:
- In Her Own Image (1985)
- Family Business (1988)
- Coming to Terms (1992)
Philanthropic Contributions and Recognition
Murdoch-Mann dedicated a significant portion of her time to philanthropic causes, particularly those focused on children.
While residing in Los Angeles in the 1990s, she worked for the Children’s Institute, an organization assisting abused children, and her annual fundraising efforts generated millions of dollars for the institute. She also chaired the board of regents for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Her involvement extended to Haiti, where she served as chair of Hospital Albert Schweitzer for children in Deschapelles. She stepped down from these roles after a cancer diagnosis.
A devout Catholic, she publicly referenced her faith during her divorce and departure from the News Corp board. In 1998, Pope John Paul II recognized her contributions by making her a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great.
Additional Connections
Murdoch-Mann was the aunt of Australian actress Anna Torv, known for portraying a high-profile news anchor in the series The Newsreader, which is set during an era when Murdoch-Mann was a prominent figure within the real-life Murdoch empire.