From The Sun to Wapping and its wives — the moments that made Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch shocked the world of media and politics on Thursday by announcing his resignation from the helm of his media empire.

The surprise decision to step down as chairman of News Corp and Fox ends a nearly seven-decade career of influencing the rich and powerful, although Murdoch is likely to maintain control in the background.

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For now, he As son Lachlan prepares to take the reins, we look at the key moments that made Rupert Murdoch the world's most famous media mogul.

Murdoch Crosshead 1: 1954: The Murdoch Era Begins

After his father's death, Murdoch returns to Australia to take over took over the family newspaper business, which includes the Sunday Mail and The News. In subsequent years, he acquired a number of other publications, honing his style of sensational journalism focused on scandals, sports and catchy headlines.

Murdoch Crosshead 2: 1956: First of Many Wives Murdoch with his second wife Anna Torv Photo: Mike McLaren/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Murdoch marries his first wife Patricia Booker, a former department store model and air hostess from Melbourne. They divorce 11 years later. In 1967, Murdoch married Anna Torv, editor of his Daily Mirror newspaper in Sydney.

Murdoch Crosshead 3: 1969: Murdoch sets his sights on the UK Murdoch enters the UK market after acquiring the News of the World. A year later, he buys The Sun, cementing his control of the tabloid market.

Murdoch Crosshead 4: 1973: Coming to the USA Murdoch bought the New York Post in 1976. Photo: Bettmann

Murdoch is expanding its operations in the US, taking over two daily newspapers in San Antonio, Texas. The following year, the tycoon moved to New York and shortly thereafter purchased the New York Post. In 2007, he secured his US interests with a $5 billion deal with Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones.

Murdoch Crosshead 4b: 1981: Taking Over the Times Murdoch moves to prestigious newspapers. Photo: PA

Murdoch moves into broadband publishing after purchasing The Times and The Sunday Times from Canadian press baron Lord Thomson of Fleet.

Murdoch — TImes Murdoch Crosshead 5: 1985: Entertainment giant

Takeover of 20th Century Fox gives Murdoch's company a foothold in the television and entertainment sector.

Murdoch Crosshead 6: 1986: Wapping dispute

More than 6,000 printing workers claim strike over Murdoch's decision to move production to modern facilities in Wapping. Murdoch presses ahead with the plan, fires the workers, and the strike collapses after a year of protests.

Murdoch — Wapping Murdoch Crosshead 7: 1987-1990: Turning the Page

Murdoch buys up a number of book publishers before merging them into HarperCollins.

Murdoch Crosshead 8: 1989: The sky is the limit

Murdoch ushered in a new era of television with the launch of the satellite network Sky Television, with Andrew Neil and Kay Burley among its first presenters. A year later it merges with a rival to become British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB). In 2018, Murdoch's attempt to gain full control of Sky was thwarted by Comcast, which put forward a winning $39 billion takeover bid in a dramatic blind auction.

Murdoch Crosshead 10: 1996: The Fox in the Hen House Murdoch launches Fox News Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew

Murdoch enlists the help of TV mogul and Richard Nixon ally Roger Ailes to launch Fox News, a news and political commentary network , which would later become the key to his empire.

Murdoch Crosshead 9: 1999: Third Time Lucky? Murdoch and Wendi Deng were married for 14 years. Photo: STR Tom Rollo/Reuters

Murdoch marries Wendi Deng just 17 days after their wedding. divorce from Anna Torv is finalized.

Murdoch Crosshead 11: 2011: Leveson Inquiry News of the World Murdoch found herself embroiled in hacking scandal . Photo: WARREN ALLOTT

Murdoch and his empire have been thrust into the spotlight following revelations that News of the World journalists hacked into the phones of politicians, celebrities, members of the royal family and the families of murder victims. Murdoch closes the News of the World after 168 years and steps down as director of News International.

Murdoch — Levison Murdoch Crosshead 12: 2016: Marriage number. 4 Ex-supermodel Jerry Hall was Murdoch's third wife. Photo: REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Murdoch marries Jerry Hall in a star-studded ceremony at St Bride's Church on Fleet Street in London. They are divorcing in 2022.

Copy of Murdoch Crosshead 14: 2019: 21st Century Fox sold

Mogul sells most of his entertainment assets in 21st Century Fox to Disney for $71 billion, but retains control of Fox .

p> Murdoch Crosshead 14: 2023: Love Strikes

Murdoch announces he is marrying his fifth wife, 66-year-old Anne Leslie Smith, but calls off the engagement two weeks later. He has since begun a relationship with Elena Zhukova, the former mother-in-law of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Copy of Murdoch Crosshead 15:2023: Trump's Troubles

Fox agrees to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to settle libel lawsuit over false claims online that the company helped rig the 2020 US presidential election. Shortly thereafter, Murdoch fires controversial prime-time host Tucker Carlson.