By **SEO Keywords:** Rupert Murdoch, Elena Zhukova, wedding, Bel Air, Moraga, vineyard, guests, Robert Kraft
High-profile guests, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, attended the wedding of media mogul Rupert Murdoch to biologist Elena Zhukova, who is a friend of one of his ex-wives. Murdoch, whose fortune is estimated at around $20 billion, met Zhukova through his third wife, Wendi Deng.
The 92-year-old Murdoch and 62-year-old Zhukova held their wedding ceremony at the vineyard of his impressive Bel Air estate, Moraga. This marks Murdoch’s fifth marriage, following his six-year union with Jerry Hall, which lasted from 2016 to 2022.
Kraft arrived with his wife, Dana Blumberg, and they posed for an impromptu photo by the side of an access road after handing over their car to valets. Kraft wore a blue suit with a white shirt and matching Nike trainers, while Blumberg opted for a black dress that was partially sheer at the top, a matching handbag, and a glittering necklace.
News Corp chief executive Robert Thompson attended the wedding with his wife, Wang Ping, who made a statement in a yellow floral shirt over a green dress. Guests arrived in luxury cars, including brands such as Audi, Bentley, Jaguar, Lexus, and Chevy SUVs.
Photos show workers carrying cartloads and buckets of delicate white flowers up a flagstone path toward the estate. Leafy green flowers in brown paper bags were also delivered. Enhanced security was evident, with men in dark jackets patrolling the street in front of the Bel Air mansion, and a team member keeping watch from a balcony.
Murdoch and Zhukova opted for an intimate ceremony at the vineyard at Moraga, where Murdoch intends to spend his time and enjoy his retirement. After announcing his surprising decision to step down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp., Murdoch will now focus on making world-class wines at his vineyard. “He wants Moraga to be a big part of his legacy,” a Murdoch insider told DailyMail.com.
Murdoch purchased the unique estate in August 2013 via his Moraga Canyon Vineyards LLC from former Northrop Grumman CEO Tom Jones after seeing it listed for sale in the mansions section of the Wall Street Journal. Los Angeles County property documents reveal the purchase price was $22.3 million, rather than the widely reported $28.8 million—an example of Murdoch’s ability to broker a good deal.
The 16-acre estate, hidden behind a 7ft ivy-clad stone wall and large wooden driveway fence, was first built in 1937 as a horse ranch by Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz director Victor Fleming. The property used to host Hollywood greats such as Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, and Spencer Tracy for horse-riding and extravagant parties.
Murdoch married his second wife, Anna Maria Torv, in 1967, with whom he remained for 32 years before splitting up in 1999. Later that year, Murdoch married Deng, his third wife, before divorcing in 2013.
Zhukova, Murdoch’s fifth wife, emigrated to the United States from Moscow. She was previously married to Alexander Zhukov, a billionaire energy investor. The couple sent out wedding invitations as early as March, which reportedly stated that the event would be held in June at Murdoch’s beloved Moraga.
Now retired, Murdoch and Zhukova plan to spend their time at the Bel Air estate, where Murdoch aims to develop an internationally competitive winery. Despite the business losing between $2-$3 million a year due to taxes and property prices, the wine already has a cult following, and Murdoch intends to capitalize on this.
As a self-professed oenophile, Murdoch’s goal is for “wine lovers everywhere to have the opportunity to understand the unique nuances of our specific soil at Moraga and how that translates into the amazing wines we create,” according to the Moraga website. “We are not Napa nor Bordeaux,” Murdoch explains. “We are Moraga and deserve a place at the table with the rest of the world’s top wines.”
Credit: Dailymail.com
