| Name: | Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster |
| Net Worth: | US$ 1 billion |
| Source of Wealth: | Divorce Rupert Murdoch |
| Born: | June 30, 1944 |
| Age: | |
| Country: | USA |
| Spouse: | Rupert Murdoch (ex), William Mann (died), Ashton dePeyster |
| Children: | Elisabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch |
| Residence: | Palm Beach |
| Private Jet: | Please send a message if you have info |
| Yacht: | Dancing Hare |
Anna Murdoch Mann, later known as Anna dePeyster, was a Scottish-born Australian journalist, novelist, philanthropist, former News Corporation director, and the second wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. She was born Anna Maria Torv on June 30, 1944, in Glasgow, Scotland, and died on February 17, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida, aged 81.
Anna was married to Rupert Murdoch from 1967 until their divorce in 1999. During their 31-year marriage, she was not only his wife but also an important adviser and insider during the expansion of the Murdoch media empire. She also served on the board of News Corporation.
She was the mother of three of Rupert Murdoch’s children: Elisabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and James Murdoch. After her divorce from Rupert, she married financier William Mann and later Palm Beach property developer Ashton dePeyster.
Anna Maria Torv was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to an Estonian father and a Scottish mother. Her family later emigrated to Australia, where she grew up in New South Wales.
Her early years were not always easy. Public profiles describe financial hardship in the family, including a failed business venture after the move to Australia. She was raised Catholic and attended school in western Sydney before entering journalism at a young age.
Her background gave her a strong, practical character and a sharp understanding of media, ambition, and family dynamics, themes that later appeared in her writing.
Anna began her career in journalism as a young reporter in Sydney. She worked for the Daily Mirror and later the Daily Telegraph, both connected to the Australian newspaper world in which Rupert Murdoch was already building his early media career.
Her journalistic background helped her understand the business, editorial, and political power of newspapers. During her marriage to Rupert Murdoch, she was often described as one of his most trusted advisers.
Anna later turned to fiction. She wrote three novels:
Her novels often explored wealth, marriage, power, family conflict, betrayal, media dynasties, and emotional survival. In later years, commentators noted that Family Business seemed to anticipate real disputes within the Murdoch family over control of the media empire.
Anna married Rupert Murdoch in 1967. The marriage lasted more than three decades and coincided with the rise of News Corporation from an Australian newspaper group into a global media empire.
During their marriage, Rupert expanded into the United Kingdom and the United States, acquiring newspapers, television assets, film interests, and publishing businesses. Anna was often described as a stabilizing and strategic presence during this period.
She served on the News Corporation board and was seen as an important figure in family and corporate affairs. Although Rupert Murdoch was the public face of the empire, Anna was widely regarded as a smart, forceful, and influential presence behind the scenes.
Anna and Rupert Murdoch had three children together:
All three became important figures in media, business, philanthropy, or investment.
Elisabeth Murdoch founded Shine Group, a television production company later sold to News Corporation. Lachlan Murdoch became the most powerful of Rupert’s children inside the family media empire and now leads News Corp and Fox. James Murdoch held senior roles at 21st Century Fox, Sky and News Corp before later founding Lupa Systems and distancing himself from parts of the family’s media politics.
Anna played an important role in the creation of the Murdoch family structure that was meant to give Rupert’s older children long-term influence over the media empire.
The Murdoch Family Trust became central to the question of who would control News Corp and Fox after Rupert Murdoch. For years, the trust gave voting power to Rupert’s four eldest children: Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James.
In 2025, a major family settlement ended the succession dispute. Under the deal, Lachlan Murdoch secured control of the family’s media empire, while James, Elisabeth, and Prudence reportedly received large payouts and gave up future stakes and voting rights.
Anna died in 2026, only months after that settlement. Several media outlets noted that her earlier views on family balance and succession had made her a key figure in the long Murdoch family story.
Anna Murdoch Mann’s net worth has often been estimated at more than US$1 billion, mainly because of her divorce settlement from Rupert Murdoch.
The 1999 divorce settlement has long been reported at around US$1.7 billion, including about US$110 million in cash. This figure has appeared in many lists of the most expensive divorces in history.
However, some commentators and biographers have questioned whether the true value was as high as the headline figure, suggesting the final personal settlement may have been lower or structured through property, trusts, and family arrangements.
A careful version is that Anna received one of the largest divorce settlements ever associated with a media billionaire, widely reported at up to US$1.7 billion, although the exact value remains debated.
Anna was known for philanthropy, especially in Catholic causes, healthcare, children’s welfare, education, and humanitarian work.
In 1998, Pope John Paul II made her a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, recognizing her support for Catholic education and charitable causes. Rupert Murdoch was also honored by the Vatican at the same time.
She supported institutions such as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and other health and social causes. Later obituaries described her as generous, intelligent, strategic, and deeply committed to family and faith.
After divorcing Rupert Murdoch in 1999, Anna married William Mann, a financier and philanthropist. Their marriage began only months after her divorce from Rupert and lasted until Mann’s death in 2017.
After this marriage, she became widely known as Anna Murdoch Mann, the name still most commonly used in many media profiles.
During this period, she remained connected to philanthropy, family, and public life, while also spending more time away from the media spotlight.
In 2019, Anna married Ashton dePeyster III, a Palm Beach property developer and financier. After this marriage, she was also known as Anna dePeyster.
Ashton dePeyster kept a relatively low profile compared with the Murdoch family. Public reports describe him as a Palm Beach-based property developer and businessman.
Anna spent her final years in Florida with dePeyster. She died at her Palm Beach home in February 2026.
Anna Murdoch Mann, later Anna dePeyster, died on February 17, 2026, at her home in Palm Beach, Florida. She was 81 years old.
Reports said she died after a long illness and was surrounded by family. Her death was reported by News Corp mastheads and international media, with tributes focusing on her role as a journalist, novelist, philanthropist, mother, and key figure in Rupert Murdoch’s early global media expansion.
Anna’s family legacy is significant because her children remain central to the future of the Murdoch media world.
Lachlan Murdoch emerged as Rupert Murdoch’s chosen successor and controls the family’s conservative-leaning media companies after the 2025 trust settlement. James Murdoch became known for a more independent and politically different direction. Elisabeth Murdoch built her own successful television production business.
Anna’s influence is often described as emotional, strategic, and cultural. She helped shape the family during the period when Rupert Murdoch was building a media empire that would later become one of the most powerful in the world.
Anna Murdoch Mann’s life was far more than her marriage to Rupert Murdoch. She was a journalist, novelist, board member, mother, philanthropist, and influential figure inside one of the world’s most powerful media families.
Her story includes ambition, wealth, betrayal, resilience, family loyalty, and a remarkable role in the making of the Murdoch dynasty. Her divorce from Rupert Murdoch became one of the most famous settlements in modern business history, while her children went on to become central players in the future of News Corp and Fox.
After later marriages to William Mann and Ashton dePeyster, she spent her final years in Palm Beach, where she died in 2026 at age 81.
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She lives in a large mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.
Located on the east coast of Florida, Palm Beach is an affluent town known for its exquisite beauty and lavish lifestyle. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, this idyllic destination offers pristine sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and warm, sunny weather year-round. The town boasts an impressive collection of opulent mansions, high-end boutiques, and exclusive country clubs, attracting celebrities, business moguls, and discerning travelers alike. For those seeking culture and art, Palm Beach is home to the renowned Norton Museum of Art and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Whether you’re indulging in a luxury shopping spree on Worth Avenue, dining at world-class restaurants, or simply enjoying the breathtaking ocean views, Palm Beach, Florida, offers an unforgettable experience in a tropical paradise.
She is the owner of the Amels yacht Dancing Hare.
Dancing Hare, a magnificent yacht built by the renowned Dutch shipyard Amels, was launched in 1986. The yacht showcases the exceptional talent of the esteemed Bannenberg & Rowell Design team, who are responsible for her timeless exterior and interior design.
Dancing Hare is powered by robust Caterpillar engines, allowing her to reach a maximum speed of 16 knots. When cruising at a comfortable pace of 14 knots, she boasts a remarkable range of over 3,000 nautical miles, perfect for extended voyages and exploring distant destinations.
There is no publicly available information to confirm whether Anna Murdoch Mann, the ex-wife of Rupert Murdoch, owns a private jet. Her current wealth and lifestyle are not well-documented, making it difficult to determine if she possesses a business jet.
But please do send us a message if you have information about her business jet. The photos hereunder are just samples of some of the most successful private jets on the market.
(Photos by JetPhotos.com, Planespotters.net ; flightaware.com; flickr.com; picssr.com; planefinder.net ) Do you want us to remove a certain photo? Or credit a source? Please send us a message
SuperYachtFan Yacht Owners Database Q2-2026
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