In a fascinating twist of life imitating art, the recent Vanity Fair cover story on conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch reveals striking similarities between his personal life and the popular TV series Succession.
The story delves into the details of the 92-year-old’s sudden divorce last summer from model Jerry Hall, revealing a term of the settlement that prohibits Hall from providing plot ideas to the writers of Succession.
MORE: Jerry Hall shares photos of her 'beautiful' family wedding day
The article outlines the unexpected end to the couple's marriage, with the model blindsided by an email from Rupert announcing his decision to divorce.
The couple finalized their divorce within two months, and Jerry was given 30 days to move out of their Bel Air estate.
She later discovered that surveillance cameras in the Oxfordshire home she received in the divorce settlement were still transmitting footage back to Fox headquarters. Her ex husband, Mick Jagger subsequently sent his security team to remove them.
The parallels between Rupert's life and the plot of Succession are remarkable. Like the show's patriarch, Rupert has long desired one of his children to take over his company.
Vanity Fair reported Rupert believed that fostering a competitive environment among his three children—Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James—would produce the most capable heir, saying: "He pitted his kids against each other their entire lives. It's sad."
The plot of Succession reflects similar power struggles and sibling rivalry.
In another twist of events, Rupert briefly became engaged to right-wing evangelical Ann Lesley Smith, but called off the engagement earlier this month due to concerns about her extremist beliefs.
In January 2016, it was announced in The Times newspaper that Jerry and Rupert had got engaged and three months later the pair tied the knot.
The couple's gorgeous wedding day was featured in an exclusive 13-page spread in HELLO! Magazine.
Jerry, who was 59 at the time, and Rupert, who was 84 at the time, were officially married in a private ceremony at Spencer House on 4 March, and the following day hosted a star-studded blessing in St Bride's Church on Fleet Street, London – known as the 'spiritual home of the media'.
Rupert and Jerry's ten children from their previous relationships also featured in the pages of HELLO! magazine.
Some sweet snaps showed Rupert's daughters Chloe and Grace - by his former wife Wendi Deng - enjoying their role as flower girls. Rupert's eldest daughters Prudence and Elisabeth acted as bridesmaids.
Read more HELLO! US stories here
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