1931 Rupert Murdoch Born
1952 - Murdoch's newspaper publisher father dies, leaving him control of the News Ltd company in Adelaide, Australia.
Australian Hits: Dinah Shore; Jane Turzy - Sweet Violets, Tony Bennett - Because of You, Louis Armstrong - A Kiss To Build a Dream On, Pee Wee King - Slow Coach (Slow Poke), Johnnie Ray – Cry, Eddie Fisher, The Four Aces - Tell Me Why.
1954 - Murdoch begins running News Ltd.
Australian Hits: Nat "King" Cole – Pretend, The Ames Brothers - You, You, You, Tony Bennett - Rags to Riches, Frank Chacksfield - Ebb Tide, Dean Martin - That's Amore, Eddie Fisher - Oh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa), Frank Sinatra - Young at Heart, Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean a Lot, The Crew Cuts - Sh-Boom.
1956 - Purchases Perth's Sunday Times.
Australian Hits: "Just Walking in the Rain" (Johnnie Ray), "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera Sera)" (Doris Day), "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (Mitch Miller), "Sixteen Tons" (Tennessee Ernie Ford; Frankie Laine), "Memories are Made of This" (Dean Martin), "The Rock and Roll Waltz" (Kay Starr), "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" (Perry Como), "Mack the Knife" (Louis Armstrong)
1959 – Max Stuart Trial
Australian Hits: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (The Platters), "Joey's Song" (Bill Haley and the Comets), "A Fool Such as I" (Elvis Presley), "The Battle of New Orleans" (Johnny Horton), "Personality" (Lloyd Price), "Oh Yeah Uh Huh" (Col Joye and the Joy Boys) "The Three Bells" (The Browns), "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Johnnie Ray), "Venus" (Frankie Avalon), "Mona Lisa" (Conway Twitty), "Petite Fleur" (Chris Barber's Jazz Band), Johnny O’Keefe.
1960 – Sacked Rohan Rivett
1960 - Purchases Sydney newspapers the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror.
Australian Hits: She's My Baby / Own True Self (Johnny O'Keefe), You Got What it Takes (Marv Johnson), Where My Baby Goes (She Goes With Me) (Warren Williams and The Squares), Night (Jackie Wilson), Sink the Bismarck (Johnny Horton), Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport (Rolf Harris)
1961 – Meets Anna Torv
Australian Hits: Rubber Ball (Bobby Vee), Emotions / I'm Learning About Love (Brenda Lee), As Long as He Needs Me (Shirley Bassey), Johnny Guitar (The Leemen), Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles), Wooden Heart (Elvis Presley)
1963 – Death of Bogle and Chandler
Australian Hits: I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter (Connie Francis), I Saw Linda Yesterday (Dickey Lee), Surfside / Lisa Maree (Digger Revell and The Denvermen), Go Away, Little Girl (Steve Lawrence), Globetrotter (The Tornados), You're the Reason I'm Living (Bobby Darin), Your Used to Be (Brenda Lee).
1964 - Starts The Australian, a national paper.
Australia hits: As Usual / Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Me (Brenda Lee), Please / Half as Much (Frank Ifield), Twist and Shout (EP) (The Beatles), Glad All Over (The Dave Clark Five), Popsicles and Icicles (The Murmaids), You Don't Own Me / Run Bobby, Run (Lesley Gore), Long, Tall Texan (Murry Kellum), Whispering (Nino Tempo & April Stevens)
1966 – Dollar introduced to Australia
Australian Hits: Where Does Love Go (Charles Boyer), The Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel), A Well Respected Man (EP) (The Kinks), Thunderball (Tom Jones), To Whom it Concerns (Chris Andrews), Someday (Tony Barber), My Love (Petula Clark), Women (Make You Feel Alright) / In My Book (The Easybeats)
1967 Divorces Patricia Booker
1967 Marries Anna Torv
Australian Hits: Kiss Me Now / When Will I Be Loved (Johnny Young and Kompany), Big Time Operator (The Id feat. Jeff St. John), Undecided (The Master's Apprentices), Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (The Royal Guardsmen), In the Country / Finders Keepers (Cliff Richard and The Shadows), Georgy Girl (The Seekers), Gimme Some Lovin' (The Spencer Davis Group), Happy Jack (The Who)
1969 - Becomes a London publisher when he gains control of the paper News of the World. Also acquires The Sun, which he transforms into a tabloid.
- Christine Keeler scandal re-emerges
- David Frost Interview
- Attempted kidnap of Anna Murdoch
UK Hits: OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA (MARMALADE), BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP (FOUNDATIONS), SON-OF-A PREACHER MAN (DUSTY SPRINGFIELD), I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (BOBBIE GENTRY), BAD MOON RISING (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL), A BOY NAMED SUE (JOHNNY CASH), SUGAR, SUGAR (ARCHIES), HE AIN'T HEAVY....HE'S MY BROTHER (HOLLIES), SPACE ODDITY (DAVID BOWIE), TWO LITTLE BOYS (ROLF HARRIS), SUSPICIOUS MINDS (ELVIS PRESLEY), ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM (BOBBIE GENTRY AND GLEN CAMPBELL)
1970 – First Page 3 Girl
UK Hits: Nov 17: VOODOO CHILE (JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE), RUBY TUESDAY (MELANIE), BLACK NIGHT (DEEP PURPLE).
1972 – Supports Gough Whitlam
UK Hits: ROCKIN' ROBIN (MICHAEL JACKSON), AT THE CLUB/SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES (DRIFTERS), ROCK AND ROLL (PARTS 1 & 2) (GARY GLITTER), MY DING-A-LING (CHUCK BERRY), CROCODILE ROCK (ELTON JOHN), BEN (MICHAEL JACKSON).
1973 - Rupert, Anna and their three children moved to New York.
US Hits: Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack), Rocky Mountain High (John Denver), The Cover Of The Rolling Stone (Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show), Give Me Love - (Give Me Peace On Earth) (George Harrison), Yesterday Once More (Carpenters), Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce), Midnight Train To Georgia (Gladys Knight & The Pips), Top Of The World (Carpenters), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
1973 - Expands to the United States by purchasing the San Antonio Express and the San Antonio News.
1974 - Starts the National Star weekly tabloid to compete with the National Enquirer.
US Hits: The Way We Were (Barbra Streisand), Jungle Boogie (Kool And The Gang), Hooked On A Feeling (Blue Swede), Billy, Don't Be A Hero (Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods), Annie's Song (John Denver), Rikki Don't Lose That Number (Steely Dan), Whatever Gets You Thru The Night (John Lennon), You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman-Turner Overdrive), Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd).
1976 - Purchases the New York Post.
US Hits: Take It To The Limit (Eagles), All By Myself (Eric Carmen), December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night), Afternoon Delight (Starland Vocal Band), More, More, More Pt. 1 (Andrea True Connection, The Four Seasons), Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (Eric Carmen), Fernando (Abba), Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright) (Rod Stewart), Just To Be Close To You (Commodores).
1977 - Purchase New York Magazine, Corp., which includes New York magazine and The Village Voice. Murdoch has since sold both The Village Voice and New York magazine.
US Hits: Dancing Queen (Abba), Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac), Maybe I'm Amazed (Wings), Da Doo Ron Ron (Shaun Cassidy), Life In The Fast Lane (Eagles), Feels Like The First Time (Foreigner), You Light Up My Life (Debby Boone), Help Is On Its Way (Little River Band), How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees).
1979 - Forms News Corporation in Australia.
Australian Hits: Babe (Styx), Heartache Tonight (Eagles), Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! (Abba), Born to Be Alive (Patrick Hernandez), Message in a Bottle (The Police), Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
1979 – Supports Margaret Thatcher
UK Hits: Y.M.C.A. (VILLAGE PEOPLE), LAY YOUR LOVE ON ME (RACEY), HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK (IAN AND THE BLOCKHEADS), BRIGHT EYES (ART GARFUNKEL), HOORAY HOORAY, IT'S A HOLI-HOLIDAY (BONEY M), COOL FOR CATS (SQUEEZE)
1981 - Purchases The Times of London.
UK Hits: IMAGINE (JOHN LENNON), IN THE AIR TONIGHT (PHIL COLLINS), FLASH (QUEEN), ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE (MICHAEL JACKSON), BEING WITH YOU (SMOKEY ROBINSON), MEMORY (ELAINE PAIGE)
1982 - Purchases The Boston Herald.
US Hits: Open Arms (Journey), Love In The First Degree (Alabama), Sweet Dreams (Air Supply), Ebony And Ivory (Paul McCartney With Stevie Wonder), Take Me Down (Alabama), Just Another Day In Paradise (Bertie Higgins), Shadows Of The Night (Pat Benatar), Shock The Monkey (Peter Gabriel), Industrial Disease (Dire Straits)
1982 – Belgrano sinking
UK Hits: MICKEY (TONI BASIL), CENTERFOLD (J GEILS BAND), SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE (SOFT CELL), I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME (CHARLENE), TORCH (SOFT CELL), HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF (DURAN DURAN), DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME (CULTURE CLUB), MAD WORLD (TEARS FOR FEARS), PASS THE DUTCHIE (MUSICAL YOUTH)
1984 - Purchases the Chicago Sun-Times.
US Hits: Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper), Jump (Van Halen), Thriller (Michael Jackson), Dancing In The Dark (Bruce Springsteen), When Doves Cry (Prince And The Revolution), Jump (For My Love) (Pointer Sisters), Purple Rain (Prince And The Revolution), Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!), Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) (Billy Ocean)
1985 - Purchases Twentieth Century Fox from oilman Marvin Davis for $600 million.
US Hits: Just Another Night (Mick Jagger), One More Night (Phil Collins), Forever Man (Eric Clapton), Raspberry Beret (Prince And The Revolution), Would I Lie To You? (Eurythmics), Sussudio (Phil Collins)
September 1985 - Becomes a naturalized citizen of the U.S.
US Hits: Money For Nothing (Dire Straits), Freedom (Wham!), St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) (John Parr)
1986 - Purchases several U.S. television stations and creates Fox Broadcasting.
US Hits: True Colors (Cyndi Lauper), A Matter Of Trust (Billy Joel), You Give Love A Bad Name (Bon Jovi)
1987 - Purchases U.S. publishing house Harper & Row for $300 million.
US Hits: Livin' On A Prayer (Bon Jovi), Lean On Me (Club Nouveau), Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Starship), I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (Whitney Houston), You Keep Me Hangin' On (Kim Wilde), Alone (Heart), I Think We're Alone Now (Tiffany), Should've Known Better (Richard Marx), Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Belinda Carlisle)
1988 - Sells the New York Post because of laws prohibiting ownership of newspapers and TV stations in the same market.
US Hits: Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley), She's Like The Wind (Patrick Swayze Featuring Wendy Frasier), Man In The Mirror (Michael Jackson), Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson), The Flame (Cheap Trick), Together Forever (Rick Astley), Wild, Wild West (The Escape Club), Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby) (Will To Power), A Groovy Kind Of Love (Phil Collins)
1990 - Merges Harper and Row and two other publishing operations into HarperCollins.
US Hits: Escapade (Janet Jackson), Black Velvet (Alannah Myles), Dangerous (Roxette), Step By Step (New Kids On The Block), I'll Be Your Shelter (Taylor Dayne), It Must Have Been Love (Roxette), Groove Is In The Heart (Deee-Lite), Freedom (George Michael), Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice)
1993 - Purchases Star TV, a satellite television service based in Hong Kong.
US Hits: Bed Of Roses (Bon Jovi), Heal The World (Michael Jackson), Mr. Wendal (Arrested Development), What's Up (4 Non Blondes), Can't Help Falling In Love (UB40), Can't Get Enough Of Your Love (Taylor Dayne), I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) (Meat Loaf), All That She Wants (Ace Of Base), No Rain (Blind Melon)
1993 - Buys back the New York Post.
1996 - Launches the Fox News Channel.
US Hits: Head Over Feet (Alanis Morissette), It's All Coming Back To Me Now (Celine Dion), Mouth (Merril Bainbridge), Nowhere To Go (Melissa Etheridge), If It Makes You Happy (Sheryl Crow)
1998-2004 - Owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
US Hits: Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (Will Smith), Frozen (Madonna), Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve), Iris (Goo Goo Dolls), Ray Of Light (Madonna), You're Still The One (Shania Twain), From This Moment On (Shania Twain), The Power Of Good-Bye (Madonna), Hands (Jewel)
1999 – Married Wendi Deng
US Hits: If You Had My Love (Jennifer Lopez), Sometimes (Britney Spears), It's Not Right But It's Okay (Whitney Houston), I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys), Last Kiss (Pearl Jam),
2000 - Treated for prostate cancer.
US Hits: I Try (Macy Gray), The Bad Touch (The Bloodhound Gang), There You Go (Pink), Bye, Bye, Bye ('NSYNC), Say My Name (Destiny's Child)
2004 - Shifts News Corp. incorporation from Australia to the U.S.
US Hits: My Immortal (Evanescence), Yeah! (Usher Featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon), Toxic (Britney Spears), Leave (Get Out) (JoJo), Roses (OutKast), The Reason (Hoobastank), Drop It Like It's Hot (Snoop Dogg Featuring Pharrell), Lose My Breath (Destiny's Child), What You Waiting For? (Gwen Stefani)
2005 - Purchases Intermix Media, owner of MySpace.com for $580 million.
US Hits: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Green Day), Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson), Mr. Brightside (The Killers), Behind These Hazel Eyes (Kelly Clarkson), Don't Cha (Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes), Don't Phunk With My Heart (The Black Eyed Peas), Run It! (Chris Brown Featuring Juelz Santana), Gold Digger (Kanye West Featuring Jamie Foxx), My Humps (The Black Eyed Peas)
2005 – Kerry Packer Dies
2007 - Purchases Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
US hits: Glamorous (Fergie Featuring Ludacris), U + Ur Hand (Pink), What Goes Around... Comes Around (Justin Timberlake), Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston), Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie), Umbrella (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z), No One (Alicia Keys), Tattoo (Jordin Sparks), Apologize (Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic)
March 2011 - Murdoch's son James is named News Corp.'s deputy chief operating officer and chairman and CEO of News International.
US Hits: Born This Way (Lady Gaga), Forget You (Cee Lo Green), E.T. (Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West), Grenade (Bruno Mars), Jar Of Hearts (Christina Perri)
July 2011 - Sells Myspace.com for $35 million.
US Hits: Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett, GoonRock), The Edge Of Glory (Lady Gaga), Rolling In The Deep (Adele), Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Katy Perry), Don't Wanna Go Home (Jason Derulo)
July 16, 2011 - Murdoch meets with the family of murdered teen Milly Dowler in a London hotel room. He personally apologizes for the hackingof Dowler's phone by News of the World staff.
July 19, 2011 - Murdoch and his son James testify before Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee on the phone hacking scandal enveloping News Group Intl. During the testimony, a protester hits Murdoch with a pie made of shaving cream.
February 29, 2012 - James Murdoch resigns as deputy COO, chairman and CEO of News International
US Hits: Domino (Jessie J), Set Fire To The Rain (Adele),
March 2012 - The months long FBI investigation into allegations of bribery by officials of a Russian subsidiary of News Corp., News Outdoor Russia (NOR) comes to light. NOR, a billboard company, paid to advertise in public space on government owned property. News Corp sold its interest in NOR July 2011.
US Hits: Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (Kelly Clarkson), We Are Young (Fun. Featuring Janelle Monae)
April 5, 2012 - John Ryley, the head of Sky News, admits to authorizing journalists to hack into emails of private citizens. Sky News is owned by News Corp.
US Hits: Wild Ones (Flo Rida Featuring Sia), Rumour Has It (Adele)
April 24, 2012 - James Murdoch testifies before an independent British inquiry into journalistic ethics. He insists that he knew little about the scale of phone hacking by people working for the News of the World.
April 26, 2012 - Murdoch testifies before the same committee. He admits to a cover-up of abuses at News of the World and apologizes for not paying more attention to the scandal.
May 1, 2012 - British lawmakers investigating phone hacking at News of the World declare that Rupert Murdoch is not a "fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company."
US Hits: Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye Featuring Kimbra), Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)
June 28, 2012 - News Corp. confirms that it plans to split into two publicly traded companies, one company for its television and film assets and the other for its newspaper and book publishing entities. Once the split is completed, Rupert Murdoch will serve as chairman of both companies and will also serve as CEO of the media and entertainment company.
US Hits: Where Have You Been (Rihanna), Lights (Ellie Goulding)
July 21, 2012 - A News International spokesman says that Rupert Murdoch has stepped down from a number of company boards of directors, both in the U.K. and the U.S.
US Hits: Wide Awake (Katy Perry), Titanium (David Guetta Featuring Sia)
October 13, 2012 - Murdoch tweets about "scumbag" celebrities. Many speculated he was referring to singer Charlotte Church and television presenter Jacqui Hames after they met with British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the potential reform of Britain's media laws. Murdoch tweets later that he wasn't referring to "particular people" and apologizes for his language.
US Hits: Gangnam Style (Psy), We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift),
December 2012 - James Murdoch becomes deputy COO of the Fox Group.
US Hits: Diamonds (Rihanna), Locked Out Of Heaven (Bruno Mars)
March 2013 - Ranked number 91 on Forbes list of the world's billionaires with a net worth of $11.2 billion. Ties with John Paulson.
US Hits: Suit & Tie (Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay-Z), I Will Wait (Mumford & Sons), Scream And Shout (Will.I.Am Featuring Britney Spears), Heart Attack (Demi Lovato), Next To Me (Emeli Sande)
June 13, 2013 - Murdoch files for divorce in New York Supreme Court from his third wife Wendi Deng.
US Hits: I Love It (Icona Pop Featuring Charli XCX), Come & Get It (Selena Gomez), Can't Hold Us (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton), Mirrors (Justin Timberlake), Get Lucky (Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams)
1952 - Murdoch's newspaper publisher father dies, leaving him control of the News Ltd company in Adelaide, Australia.
Australian Hits: Dinah Shore; Jane Turzy - Sweet Violets, Tony Bennett - Because of You, Louis Armstrong - A Kiss To Build a Dream On, Pee Wee King - Slow Coach (Slow Poke), Johnnie Ray – Cry, Eddie Fisher, The Four Aces - Tell Me Why.
1954 - Murdoch begins running News Ltd.
Australian Hits: Nat "King" Cole – Pretend, The Ames Brothers - You, You, You, Tony Bennett - Rags to Riches, Frank Chacksfield - Ebb Tide, Dean Martin - That's Amore, Eddie Fisher - Oh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa), Frank Sinatra - Young at Heart, Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean a Lot, The Crew Cuts - Sh-Boom.
1956 - Purchases Perth's Sunday Times.
Australian Hits: "Just Walking in the Rain" (Johnnie Ray), "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera Sera)" (Doris Day), "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (Mitch Miller), "Sixteen Tons" (Tennessee Ernie Ford; Frankie Laine), "Memories are Made of This" (Dean Martin), "The Rock and Roll Waltz" (Kay Starr), "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" (Perry Como), "Mack the Knife" (Louis Armstrong)
1959 – Max Stuart Trial
Australian Hits: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (The Platters), "Joey's Song" (Bill Haley and the Comets), "A Fool Such as I" (Elvis Presley), "The Battle of New Orleans" (Johnny Horton), "Personality" (Lloyd Price), "Oh Yeah Uh Huh" (Col Joye and the Joy Boys) "The Three Bells" (The Browns), "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Johnnie Ray), "Venus" (Frankie Avalon), "Mona Lisa" (Conway Twitty), "Petite Fleur" (Chris Barber's Jazz Band), Johnny O’Keefe.
1960 – Sacked Rohan Rivett
1960 - Purchases Sydney newspapers the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror.
Australian Hits: She's My Baby / Own True Self (Johnny O'Keefe), You Got What it Takes (Marv Johnson), Where My Baby Goes (She Goes With Me) (Warren Williams and The Squares), Night (Jackie Wilson), Sink the Bismarck (Johnny Horton), Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport (Rolf Harris)
1961 – Meets Anna Torv
Australian Hits: Rubber Ball (Bobby Vee), Emotions / I'm Learning About Love (Brenda Lee), As Long as He Needs Me (Shirley Bassey), Johnny Guitar (The Leemen), Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles), Wooden Heart (Elvis Presley)
1963 – Death of Bogle and Chandler
Australian Hits: I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter (Connie Francis), I Saw Linda Yesterday (Dickey Lee), Surfside / Lisa Maree (Digger Revell and The Denvermen), Go Away, Little Girl (Steve Lawrence), Globetrotter (The Tornados), You're the Reason I'm Living (Bobby Darin), Your Used to Be (Brenda Lee).
1964 - Starts The Australian, a national paper.
Australia hits: As Usual / Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Me (Brenda Lee), Please / Half as Much (Frank Ifield), Twist and Shout (EP) (The Beatles), Glad All Over (The Dave Clark Five), Popsicles and Icicles (The Murmaids), You Don't Own Me / Run Bobby, Run (Lesley Gore), Long, Tall Texan (Murry Kellum), Whispering (Nino Tempo & April Stevens)
1966 – Dollar introduced to Australia
Australian Hits: Where Does Love Go (Charles Boyer), The Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel), A Well Respected Man (EP) (The Kinks), Thunderball (Tom Jones), To Whom it Concerns (Chris Andrews), Someday (Tony Barber), My Love (Petula Clark), Women (Make You Feel Alright) / In My Book (The Easybeats)
1967 Divorces Patricia Booker
1967 Marries Anna Torv
Australian Hits: Kiss Me Now / When Will I Be Loved (Johnny Young and Kompany), Big Time Operator (The Id feat. Jeff St. John), Undecided (The Master's Apprentices), Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (The Royal Guardsmen), In the Country / Finders Keepers (Cliff Richard and The Shadows), Georgy Girl (The Seekers), Gimme Some Lovin' (The Spencer Davis Group), Happy Jack (The Who)
1969 - Becomes a London publisher when he gains control of the paper News of the World. Also acquires The Sun, which he transforms into a tabloid.
- Christine Keeler scandal re-emerges
- David Frost Interview
- Attempted kidnap of Anna Murdoch
UK Hits: OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA (MARMALADE), BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP (FOUNDATIONS), SON-OF-A PREACHER MAN (DUSTY SPRINGFIELD), I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (BOBBIE GENTRY), BAD MOON RISING (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL), A BOY NAMED SUE (JOHNNY CASH), SUGAR, SUGAR (ARCHIES), HE AIN'T HEAVY....HE'S MY BROTHER (HOLLIES), SPACE ODDITY (DAVID BOWIE), TWO LITTLE BOYS (ROLF HARRIS), SUSPICIOUS MINDS (ELVIS PRESLEY), ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM (BOBBIE GENTRY AND GLEN CAMPBELL)
1970 – First Page 3 Girl
UK Hits: Nov 17: VOODOO CHILE (JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE), RUBY TUESDAY (MELANIE), BLACK NIGHT (DEEP PURPLE).
1972 – Supports Gough Whitlam
UK Hits: ROCKIN' ROBIN (MICHAEL JACKSON), AT THE CLUB/SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES (DRIFTERS), ROCK AND ROLL (PARTS 1 & 2) (GARY GLITTER), MY DING-A-LING (CHUCK BERRY), CROCODILE ROCK (ELTON JOHN), BEN (MICHAEL JACKSON).
1973 - Rupert, Anna and their three children moved to New York.
US Hits: Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack), Rocky Mountain High (John Denver), The Cover Of The Rolling Stone (Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show), Give Me Love - (Give Me Peace On Earth) (George Harrison), Yesterday Once More (Carpenters), Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce), Midnight Train To Georgia (Gladys Knight & The Pips), Top Of The World (Carpenters), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
1973 - Expands to the United States by purchasing the San Antonio Express and the San Antonio News.
1974 - Starts the National Star weekly tabloid to compete with the National Enquirer.
US Hits: The Way We Were (Barbra Streisand), Jungle Boogie (Kool And The Gang), Hooked On A Feeling (Blue Swede), Billy, Don't Be A Hero (Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods), Annie's Song (John Denver), Rikki Don't Lose That Number (Steely Dan), Whatever Gets You Thru The Night (John Lennon), You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman-Turner Overdrive), Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd).
1976 - Purchases the New York Post.
US Hits: Take It To The Limit (Eagles), All By Myself (Eric Carmen), December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night), Afternoon Delight (Starland Vocal Band), More, More, More Pt. 1 (Andrea True Connection, The Four Seasons), Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (Eric Carmen), Fernando (Abba), Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright) (Rod Stewart), Just To Be Close To You (Commodores).
1977 - Purchase New York Magazine, Corp., which includes New York magazine and The Village Voice. Murdoch has since sold both The Village Voice and New York magazine.
US Hits: Dancing Queen (Abba), Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac), Maybe I'm Amazed (Wings), Da Doo Ron Ron (Shaun Cassidy), Life In The Fast Lane (Eagles), Feels Like The First Time (Foreigner), You Light Up My Life (Debby Boone), Help Is On Its Way (Little River Band), How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees).
1979 - Forms News Corporation in Australia.
Australian Hits: Babe (Styx), Heartache Tonight (Eagles), Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! (Abba), Born to Be Alive (Patrick Hernandez), Message in a Bottle (The Police), Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
1979 – Supports Margaret Thatcher
UK Hits: Y.M.C.A. (VILLAGE PEOPLE), LAY YOUR LOVE ON ME (RACEY), HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK (IAN AND THE BLOCKHEADS), BRIGHT EYES (ART GARFUNKEL), HOORAY HOORAY, IT'S A HOLI-HOLIDAY (BONEY M), COOL FOR CATS (SQUEEZE)
1981 - Purchases The Times of London.
UK Hits: IMAGINE (JOHN LENNON), IN THE AIR TONIGHT (PHIL COLLINS), FLASH (QUEEN), ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE (MICHAEL JACKSON), BEING WITH YOU (SMOKEY ROBINSON), MEMORY (ELAINE PAIGE)
1982 - Purchases The Boston Herald.
US Hits: Open Arms (Journey), Love In The First Degree (Alabama), Sweet Dreams (Air Supply), Ebony And Ivory (Paul McCartney With Stevie Wonder), Take Me Down (Alabama), Just Another Day In Paradise (Bertie Higgins), Shadows Of The Night (Pat Benatar), Shock The Monkey (Peter Gabriel), Industrial Disease (Dire Straits)
1982 – Belgrano sinking
UK Hits: MICKEY (TONI BASIL), CENTERFOLD (J GEILS BAND), SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE (SOFT CELL), I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME (CHARLENE), TORCH (SOFT CELL), HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF (DURAN DURAN), DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME (CULTURE CLUB), MAD WORLD (TEARS FOR FEARS), PASS THE DUTCHIE (MUSICAL YOUTH)
1984 - Purchases the Chicago Sun-Times.
US Hits: Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper), Jump (Van Halen), Thriller (Michael Jackson), Dancing In The Dark (Bruce Springsteen), When Doves Cry (Prince And The Revolution), Jump (For My Love) (Pointer Sisters), Purple Rain (Prince And The Revolution), Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!), Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) (Billy Ocean)
1985 - Purchases Twentieth Century Fox from oilman Marvin Davis for $600 million.
US Hits: Just Another Night (Mick Jagger), One More Night (Phil Collins), Forever Man (Eric Clapton), Raspberry Beret (Prince And The Revolution), Would I Lie To You? (Eurythmics), Sussudio (Phil Collins)
September 1985 - Becomes a naturalized citizen of the U.S.
US Hits: Money For Nothing (Dire Straits), Freedom (Wham!), St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) (John Parr)
1986 - Purchases several U.S. television stations and creates Fox Broadcasting.
US Hits: True Colors (Cyndi Lauper), A Matter Of Trust (Billy Joel), You Give Love A Bad Name (Bon Jovi)
1987 - Purchases U.S. publishing house Harper & Row for $300 million.
US Hits: Livin' On A Prayer (Bon Jovi), Lean On Me (Club Nouveau), Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Starship), I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (Whitney Houston), You Keep Me Hangin' On (Kim Wilde), Alone (Heart), I Think We're Alone Now (Tiffany), Should've Known Better (Richard Marx), Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Belinda Carlisle)
1988 - Sells the New York Post because of laws prohibiting ownership of newspapers and TV stations in the same market.
US Hits: Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley), She's Like The Wind (Patrick Swayze Featuring Wendy Frasier), Man In The Mirror (Michael Jackson), Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson), The Flame (Cheap Trick), Together Forever (Rick Astley), Wild, Wild West (The Escape Club), Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby) (Will To Power), A Groovy Kind Of Love (Phil Collins)
1990 - Merges Harper and Row and two other publishing operations into HarperCollins.
US Hits: Escapade (Janet Jackson), Black Velvet (Alannah Myles), Dangerous (Roxette), Step By Step (New Kids On The Block), I'll Be Your Shelter (Taylor Dayne), It Must Have Been Love (Roxette), Groove Is In The Heart (Deee-Lite), Freedom (George Michael), Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice)
1993 - Purchases Star TV, a satellite television service based in Hong Kong.
US Hits: Bed Of Roses (Bon Jovi), Heal The World (Michael Jackson), Mr. Wendal (Arrested Development), What's Up (4 Non Blondes), Can't Help Falling In Love (UB40), Can't Get Enough Of Your Love (Taylor Dayne), I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) (Meat Loaf), All That She Wants (Ace Of Base), No Rain (Blind Melon)
1993 - Buys back the New York Post.
1996 - Launches the Fox News Channel.
US Hits: Head Over Feet (Alanis Morissette), It's All Coming Back To Me Now (Celine Dion), Mouth (Merril Bainbridge), Nowhere To Go (Melissa Etheridge), If It Makes You Happy (Sheryl Crow)
1998-2004 - Owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
US Hits: Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (Will Smith), Frozen (Madonna), Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve), Iris (Goo Goo Dolls), Ray Of Light (Madonna), You're Still The One (Shania Twain), From This Moment On (Shania Twain), The Power Of Good-Bye (Madonna), Hands (Jewel)
1999 – Married Wendi Deng
US Hits: If You Had My Love (Jennifer Lopez), Sometimes (Britney Spears), It's Not Right But It's Okay (Whitney Houston), I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys), Last Kiss (Pearl Jam),
2000 - Treated for prostate cancer.
US Hits: I Try (Macy Gray), The Bad Touch (The Bloodhound Gang), There You Go (Pink), Bye, Bye, Bye ('NSYNC), Say My Name (Destiny's Child)
2004 - Shifts News Corp. incorporation from Australia to the U.S.
US Hits: My Immortal (Evanescence), Yeah! (Usher Featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon), Toxic (Britney Spears), Leave (Get Out) (JoJo), Roses (OutKast), The Reason (Hoobastank), Drop It Like It's Hot (Snoop Dogg Featuring Pharrell), Lose My Breath (Destiny's Child), What You Waiting For? (Gwen Stefani)
2005 - Purchases Intermix Media, owner of MySpace.com for $580 million.
US Hits: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Green Day), Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson), Mr. Brightside (The Killers), Behind These Hazel Eyes (Kelly Clarkson), Don't Cha (Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes), Don't Phunk With My Heart (The Black Eyed Peas), Run It! (Chris Brown Featuring Juelz Santana), Gold Digger (Kanye West Featuring Jamie Foxx), My Humps (The Black Eyed Peas)
2005 – Kerry Packer Dies
2007 - Purchases Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
US hits: Glamorous (Fergie Featuring Ludacris), U + Ur Hand (Pink), What Goes Around... Comes Around (Justin Timberlake), Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston), Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie), Umbrella (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z), No One (Alicia Keys), Tattoo (Jordin Sparks), Apologize (Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic)
March 2011 - Murdoch's son James is named News Corp.'s deputy chief operating officer and chairman and CEO of News International.
US Hits: Born This Way (Lady Gaga), Forget You (Cee Lo Green), E.T. (Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West), Grenade (Bruno Mars), Jar Of Hearts (Christina Perri)
July 2011 - Sells Myspace.com for $35 million.
US Hits: Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett, GoonRock), The Edge Of Glory (Lady Gaga), Rolling In The Deep (Adele), Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Katy Perry), Don't Wanna Go Home (Jason Derulo)
July 16, 2011 - Murdoch meets with the family of murdered teen Milly Dowler in a London hotel room. He personally apologizes for the hackingof Dowler's phone by News of the World staff.
July 19, 2011 - Murdoch and his son James testify before Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee on the phone hacking scandal enveloping News Group Intl. During the testimony, a protester hits Murdoch with a pie made of shaving cream.
February 29, 2012 - James Murdoch resigns as deputy COO, chairman and CEO of News International
US Hits: Domino (Jessie J), Set Fire To The Rain (Adele),
March 2012 - The months long FBI investigation into allegations of bribery by officials of a Russian subsidiary of News Corp., News Outdoor Russia (NOR) comes to light. NOR, a billboard company, paid to advertise in public space on government owned property. News Corp sold its interest in NOR July 2011.
US Hits: Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (Kelly Clarkson), We Are Young (Fun. Featuring Janelle Monae)
April 5, 2012 - John Ryley, the head of Sky News, admits to authorizing journalists to hack into emails of private citizens. Sky News is owned by News Corp.
US Hits: Wild Ones (Flo Rida Featuring Sia), Rumour Has It (Adele)
April 24, 2012 - James Murdoch testifies before an independent British inquiry into journalistic ethics. He insists that he knew little about the scale of phone hacking by people working for the News of the World.
April 26, 2012 - Murdoch testifies before the same committee. He admits to a cover-up of abuses at News of the World and apologizes for not paying more attention to the scandal.
May 1, 2012 - British lawmakers investigating phone hacking at News of the World declare that Rupert Murdoch is not a "fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company."
US Hits: Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye Featuring Kimbra), Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)
June 28, 2012 - News Corp. confirms that it plans to split into two publicly traded companies, one company for its television and film assets and the other for its newspaper and book publishing entities. Once the split is completed, Rupert Murdoch will serve as chairman of both companies and will also serve as CEO of the media and entertainment company.
US Hits: Where Have You Been (Rihanna), Lights (Ellie Goulding)
July 21, 2012 - A News International spokesman says that Rupert Murdoch has stepped down from a number of company boards of directors, both in the U.K. and the U.S.
US Hits: Wide Awake (Katy Perry), Titanium (David Guetta Featuring Sia)
October 13, 2012 - Murdoch tweets about "scumbag" celebrities. Many speculated he was referring to singer Charlotte Church and television presenter Jacqui Hames after they met with British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the potential reform of Britain's media laws. Murdoch tweets later that he wasn't referring to "particular people" and apologizes for his language.
US Hits: Gangnam Style (Psy), We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift),
December 2012 - James Murdoch becomes deputy COO of the Fox Group.
US Hits: Diamonds (Rihanna), Locked Out Of Heaven (Bruno Mars)
March 2013 - Ranked number 91 on Forbes list of the world's billionaires with a net worth of $11.2 billion. Ties with John Paulson.
US Hits: Suit & Tie (Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay-Z), I Will Wait (Mumford & Sons), Scream And Shout (Will.I.Am Featuring Britney Spears), Heart Attack (Demi Lovato), Next To Me (Emeli Sande)
June 13, 2013 - Murdoch files for divorce in New York Supreme Court from his third wife Wendi Deng.
US Hits: I Love It (Icona Pop Featuring Charli XCX), Come & Get It (Selena Gomez), Can't Hold Us (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton), Mirrors (Justin Timberlake), Get Lucky (Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams)