Anna dePeyster, former wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, dies aged 81

The former wife of media titan Rupert Murdoch and mother of their children James, Elisabeth and Lachlan, has died aged 81.

Anna dePeyster, formerly Anna Murdoch, died in Palm Beach, Florida, following a long illness, according to reports in the Murdoch-owned New York Post.

In its coverage of her death, the paper said “many worlds loved Anna”.

“Devoted mother, handsome lady, sharp wit, love of writing and lifetime commitment to helping children in need.”

dePeyster married real estate developer Ashton dePeyster in 2019, having divorced Rupert Murdoch two decades earlier.

Born in Scotland the eldest of four children in 1944, dePeyster moved with her family to Sydney as a child.

Raised a Catholic, she attended Our Lady of Mercy College at Parramatta before finding work as a journalist.

She married Murdoch in 1967 after he divorced first wife Patricia Booker.

After working at both Sydney’s Daily Mirror and Daily Telegraph, dePeyster eventually served on the board of Murdoch family company, News Corporation, for eight years.

According to Britain’s Independent newspaper, the people who in 1969 kidnapped and killed Muriel McKay, the wife of Murdoch’s deputy Alick McKay, had originally intended to kidnap her instead.

Confusion arose when the McKays used of one of Murdoch’s vehicles.

Following her divorce from Murdoch, dePeyster reportedly received $1.7 billion, including $110 million in cash, from the settlement.

dePeyster had a Master’s degree in literature and wrote three novels: In Her Own Image, Family Business and Coming to Terms.

She was also a noted philanthropist and socialite in Palm Beach and Southampton.

dePeyster was also married for 17 years to financier William Mann.

She is survived by dePeyster, her three children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

According to the New York Post, she died on Tuesday, surrounded by family.

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