Sunday, August 12, 2007

PAPAL KNIGHT RUPERT MURDOCH IS NO. 25

NO.25

Rupert Murdoch

Top 49 Men 2006

Australian entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch is the owner of News Corporation, the bigger-than-life media conglomerate that owns dozens of newspapers, television networks and movie studios around the globe. Although Murdoch’s influence is incalculable, Forbes magazine recently estimated his net worth at a staggering $7.2 billion. Not bad for a guy who started with a single newspaper in Adelaide, Australia.

Behind the scenes

Although Rupert Murdoch clearly enjoys making money, he also has no problem giving it away. Through the past decade alone this Melbourne native has given generously to global aid, including a remarkable $1-million donation in 2005 to the Asian tsunami relief effort. Murdoch’s philanthropy has even earned him an induction into the prestigious Order of St. Gregory the Great -- one of the five pontifical orders of knighthood in the Catholic Church.

On the horizon

Murdoch is currently investing his considerable energy into expanding MySpace, the popular social-networking website which he acquired on July 20, 2005. ”This time next year," [MySpace] will launch into 10 or 11 additional countries,” he recently pledged. That includes the previously untapped media market of China.

Murdoch will also continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of his growing media empire. “I try to keep in touch with the details,” he says. “That doesn't mean you interfere, but it's important occasionally to show the ability to be involved. It shows you understand what's happening.”

In His Words:

“You can't build a strong corporation with a lot of committees and a board that has to be consulted every turn. You have to be able to make decisions on your own.”
- Rupert Murdoch on building his media empire.

“Our reputation is more important than the last hundred million dollars.”
- Rupert Murdoch on maintaining the integrity of News Corporation.

EndrTimes