Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 2, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Media

Anna Murdoch

Anna Murdoch was a British-Australian journalist, novelist, and former News Corp director best known as the second wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Updated August 2, 20261 min readCited sources

Anna Murdoch was a British-Australian journalist, novelist, and former News Corp director. She was best known as the second wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and died in 2026 at age 81.

Who was Anna Murdoch?

Born Anna Maria Torv in Glasgow in 1944, she moved to Australia as a child and was raised in a Catholic household. She worked as a journalist before becoming a novelist and later served as a director of News Corp.

Marriage and divorce

Anna married Rupert Murdoch in 1967, and they had three children together. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1999, reported as one of the most expensive in history, though settlement figures vary from $1.7 billion to about US$200 million.

Later life and death

After divorcing Murdoch, she married William Mann and later Ashton dePeyster. Anna Murdoch died on 17 February 2026 at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by family.

In short

  • British-Australian journalist, novelist, and former News Corp director.
  • Second wife of Rupert Murdoch, married 1967–1999.
  • Divorce settlement estimated between $200 million and $1.7 billion.
  • Died at age 81 in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2026.
Canadian angle

No direct Canada-specific connection is established in the available sources, though Anna Murdoch was a major figure in international media history that would be relevant to Canadian readers following global media ownership and Murdoch family affairs.

Quick questions

Who is Anna Murdoch?
Anna Murdoch was a British-Australian journalist, novelist, and former News Corp director, best known as the second wife of Rupert Murdoch.
How much did Anna Murdoch get in the divorce?
Reports differ: some sources say she received $1.7 billion, while another account says she accepted about US$200 million in cash and property.
Is Anna Murdoch still alive?
No. She died on 17 February 2026 at age 81.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_dePeyster
    Supports: Birth name, life dates, marriage history, divorce settlement figures, and death notice.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8150xj36wo
    Supports: Death notice, age at death, career summary, family details, and reported divorce settlement.
  3. The Irish Times — https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2026/02/21/anna-murdoch-mann-author-and-ex-wife-of-rupert-murdoch-dies-aged-81/
    Supports: Death notice, age, family details, and divorce settlement.
  4. New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/02/20/world-news/author-and-philanthropist-anna-murdoch-mann-dies-at-81/
    Supports: Death notice, age, family details, and marriage history.