Rupert Murdoch to marry for a fifth time as he announces engagement to Ann Lesley Smith

Dominique Hines
·1 min read
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Rupert Murdoch is set to marry for the fifth time (PA Archive)
Rupert Murdoch is set to marry for the fifth time (PA Archive)
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Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is set to marry for the fifth time.

The four-times married billionaire, 92, announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, 66, whose late husband was Chester Smith, a country singer and a radio and TV executive.

Murdoch, who is the head of a global media empire, told his own tabloid newspaper, the New York Post: "I was very nervous.

"I dreaded falling in love, but I knew this would be my last. It better be. I’m happy. We’re both looking forward to spending the second half of our lives together."

The pair are set to marry in the summer. The nuptials will mark the fifth time that the media titan has wed.

Murdoch married former supermodel Jerry Hall at St Bride's church in, 2016 (REUTERS)
Murdoch married former supermodel Jerry Hall at St Bride's church in, 2016 (REUTERS)

His fourth wife was former model Jerry Hall, who he wed in 2016 and finalised a split from last year.

Murdoch, whose business empire includes the controversial US network Fox News and The Sun newspaper in the UK has six children from his first three marriages.

Rupert Murdoch - In pictures

1960: Rupert Murdoch takes over Sydney tabloid the Daily Mirror: (Getty Images)
1960: Rupert Murdoch takes over Sydney tabloid the Daily Mirror: (Getty Images)
2016: Rupert Murdoch and former supermodel Jerry Hall pose for a photograph outside St Bride’s church following a service to celebrate their weddin: (REUTERS)
2016: Rupert Murdoch and former supermodel Jerry Hall pose for a photograph outside St Bride’s church following a service to celebrate their weddin: (REUTERS)
1962: Rupert Murdoch (right) with U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) at the White House: (Getty Images)
1962: Rupert Murdoch (right) with U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) at the White House: (Getty Images)
2011: Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho: (Getty Images)
2011: Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho: (Getty Images)
1969: Rupert Murdoch with his second wife Anna Maria Torv and their 14-month old daughter Elisabeth at their home in Sussex Gardens, Londo: (Getty Images)
1969: Rupert Murdoch with his second wife Anna Maria Torv and their 14-month old daughter Elisabeth at their home in Sussex Gardens, Londo: (Getty Images)
1969: Rupert Murdoch holds one of the first copies of the new Sun newspaper at the News of the World building in London: (PA)
1969: Rupert Murdoch holds one of the first copies of the new Sun newspaper at the News of the World building in London: (PA)
1981: Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-born American newspaper publisher and entrepreneur who owns many newspapers and communications throughout the world, including, The Sun, Mirror, Times, Sunday Times, New York Post, Collins the publishers and Sky Television: (Getty Images)
1981: Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-born American newspaper publisher and entrepreneur who owns many newspapers and communications throughout the world, including, The Sun, Mirror, Times, Sunday Times, New York Post, Collins the publishers and Sky Television: (Getty Images)
1986: Newspaper proprietor Rupert Murdoch holds copies of The Sun and Times papers, at his new high technology print works in Wapping, East London: (PA)
1986: Newspaper proprietor Rupert Murdoch holds copies of The Sun and Times papers, at his new high technology print works in Wapping, East London: (PA)
1999: News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng pose near the Statue of Liberty: (REUTERS)
1999: News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng pose near the Statue of Liberty: (REUTERS)
2019: Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party: (Getty Images)
2019: Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party: (Getty Images)

Prudence MacLeod, with his first wife Patricia Booker and daughter Elisabeth and sons Lachlan and James with his second wife Anna Mann.

His two youngest children, Grace and Chloe, are with his third wife Wendi Deng.

Murdoch married Wendi Deng near the Statue of Liberty in 1999 (REUTERS)
Murdoch married Wendi Deng near the Statue of Liberty in 1999 (REUTERS)

His new fiance Smith told the New York Post: “I’m a widow of 14 years. Like Rupert, my husband was a businessman.

"Worked for local papers, developed radio and TV stations and helped promote Univision. So I speak Rupert’s language. We share the same beliefs.”

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