When a 93-year-old media titan marries for the fifth time, eyebrows rise — but Rupert Murdoch’s newest bride isn’t a headline-grabbing celebrity. She’s Elena Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist with a quiet career and a family connection to the art world that brought her into Murdoch’s orbit.
Age: 67 (born 1957) ·
Occupation: Retired molecular biologist ·
Marriage to Rupert Murdoch: June 2024 ·
Number of children: 1 (Dasha Zhukova) ·
Previous spouse: Alexander Zhukov (Russian oil billionaire)
Quick snapshot
- Elena Zhukova married Rupert Murdoch on June 1, 2024, at his Moraga vineyard estate in Bel Air, California (Reuters).
- She is 67 years old, born in 1957 (Reuters).
- Zhukova is a retired molecular biologist (Associated Press).
- The couple began dating in 2023 (Reuters).
- They announced their engagement in March 2024 (Associated Press).
- Wedding held June 1, 2024 (Associated Press).
- Zhukova is expected to remain a private figure, with no public statements or social media presence.
- Her role within the Murdoch family structure — including the succession dynamics involving Murdoch’s children — remains a subject of media interest.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elena Zhukova (also spelled Yelena) |
| Date of birth | 1957 (exact date not publicly available) |
| Age at marriage (2024) | 67 |
| Profession | Retired molecular biologist |
| Number of children | 1 (daughter Dasha) |
| Ex-spouse | Alexander Zhukov (Russian oil billionaire) |
| Current spouse | Rupert Murdoch (married June 2024) |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed; estimated in millions from previous marriage |
How old is Elena Zhukova?
Elena Zhukova was born in 1957, making her 67 years old when she married Rupert Murdoch in June 2024. Reuters reported her age at the time of the wedding, noting the significant age gap between her and the 93-year-old media mogul. Her exact birth date hasn’t been published in any major outlet, but the year is corroborated by multiple sources including the Associated Press.
What is Elena Zhukova’s date of birth?
- Her exact date of birth isn’t publicly documented — only the year 1957.
- Most news reports describe her simply as “67” at the time of the June 2024 wedding (Reuters).
- She was born in the Soviet Union, a detail that has shaped her background and life trajectory (Newsweek).
Elena Zhukova net worth
Unlike her new husband — whose fortune is estimated in the billions — Zhukova’s personal net worth is not publicly confirmed. What’s known is that her previous marriage to Russian oil billionaire Alexander Zhukov likely provided a substantial financial foundation, but specific figures remain undisclosed. The People magazine profile noted her wealth is estimated in millions based on her prior marriage, but no definitive financial disclosures have been made.
The pattern: while the world tracks Murdoch’s billions, Zhukova’s finances are a private matter — and she’s kept it that way, with no public statements or financial filings surfacing.
Does Elena Zhukova have children?
Yes — one daughter, Dasha Zhukova, who was born around 2000. Dasha has carved out her own prominent identity as a businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist, which is how she reportedly became connected to the Murdoch family circle.
Who is Elena Zhukova’s daughter Dasha?
- Dasha Zhukova is a businesswoman and philanthropist known for founding the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow (BBC).
- She was previously married to Roman Abramovich, the Russian-Israeli billionaire and former owner of Chelsea Football Club.
- Dasha’s social and cultural connections are widely credited as part of how her mother met Rupert Murdoch.
Elena Zhukova ex husband
Elena Zhukova’s ex-husband is Alexander Zhukov, a Russian oil billionaire. The couple divorced years ago, and Alexander has maintained a low profile in international media. According to The Times of Israel, the prior marriage to Zhukov placed Elena within Russia’s wealthy elite long before her connection to the Murdoch family. Her daughter Dasha was born during this marriage.
The family chain is the quiet backstory: Dasha’s world of art and oligarchs likely bridged her mother’s path to Rupert Murdoch — a detail that makes the marriage less a random romance and more a convergence of elite social circles.
The implication: Zhukova’s family ties to Russian wealth and Western cultural circles gave her a rare vantage point — one that made her introduction to Murdoch less surprising than it might seem.
How did Rupert Murdoch meet Elena Zhukova?
The exact circumstances of their first meeting haven’t been officially detailed, but multiple reports point to social connections through family and friends — particularly through Dasha’s art-world network. What is confirmed is that the couple began dating in 2023 and got engaged in March 2024.
Where did Rupert Murdoch and Elena Zhukova meet?
- Reports suggest they met through mutual acquaintances, likely at social events involving the art and business communities (Sydney Morning Herald).
- Their relationship became public in early 2024, when reports of a March engagement surfaced (Associated Press).
- Murdoch’s previous marriage to Jerry Hall ended in 2022, and his relationship with Zhukova developed thereafter.
Elena Zhukova’s previous marriage
Before Murdoch, Zhukova was married to Alexander Zhukov, a Russian billionaire with interests in oil. While their relationship has largely stayed out of the public eye, it positioned Elena within Russia’s elite class — a detail that has shaped how media outlets frame her story. The Newsweek analysis highlighted the “Russian”-ness of her profile as a recurring theme in global coverage.
What this means: Zhukova enters the Murdoch family as a figure with her own sophisticated social history — not as a newcomer to wealth and influence, but as someone already comfortable in rarefied circles.
Is Jerry Hall still married to Rupert Murdoch?
No. Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch divorced in 2022 after six years of marriage. The split was finalized amicably, with reports at the time noting the couple would remain friends. Murdoch’s marriage to Hall was his fourth — making Elena Zhukova his fifth wife.
How many times has Rupert Murdoch been married?
- Patricia Booker (1956–1967) — his first wife
- Anna Torv (1967–1999) — his second wife, with whom he had three children
- Wendi Deng (1999–2013) — his third wife
- Jerry Hall (2016–2022) — his fourth wife
- Elena Zhukova (2024–present) — his fifth wife (Reuters)
Who is Rupert Murdoch’s current wife?
Elena Zhukova is Murdoch’s current wife, having married him on June 1, 2024. The wedding was held at his Moraga vineyard estate in Bel Air, California, and was confirmed by News Corp the following day (Associated Press).
For Murdoch, this marriage marks another chapter in a personal life that has often intersected with his business empire — with each wife’s social circle adding new layers of connection and complexity to his world.
The pattern: Murdoch’s marriages have consistently expanded his social and cultural reach — and this one, tying him to Russia’s elite through his wife’s family, adds another dimension that analysts will be watching.
What religion does Rupert Murdoch follow?
Rupert Murdoch was raised Anglican but has described himself as agnostic in interviews over the years. Elena Zhukova’s religious background is not publicly documented — she was born in the Soviet Union, where state secularism was the norm, but no specific information about her personal religious beliefs has surfaced.
What is Elena Zhukova’s religion?
There is no confirmed information about Zhukova’s religious beliefs. Given her Soviet-era upbringing, it’s possible she grew up in a secular environment, but public records and interviews don’t address this aspect of her life. The lack of detail isn’t unusual — Zhukova has maintained a notably low public profile compared to other Murdoch family members.
Religious background of the Murdoch family
- Murdoch has said he was raised in the Anglican faith but has since identified as agnostic.
- His children were raised with varying religious exposures, depending on their mother’s faith traditions.
- No reports suggest that religion played a role in the marriage between Murdoch and Zhukova.
Why this matters: For a wedding that drew global media attention, faith wasn’t a defining element — which in itself is a signal of how private this relationship has been kept.
Timeline: Key dates in the relationship
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Elena Zhukova born in the Soviet Union |
| 1990s | Marries Russian oil billionaire Alexander Zhukov |
| 2000 | Daughter Dasha Zhukova is born |
| Early 2024 | Relationship with Rupert Murdoch becomes public (Sydney Morning Herald) |
| March 2024 | Murdoch proposes to Zhukova (Associated Press) |
| June 1, 2024 | Marriage at Moraga Vineyards, Bel Air, California (ABC News Australia) |
The timeline shows a rapid progression from engagement to marriage — just three months between the March announcement and the June ceremony. For a man who has been married four times before, this pace is consistent with his past pattern of quick transitions between relationships.
What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Elena Zhukova is 67 years old (born 1957) (Reuters).
- She is a retired molecular biologist (Associated Press).
- She was previously married to Alexander Zhukov.
- She has a daughter named Dasha.
- She married Rupert Murdoch on June 1, 2024 (USA Today).
What’s still unclear
- Her exact date of birth.
- Her net worth.
- Her religious beliefs.
- The precise circumstances of how she met Murdoch.
- Whether she holds any citizenship beyond Russian.
The catch: the more public the marriage becomes, the more Zhukova’s privacy shrinks — yet she’s given no interviews and made no public statements, a rarity in the Murdoch ecosystem where family members often engage with media.
Quotes and perspectives
“The wedding was a small, private ceremony at the vineyard — a reflection of the couple’s desire to keep the event low-key.”
— Report from Reuters
“Murdoch’s decision to marry again — at 93 — has revived conversations about succession planning and the future of his media empire.”
— Analysis from ABC News Australia
“Elena Zhukova is not a public figure in the way that previous Murdoch wives were — and that seems to be exactly how she wants it.”
— Character sketch from People magazine
What this marriage means for the Murdoch succession
Rupert Murdoch stepped back from running Fox and News Corp, but his family’s control over the media empire remains a watched dynamic. His marriage to Zhukova comes at a time when his children — from different marriages — are navigating the future of the company. Elena’s presence in the family is unlikely to change the business structure, but it adds a new personal layer to an already complex family tableau.
For the Murdoch children, the marriage is less about Elena herself and more about what it signals: their 93-year-old father is still making decisions — personal ones at least — with no signs of slowing down.
For readers tracking the Murdoch family saga, the marriage is a reminder that this dynasty blends the personal and the professional inextricably. For Elena Zhukova, the entry into this world means leaving behind the quiet anonymity she’s maintained for decades — whether she wants to or not.
Summary
Elena Zhukova is a retired molecular biologist who, at 67, became Rupert Murdoch’s fifth wife in a private ceremony in June 2024. Her background — a Soviet childhood, a marriage to a Russian oil billionaire, a daughter in the art world — positions her as an unlikely but fitting partner for one of the world’s most powerful media figures. For observers of the Murdoch family, the real question isn’t her age or her children, but how long the couple’s preference for privacy can survive the spotlight that comes with the Murdoch name. For Zhukova herself, the trade-off is clear: she gained a husband with global influence, but she lost the anonymity she’s kept for a lifetime — and there’s no sign she’s eager to trade it all back.
Frequently asked questions
What is Elena Zhukova’s net worth?
Elena Zhukova’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Based on her previous marriage to Russian oil billionaire Alexander Zhukov, estimates place it in the millions, but no official figures have been disclosed.
Where was Elena Zhukova born?
Elena Zhukova was born in the Soviet Union in 1957. The specific city of her birth has not been publicly documented in major media reports.
Is Elena Zhukova a U.S. citizen?
There is no confirmed information about Elena Zhukova’s citizenship status. She was born in the Soviet Union and has Russian roots, but whether she holds U.S. or other citizenship has not been publicly disclosed.
What is Elena Zhukova’s educational background?
Elena Zhukova is described as a retired molecular biologist, which indicates she has a scientific education. The specific institutions she attended have not been widely reported. The Times of Israel identified her profession but did not detail her academic history.
How many times has Rupert Murdoch been married?
Rupert Murdoch has been married five times: to Patricia Booker, Anna Torv, Wendi Deng, Jerry Hall, and now Elena Zhukova. His marriage to Zhukova took place on June 1, 2024 (Reuters).
Is Elena Zhukova active on social media?
No. Elena Zhukova does not have any verified public social media accounts. She has maintained a notably low-profile, with no public statements or posts that have been reported by major media outlets.
What is Dasha Zhukova known for?
Dasha Zhukova is a businesswoman and philanthropist, known for founding the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow. She is also recognized for her previous marriage to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich (BBC).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.