Rupert Murdoch suffers crushing blow in his 'Succession' plan to hand complete control of his global media empire to chosen son after family split

Rupert Murdoch’s efforts to entrench his son Lachlan as primary heir to his media empire have been dealt a legal blow in the US after a $15billion Succession-style courtroom battle with three of his other adult children, it was revealed today.

Nevada’s commissioner has ruled that an attempted amendment to the family’s trust opposed by James, Prudence and Elisabeth Murdoch was a 'charade' and made in ‘bad faith’.

The 93-year-old Australian media mogul intends to appeal against the decision after him and his offspring squared off in a secret legal battle in the desert city of Reno in September. The result was leaked today.