The Murdaugh family name has been in the headlines for months, ever since the brutal killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, the wife and son of prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh, in June 2021. Since then, a series of bizarre and tragic events have unfolded, revealing a web of lies, crimes and scandals involving Alex Murdaugh and his family.
But who is Alex Murdaugh, and is he related to another famous Murdoch? Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-American media mogul and billionaire, shares a similar-sounding surname with Alex Murdaugh, leading some people to wonder if they are connected in some way. However, the truth is that there is no evidence of any relation between them, and their surnames are spelled differently.
The Murdaugh Family Dynasty
The Murdaugh family has a long and influential history in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, a region of coastal plains and islands. For nearly a century, from 1920 to 2006, three generations of Murdaugh men served as the chief prosecutor for the state’s 14th Judicial Circuit, which covers five counties in the southern part of the state. This made them the longest-running family dynasty of prosecutors in US history.
The first Murdaugh to hold the position was Randolph “Buster” Murdaugh Sr., who was elected in 1920 and served until his death in 1940. His son, Randolph Murdaugh Jr., then took over the role and served until his retirement in 1986. His son, Randolph Murdaugh III, then became the prosecutor in 1987 and served until 2005. He was succeeded by Duffie Stone, who was appointed by then-Gov. Mark Sanford in 2006.
In addition to their public service, the Murdaughs also established a private law firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED), which specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases. The firm has offices in Hampton, Beaufort and Bluffton, and has represented clients in high-profile lawsuits involving corporations such as Ford, General Motors and Boeing.
Alex Murdaugh, the son of Randolph Murdaugh III, joined PMPED in 1986 and became a partner in 1994. He was known as a skilled and aggressive lawyer who won millions of dollars for his clients. He also inherited a large fortune from his family, which he used to buy properties, boats and planes.
The Murdoch Media Empire
Rupert Murdoch, on the other hand, has no ties to South Carolina or the legal profession. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1931, and inherited his father’s newspaper business at the age of 21. He expanded his media empire by acquiring newspapers, magazines, television stations and film studios in Australia, Britain and the United States.
Some of his most well-known media outlets include The Sun, The Times and The Wall Street Journal newspapers; Fox News Channel, Sky News and Star TV networks; HarperCollins book publisher; and 20th Century Fox film studio. He is also the founder of News Corp., one of the world’s largest media conglomerates.
Murdoch is one of the richest and most powerful people in the world, with an estimated net worth of $23 billion as of February 2023. He has been married four times and has six children. He became a US citizen in 1985 to comply with federal laws that prohibit foreign ownership of US television stations.
The Murdaugh-Murdoch Mystery
Despite their similar-sounding names, there is no indication that Alex Murdaugh and Rupert Murdoch are related in any way. They have different origins, occupations and interests. They also spell their surnames differently: Murdaugh has an “a” after the “d”, while Murdoch does not.
However, some people have speculated that they might be distant cousins or share a common ancestor. One possible source of confusion is that Murdoch is sometimes spelled as “Murdaugh” or “Murdoch” in some sources. For example, according to BBC News, Murdoch’s father changed his surname from “Murdoch” to “Murdoch” when he moved from Scotland to Australia in the late 19th century.
Another possible source of confusion is that both families have Scottish roots. According to Ancestry.com, Murdaugh is a variant of Murdoch or Murchadh, which means “sea warrior” in Gaelic. Murdoch is also a Scottish surname that derives from the same origin. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are related, as many Scottish families share similar surnames.
In conclusion, there is no evidence that Alex Murdaugh and Rupert Murdoch are related by blood or marriage. They are two very different men who share nothing but a similar-sounding surname. They are not part of the same family tree, nor do they have any business or personal ties. They are simply the Murdaugh-Murdoch mystery.
