Murdoch's Wife Files For Divorce

Anna Murdoch, the wife of tycoon Rupert Murdoch filed for divorce Tuesday. After being married to the News Corporation Chairman for 31 years, Mrs. Murdoch filed divorce papers in Los Angeles because of "irreconcilable differences."

The divorce filing raises concerned questions if the 67-year-old Murdoch will lose part of his share in the media conglomerate through a settlement.

Anna Murdoch is possibly entitiled to part of the family's $9 billion dollar share in the conglomeration because under California law, a divorcing couple splits community property equally. If settled, her share of News Corporation could be as much as $4.5 billion dollars. It is not yet known if Anna Murdoch will ask for that much.

In her divorce petition, Murdoch said she was, "unaware of the full nature and extent of the community and quasi-community assets and obligations of the parties and will amend this petition after discovery or at the trial."

Anna Murdoch's attorney could not be reached for comment, nor could Rupert Murdoch or a spokesperson for News Corporation be reached as well.

The divorce filing causes uncertainty about whether Rupert Murdoch could control the company, and if the structure through which the family stock is owned will affect his liabilities under community property division rules.

Several reports have said that Rupert Murdoch moved his stock into the names of his children, all of whom work for News Corporation. Yet many feel that it is unlikely he could use such a tactic just to avoid sharing any of his family's stock in the company with his wife.

The Murdochs announced their seperation three months ago through a New York Post gossip columnist. The petition, signed by Anna Murdoch on July 5, was just filed in court Tuesday afternoon. Also the petition gave the date of the seperation as June 26, almost two months after the announcement.

At the time, there was speculation that Anna Murdoch was pressuring her husband with a divorce threat because she was frustrated with his hectic travel schedule and had wanted him to change.