Murdoch Wives Linked to Jeffrey Epstein

Connections between Rupert Murdoch's ex-wives and the late sex offender raise new questions.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 4:37am

Following the recent death of Rupert Murdoch's second wife, Anna Maria dePeyster, in Palm Beach, Florida, an investigation into the U.S. Department of Justice's Epstein files has uncovered references to members of the Murdoch family. The files suggest that Jeffrey Epstein used Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of Rupert's former publishing competitor Robert Maxwell, to communicate with some of Murdoch's ex-wives.

Why it matters

The revelations about the Murdoch family's potential connections to the Epstein scandal raise serious questions about the media mogul's personal and professional relationships, as well as the broader web of influence and power dynamics that may have enabled Epstein's crimes.

The details

The Epstein files indicate that the convicted sex offender used Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch's former publishing rival Robert Maxwell, to communicate with some of Murdoch's ex-wives. This suggests a potential link between the Murdoch family and Epstein's criminal enterprise.

  • Anna Maria dePeyster, Rupert Murdoch's second wife, died on February 17, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida.
  • The investigation into the Epstein files was conducted following dePeyster's death.

The players

Rupert Murdoch

A media mogul and the founder of News Corp, which owns various news outlets including Fox News.

Anna Maria dePeyster

Rupert Murdoch's second wife, who died in Palm Beach, Florida on February 17, 2026.

Ghislaine Maxwell

The daughter of Rupert Murdoch's former publishing competitor Robert Maxwell, who was used by Jeffrey Epstein to communicate with some of Murdoch's ex-wives.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who was at the center of a high-profile scandal involving the abuse of underage girls.

Robert Maxwell

Rupert Murdoch's former publishing competitor, and the father of Ghislaine Maxwell.

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What’s next

Investigators are expected to continue examining the Epstein files for any additional connections between the Murdoch family and the convicted sex offender's criminal network.

The takeaway

The potential links between the Murdoch family and the Epstein scandal raise serious concerns about the power and influence wielded by media moguls, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the industry.