Rupert Murdoch has filed for divorce from his third wife as the relationship has “broken down irretrievably” but the move will have “zero impact on the company”, a News Corp spokesman said.
The media mogul filed for divorce from Wendi Deng through New York Supreme Court on Thursday morning.
Ms Deng is famous for springing to her husband’s aid when a protester threw a custard pie at him as he appeared before MPs to answer questions about phone hacking in 2011.
The News Corp spokesman said the divorce will have “zero impact on the company”, as it emerged a pre-nuptial agreement was in place to protect Mr Murdoch’s shares.
He said the divorce filing states: “The relationship between the husband and wife has broken down irretrievably.”
The spokesman said it was unlikely that the company will release a statement on the matter, so the reasons for the marriage breakdown remain unclear.
At 44, Ms Deng is 38 years younger than Mr Murdoch, who is 82.
Mr Murdoch and Ms Deng married in June 1999 on board the mogul’s private yacht, Morning Glory, amid tight security.
The couple have two children together, Grace, who was born in late 2001, and Chloe, who was born in the summer of 2003.
Ms Deng was born to strict parents in mainland China and is Mr Murdoch’s third wife.
Mr Murdoch was reported to have paid out $1.7bn (£1.08bn) in his divorce settlement from his last wife Anna Murdoch a sum that would make it one of the most expensive divorces of all time.