Rupert Murdoch is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful media moguls alive. The owner of a vast empire of newspapers, production companies, and publishers, he has the power to literally shape public opinion. It has been a power he has wielded on more than one occasion, to very mixed results, and it has made him one of the most controversial figures in worldwide media. He inherited his first media company, News Limited, from his father, in the early 50s. Fast forward to 2013, and he owns the second-largest media conglomerate on the planet. He is the current Chairman of News Corp and the current CEO and Chairman of 21st Century Fox. News Corp and 21st Century Fox were part of the same company, News Corporation until 2013. He was Chairman and CEO of News Corporation from 1979 to 2013. (Apparently, splitting the power at the top was never part of the plan when the companies were divided.) He is the owner of many of the newspapers in Australia and New Zealand. He also owns the News of the World, The Sun, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as the publishing company, HarperCollins. In 2011, a number of his media companies, which are currently spread out over 50 countries, were accused of wiretapping the phones of various important citizens around the world. He is currently under investigation for bribery and corruption by both the British and US governments. He resigned as director of News International in mid-2012 amid the fallout. Apparently, being accused of bribery by multiple governments affected Mr. Murdoch not a whit, because just under a year later, he purchased a massive mansion and vineyard in Los Angeles.
Rupert Murdoch's house is 7,500 square feet and has three bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. In addition to the main house, there is also a two-bedroom guesthouse and a 4,400 square foot office space. In addition to the actual buildings that make up Rupert Murdoch's house in Los Angeles, the home also sports a 13-acre vineyard. The vineyard, known as Moraga Vineyards, is actually a working vineyard, and the previous owners used the office space as the winery sales office. A massive wine cave completes the compound. Rupert Murdoch's house was purchased for the rather astronomical sum of $30 million. Spending lots of money seems to be a trend with Mr. Murdoch of late, as he is currently in the midst of what is quickly becoming a nasty, and expensive, divorce from his third wife.
Read more: Rupert Murdoch's House: As If We Needed A Reminder Of How Rich He Is