Succession is loosely based on the real-life family of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. These are the ten biggest similarities between them.
WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Succession
Succession is loosely based on the real-life family of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and there are a number of similarities between the fictional Roy family and real Murdoch family. Creator Jesse Armstrong and the writers of the hit HBO drama series have drawn many parallels and inspirations from the Murdoch family structure and businesses without creating a biographical interpretation of their lives. While Succession is not based on a true story, much of its plot is directly inspired by the Murdoch family, including several of their most well-known business deals and high-profile scandals.
With only one episode remaining of the lauded series before the roughly 90-minute finale, Succession will ultimately reveal the fate of Logan's grand achievement Waystar Royco and the outcomes for the show's main characters. After ATN called an election victory for the radical Republican candidate Mencken in Succession season 4, episode 8, the series has proved that anything can happen in its final two episodes. The response to Mencken's victory drew parallels to the shock of the 2016 election of Donald Trump, but that's not where the similarities end. Here are ten similarities between Succession and the Murdoch family.
10 Logan Roy & Rupert Murdoch
Logan Roy is based on the real-life Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch is one of the richest people in the world, known for his aggressive business tactics, much like Logan Roy. Murdoch owned the 21st Century Fox movie studio until he sold it to Disney in 2019, though Murdoch still owns the Fox News Corporation. At Waystar, Logan owns a film and entertainment conglomerate as well as a news platform, ATN. Both Logan and Rupert have had more than one marriage and children with more than one partner. Rupert, much like Logan, didn't set up a clear line of succession for his children, and reportedly did not have much faith in them to take the reins when he died or retired.
9 Kendall Roy & Lachlan Murdoch
Kendall Roy is inspired by the real-life Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert's eldest son from his second marriage. The biggest similarity between Kendall and Lachlan is that they were both expected to be the heir apparent for their father's company, but both Logan and Rupert decided against it. Lachlan reportedly has differences of opinion in the direction of Rupert's cable news network and quit voluntarily, whereas Kendall's story is filled with more betrayal and personal lows with addiction issues. The fictional Kendall is very different from the real-life person that Lachlan is, with the main similarity being the differences in opinion on the direction of the media business.
8 Roman Roy & James Murdoch
Roman Roy is inspired by the real-life James Murdoch, who is the youngest child of Rupert Murdoch. Both James and Roman were unofficially vetted to succeed their father's executive positions. Roman and James both served in similar roles as COOs as well. The biggest similarity between James and Roman is that they weren't initially expected to take over their father's role, but were considered after their older brothers disqualified themselves from consideration. James eventually quit over differences of opinion with his father, similar to how Roman teamed up with Kendall and Shiv at the beginning of Succession season 4.
7 Siobhan Roy & Elisabeth Murdoch
Siobhan Roy and Elisabeth Murdoch are both daughters from their father's second marriages. Similarly, both were never taken into serious consideration by their fathers to take over his company. Siobhan shares many similar traits with Logan, including his deceptiveness and his unflinching ability to lie to protect his self-interest. According to New York Magazine, Elisabeth also shares similar traits with her father. Shiv and Elisabeth both initially started their careers outside their father's business, with Shiv pursuing politics and Elisabeth founding her own production company.
6 Connor Roy & Prudence MacLeod
Both Connor Roy and Prudence MacLeod are the disregarded eldest children of Logan and Rupert, receptively. Similarly, neither Connor nor Prudence has any genuine interest in getting involved in their father's media empire. The biggest similarity between them is that they are generally considered separate from their three siblings in the eyes of their fathers. Logan never took Connor seriously but failed to realize that Connor was the only one that wasn't trying to win his love through his approval in the family business.
5 ATN & Fox News
ATN is loosely inspired by Fox News, with both news corporations having right-leaning viewpoints. Both ATN and Fox target conservative demographics and older audiences. Both networks also face a great deal of controversy, most notably in Succession season 4, episode 7 where Kendall's daughter gets bullied at school because of her father's association with ATN. Fox News is notorious for its outspoken entertainment programs that have shamelessly promoted conservative notions and supported Donald Trump throughout his presidency. Succession's new President Mencken was strongly supported by ATN, whose behind-the-scenes involvement will likely prove to be controversial.
4 GoJo's WayStar Merger & Disney's Fox Takeover
Gojo's desire to buy out Waystar is very similar to Disney's takeover of Fox. Gojo is a very current media brand with a popular streaming platform, much like Disney+ on a fundamental level. Waystar is described as having outdated programming that Gojo wants to re-brand under their umbrella. Waystar also has Waystar Studios, which attracts Gojo CEO Lukas Matsson to expand his business. Disney bought 21st Century Fox in 2019 in a move that is similar to Gojo buying out Waystar. Rupert Murdoch was able to keep ownership of Fox News, much like how Roman fought to keep ownership of ATN in Succession season 4.
3 WayStar Buying Vaulter & Fox Buying A Stake Of Vice
Waystar bought Vaulter early on in Succession season 1, which draws similarities to Fox buying Vice Media in 2013. Vice themselves revealed the similarities between them and the fictional company Vaulter, which included a large expensive neon sign and other office designs and amenities. Vice also infamously laid off many of its employees, which Kendall did in Succession after buying Vaulter out and effectively gutting the media company.
2 ATN's Cruise Ship Scandal & Fox's Phone Hacking Scandal
Both ATN's Logan Roy and Fox's Rupert Murdoch were forced to testify and defend themselves against massive scandals. ATN faced criticisms of a cruise ship scandal, covering up years of inappropriate conduct and even murders that occurred on a Waystar cruise ship. Fox didn't have a scandal of that magnitude, but it was involved in a phone hacking scandal where its employees hacked into the phones of well-known people. Both Logan and Rupert were forced to testify as a result. Interestingly, both moguls placed the blame on one of their kids, Kendall and James. James took the fall and resigned while Kendall was not so obedient, defaming his father at a press conference.
1 Logan Roy & Rupert Murdoch Both Give Speeches Standing On Paper Boxes
Logan famously gave a speech in Succession season 4 on the floor of his ATN workplace standing on a stage of paper boxes. Rupert Murdoch did the exact same thing on the floor of the Wall Street Journal's corporate office in 2007. This is probably the most direct similarity between Logan and Rupert that was taken straight from real life and put into Succession. Rupert's speech was not as passionate as Logan's, however, and there was reportedly no mention of pirates. The similarities between the Roy empire and the Murdoch family provide much of the inspiration in Succession.
