James Murdoch in Talks to Acquire New York Magazine and Podcasts

Reports suggest that James Murdoch may soon be the owner of New York Magazine and its popular podcasts. His investment firm, Lupa Systems, is reportedly in advanced discussions with Vox Media to purchase these assets, as noted by the Wall Street Journal.

Sources indicate that Lupa is prepared to invest over $300 million in this deal, although negotiations are still ongoing. Vox Media has been seeking buyers amid a decline in the digital media landscape.

James Murdoch has positioned himself as a progressive figure within his family. He notably supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, according to CNBC. Following the January 6th Capitol riot, he criticized media owners for perpetuating false narratives. His wife, Kathryn, is involved with The Bulwark, a digital outlet that opposes Donald Trump.

His potential acquisition of Vox’s assets marks a significant step away from the media empire established by his father. Each of James and his sisters received around $1.1 billion from a settlement in September 2025, a deal that left their brother Lachlan in control of voting shares at Fox and News Corp.

New York Magazine, along with Vulture and The Cut, attracts close to 10 million visitors monthly. However, Vox has experienced audience declines, particularly after Facebook curtailed its referral traffic and AI-generated summaries started to divert search clicks from Google.

James Murdoch’s media ventures haven’t all been successful. For instance, he once held a stake in Vice Media, but that investment was lost when the company went bankrupt.