Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media tycoon, has been spotted cruising the Mediterranean with his new companion, retired scientist Elena Zhukova, 66. The couple have spent several weeks aboard yachts, including the Christina O, the legendary vessel once owned by Aristotle Onassis, and a second unidentified yacht, visiting Greece and Italy.
Murdoch's daughters Grace, 22, and Chloe, 20, from his marriage to Wendi Deng, have joined him at times. Grace's Instagram showed her boyfriend Hugo Carney, a fellow Yale student, also on board. The family enjoyed spotting dolphins alongside the yacht.
Zhukova, a petite brunette, was introduced to Murdoch by his ex-wife Wendi Deng. Zhukova's daughter Dasha, an art collector and philanthropist, is divorced from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and is a close friend of Deng. The two women reportedly thought Zhukova would be a good match for Murdoch after his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith ended in April.
Zhukova, a retired scientist, is Jewish and has experience with public scrutiny through her daughter's high-profile marriage. She is described as more at home in wealthy circles than Smith, a former dental hygienist. Murdoch has been married four times and has six children. Sources say it is early days for the relationship, but joining a weeks-long cruise suggests a significant commitment.
