Who is Rupert Murdoch’s new wife-to-be Ann Lesley Smith? Media mogul gets engaged again at 92

Rupert Murdoch may have thanked the luck of the Irish as he got engaged for the fifth time on St Patrick’s Day last week.

The 92-year-old media mogul announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, 66, through the New York Post, which is owned by Murdoch’s NewsCorp, just six months after he first met his new wife-to-be at his Moraga, Bel Air vineyard.

The announcement comes as Rupert hopes his fifth engagement will be his last, after stating: “I was very nervous. I dreaded falling in love—but I knew this would be my last. It better be. I'm happy. We're both looking forward to spending the second half of our lives together.”

News of Ann saying 'yes' to Rupert comes after the latter’s latest divorce from supermodel Jerry Hall was finalised in August 2022.

Ahead of Rupert tying the knot for a fifth time, PeopleWorld takes a look at who Ann Lesley Smith is.

Ann Lesley Smith is a former police chaplain who worked in San Francisco and has been married twice before meeting Rupert Murdoch.

Her last marriage was to country singer and businessman Chester Smith who died from heart failure 14 years ago. Ann explained that marrying a media mogul was ‘not her first rodeo’ as Chester had worked for local papers, developed TV and radio stations and promoted Univision. 

In addition to working in broadcast, Chester created music with Ann even recording an album together in 2005 called Captured by Love.

Although Ann worked as a former police chaplain, the 66-year-old also hosted her own radio show on Power Talk 1360 following Chester’s death, to continue her widow’s broadcasting work.

Therefore, it may make perfect sense that Ann and Rupert have ended up together ‘captured by love’ as they share a broadcast past and look at their impending nuptials as a 'gift from God'.