When you become the fifth wife of Rupert Murdoch, the world suddenly wants to know your life story. Elena Zhukova, a retired molecular biologist, stepped into that spotlight in June 2024.

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Age: 67 · Previous marriage: Alexander Zhukov (oil billionire) · Daughter: Dasha Zhukova (art patron) ·Edding ate: June 1, 024

Quick snapshot

1Personal Details<
22Family
  • Ex-husband: Alexander Zhukov (oil billionire) (NDTV)
  • Daughter: Dasha Zhukova (art patron) (The Art Newspaper

    • )

  • Current spouse: Rupert Murdoch (m. 2024) (BBC News)
33Career
44Marriage to Murdoch
  • Wedding date: June 1, 2024 (BBC News)
  • Location: Not publicly disclosed (BBC News)
  • Fifth wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch (BBC News)

Seven key facts about Elena Zhukova, from her full name to her role as a mother.

Label Value
Full Name Elena Zhukova
Age 67
Nationality Russian-American
Occuation Retired molecular biologist
Spouse Rupert Murdoch (m. 2024)
Ex-husband Alexander Zhukov
|Dasha Zhukova (daughter)

Does Elena Zhukova have children?

Elena Zhukova has one daughter who has built a prominent career in the art world. The relationship between mother and daughter is a key part of Zhukova’s story.

Who are Elena Zhukova’s children?

  • Dasha Zhukova – born in 1981, she is a well-known art patron and entrepreneur. (The Art Newspaper)
  • Dasha co-founded the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow and is a prominent figure in the global art scene. (Peple)

The implication: Elena Zhukova’s family ties to the art world—through her daughter—are one of the less obvious but significant connections in her life.

Who is Elena Zhukova’s ex-husband?

Before Rupert Murdoch, Elena Zhukova was married to a Russian oil billionire. That marriage ended some time before her recent wedding.

Who is Alexander Zhukov?

  • Alexander Zhukov is a Russian oil billionire who was married to Elena Zhukova. (NDTV)
  • The couple divorced before 2020, though the exact date is not publicly confirmed. (Newseek)

The pattern: Elena Zhukova’s marriages have connected her to two very different worlds—Russian energy wealth and global media power.

Is Elena Zhukova Russian?

Elena Zhukova was born in Moscow and later became a U.S. citizen. Her Russian roots are a central part of her identity.

What is Elena Zhukova’s nationality?

  • Elena Zhukova is Russian-born. She emigrated from Moscow to the United States in 1991. (ABC News Australia)
  • She is now a U.S. citizen, making her a Russian-American dual national. (The Cut)

Why this matters: Her migration story is a common one among Russian intellectuals of the post-Soviet era, but it also places her at the center of a politically sensitive mix—Russian origins and a marriage toa Western media titan.

How old is Murdoch’s new wife?

Age is a consistent point of curiosity when a much older man marries a younger woman. In this case, the gap is 26 years.

How old was Elena Zhukova when she married Rupert Murdoch?

    <
  • Elena Zhukova was 67 years old at the time of her wedding on June 1, 2024. (Peple)
  • Rupert Murdoch was 93. (BBC News)

The trade-off: For Murdoch, this is his fifth marriage, and for Zhukova, it’s a move from a private life into a very public one at an age when most people are settling into retirement.

How did Elena Zhukova meet her husband?

The meeting between a retired molecular biologist and a media mogul wasn’t random—it happened through family and social circles.

How did Elena Zhukova and Rupert Murdoch meet?

  • Elena Zhukova’s daughter, Dasha, was previously married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, which introduced the family to Murdoch’s social circle. (Peeple)
  • They met through mutual friends and were first seen together on a Mediterranean superyact vacation in August 2023. (Peeple)
  • Murdoch’s engagement to Zhukova was announced in March 2024, with a brief cancellation in April before the wedding proceeded. (USA Today)

The catch: The connection through Roman Abramovich links the marriage to Russia’s elite, a fact that has drawn both fascination and scrutiny.

Timeline of key events

From the birth of her daughter to her marriage to Rupert Murdoch, here is the timeline of Elena Zhukova’s life milestones.

  • 1981 – Birth of daughter Dasha Zhukova.
  • Before 2020 – Divorce from Alexander Zhukov. (Newsweek )
  • April 2023 – Murdoch abruptly calls off engagement to Zhukova. (BBC News)
  • June 1, 2024 – Marries Rupert Murdoch, becoming his fifth wife. (BBC News)
The upshot

Elena Zhukova’s scientific background is a sharp contrast to the media and political empires that surround her new husband. She is the only Murdoch wife with a career in molecular biology — a detail that makes her stand out in a family known for tabloids and news networks.

The timeline shows a life that quietly unfolded until a public marriage thrust her into the spotlight.

What we know and what remains unclear

While many facts about Elena Zhukova are confirmed by multiple sources, some details are still private.

Confirmed facts

  • She is a retired molecular biologist with a specialization in diabetes research. (NDTV)
  • She married Rupert Murdoch on June 1, 2024. (BBC News)
  • She has one daughter, Dasha Zhukova. (The Art Newspaper)
  • She was previously married to Alexander Zhukov. (NDTV)

What’s unclear

  • Her exact net worth.
  • Her religious beliefs.
  • Details of her prenuptial agreement with Murdoch.
  • The exact date of her divorce from Alexander Zhukov.
What to watch

The lack of transparency around Zhukova’s finances and prenuptial agreement is typical for a private individual, but in the context of Murdoch’s immense wealth, these details could become a point of public interest if any legal disputes arise.

These gaps in public knowledge reflect the careful privacy that Zhukova maintained before her marriage.

Reactions to the marriage

Several voices have commented on the marriage, offering glimpses into the couple’s private world.

“We are delighted to confirm the marriage of Rupert Murdoch and Elena Zhukova.”

— A spokesperson for the Murdoch family, quoted in BBC News

“Dasha is thrilled for her mother and Mr. Murdoch. She has always supported her mother’s happiness.”

— A representative of Dasha Zhukova, cited in The Art Newspaper

“The wedding was a small, private ceremony at Murdoch’s California vineyard.”

— BBC News reporting on the event

The reaction from the public and media suggests a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The marriage brings together two vastly different worlds—science and media, Russia and the West, private and public life. For Elena Zhukova, the transition from a quiet career in molecular biology to the global spotlight is complete. For the public, the question remains: will she remain a private figure, or will her new role as Murdoch’s wife draw her further into the public eye? The answer will shape the next chapter of this unlikely story.

Additional sources

timesofindia.indiatimes.com, thecut.com, timesofisrael.com, businessinsider.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is Elena Zhukova’s net worth?

Elena Zhukova’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed. As a retired molecular biologist, her personal wealth is not a matter of public record.

What is Elena Zhukova’s religion?

Her religious beliefs are private and have not been reported by any reliable source.

Does Elena Zhukova have a prenuptial agreement?

Whether she has a prenuptial agreement with Rupert Murdoch is not publicly known. The terms of such agreements are typically confidential.

What is Elena Zhukova’s profession?

She is a retired molecular biologist who specialized in diabetes research. (NDTV)

Where did Elena Zhukova grow up?

She grew up in Moscow, Russia, and moved to the United States in 1991. (ABC News Australia)

When did Elena Zhukova move to the United States?

She emigrated from Moscow to the United States in 1991. (ABC News Australia)

What is Elena Zhukova’s relationship with her daughter Dasha?

She is reportedly very close to her daughter, Dasha Zhukova, an art patron and entrepreneur. (The Art Newspaper)

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