Being the master of a media empire allows one of the newspapers you cherish, even if it is a regular shabby tabloid like The New York Post, to describe you in this eloquently flattering way:
“Rupert Murdoch: Professionally, father of media on Earth; personally, the newsmaker himself. Celebrating this March, the month of his birth, the news for him is that he is getting married, again.
On the 11th of last month he turned 92 years old. It’s never too late. Shortly after he gave a solitaire diamond, rock style, to consolidate his new relationship and ask for the hand of this woman, the fifth chosen in his extensive experience. “I’m very nervous. I was afraid of falling in love, but I know that this will be my last time. I’m happy,†he said.
Who is she, the lucky one?
Her name is Ann Lesley Smith, 66, who served as a chaplain for the San Francisco police. Her last husband (he died in August 2008) was Chester Smith, country singer, radio and television executive, although very far from the dimension of Murdoch, founder of what many call “Fox country.”
In this nation, almost an independent republic in the United States, the alternative reality predominates, where it does not matter that falsehoods are spread knowingly as long as the audience is offered what they want to hear and this brings huge benefits. A $1.6 billion lawsuit is hanging over the network for repeating the lies about Donald Trump’s electoral theft in 2020. Although Murdoch acknowledged that this did not exist, explaining the truth meant that his viewers would desert in droves.
Faced with this economic and legal threat (ethical disrepute neither worries him nor makes him lose sleep), the tycoon found solace one day last September when he visited his Moraga vineyards in Bel Air (California). Smith was also there and the arrow of love at first sight arose, according to what they say.
“For hindsight, this isn’t my first rodeo,†she joked. “I was widowed 14 years ago and I have waited for the right time, this is a gift for both of us,” she stressed. She recalled that her late husband developed radio stations, television channels and helped promote Univisión, the Hispanic channel with the highest audience in the US.
“We speak the same language,†he added. In addition, she and Chester also owned some vineyards, which became another point of connection between the lovers.
Smith performed various tasks. She was a journalist, dental hygienist, model or singer. She knows about the good life and misery.
At age 28, Ann Lesley married John B. Huntington, a 47-year-old attorney and member of one of California’s most illustrious families, pioneers in railroad expansion.
A graduate of Iowa State University, she was enjoying $65,000 a month just for clothing expenses at the time. “During the day my life was fun and exciting,†she once declared. Her garage was filled with luxury cars and her stables of thoroughbred horses. At night, when alcohol defeated Huntington, that was hell, with physical and emotional abuse
There was a divorce, but because of the prenuptial agreement, she was left on the street, one hand in front and one behind. Overnight she was homeless living on welfare, she insisted on her confessions. “I had suicidal thoughts,†she said.
She always commented that her faith in Jesus Christ helped her get out of the hole. She developed various occupations until she volunteered with the San Francisco police in her role as what is called a chaplain. That’s how she met Chester Smith, who grew up in a Christian home.
He had started what they claim was the first country music station in California in Modesto, in 1963.
So she began to act as a presenter, happy in that other marriage. Chester and Ann Lesley even released an album together. It was titled Captured by love, captured by love.
Upon Chester’s death, she continued her radio and journalistic duties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
After 14 years, Lesley Ann finds the new man of her life again. They both bring a lot of experience. Murdoch was first married in 1956 to flight attendant Patricia Booker. Then came Anna Maria Torv, Wendi Deng and Jerry Hall. Smith closes the list. Or not.
