銆€銆€A file photo of Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng. [Photo: oddculture.com]

銆€銆€News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch has filed for divorce from Wendi Deng because their marriage has "irretrievably broken down", says his spokesman, according to the BBC.

銆€銆€The divorce papers were filed at the New York State Supreme Court.

銆€銆€The couple got married in 1999 aboard a private yacht in New York and have two daughters together, Grace and Chloe.

銆€銆€Mr Murdoch, 82, met his Chinese-born third wife in 1997 at a cocktail party in Hong Kong. They were married two years later, just weeks after his second divorce.

銆€銆€Ms Deng, 44, is 38 years younger than the Australian-born media mogul who is reportedly worth $9.4 billion.

銆€銆€Mr Murdoch, now a US citizen, reportedly paid $1.7bn in his divorce settlement from his last wife.

銆€銆€Ms Deng, said to be the daughter of a factory director, was born in 1968 and grew up in the eastern Chinese city of Xuzhou before leaving for the US at the age of 19 to study.

銆€銆€She worked in a Chinese restaurant in California before going on to graduate from Yale University in 1996.

銆€銆€Ms Deng was later employed by Star TV, News Corp's Asian satellite-television operation in Hong Kong, where she met Mr Murdoch during one of his visits.

銆€銆€The divorce filing comes two days before News Corp was announced to be split into two companies, one for its entertainment assets and the other for its publishing business. Mr Murdoch is to be chairman of both firms.

銆€銆€His global media portfolio includes the Wall Street Journal, television channels such as Fox News and Sky, and the 20th Century Fox movie studio.

銆€銆€A spokesman for Mr Murdoch in New York declined to comment on the causes behind the breakdown of the relationship, including spectulation on third party involvement or whether Ms Deng would contest the petition.

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