Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani: Careers and Leadership Compared
Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani lead two very different giants. Murdoch runs Fox Corporation and chairs News Corp. Cordani led The Cigna Group for almost 17 years and now serves as its executive chair. One works in news, sports, and streaming. The other works in insurance, pharmacy services, and health care. This guide compares their careers, leadership styles, pay, families, and succession plans in plain terms.
Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani: Profile Summary
Detail
Lachlan Murdoch
David Cordani
Full name
Lachlan Keith Murdoch
David M. Cordani
Born
September 8, 1971, London, England
February 10, 1966, Waterbury, Connecticut
Age (2026)
55
60
Education
Princeton University (philosophy)
Texas A&M University (bachelor’s); University of Hartford (MBA)
Main company
Fox Corporation; News Corp
The Cigna Group
Current role
Executive Chair and CEO of Fox; Chair of News Corp
Executive Chair of Cigna (CEO until July 1, 2026)
Industry
Media, news, sports, streaming
Health insurance and health services
Spouse
Sarah Murdoch
Sherry Cordani
Children
Three
Two
Latest annual pay
About $33 million (Fox fiscal 2025)
About $22.9 million (Cigna 2025)
What Connects Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani?
There is no known personal, family, or business link between Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani. They are not related. They do not run companies that work together, and no public record shows a partnership.
What they share is rank. Both sit at the top of Fortune 500 companies, both hold the executive chair title, and both guided their firms through huge deals. That makes them a natural pair for leadership and pay comparisons.
The contrast is just as useful. Murdoch inherited a place in a family dynasty. Cordani rose through the ranks of a public company. Their paths show two common routes to the corner office.
Early Life and Education
Lachlan Murdoch Background and Education
Lachlan Murdoch was born in London in 1971. He is the eldest son of Rupert Murdoch and Anna Murdoch. He grew up mostly in New York and spent time in Australia.
Lachlan studied philosophy at Princeton University and graduated in 1994. He joined the family business right after. His early jobs were in Australia, where he worked at News Limited.
David Cordani Background and Education
David Cordani was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1966. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University. Later he completed an MBA at the University of Hartford.
He built his career inside Cigna, starting in the early 1990s. He held finance and operating roles before moving into senior leadership. His education and early work were practical and business-focused.
Careers and Corporate Roles
Lachlan Murdoch Career at Fox Corporation and News Corp
Murdoch rose quickly at News Corporation in the 1990s. He ran News Limited in Australia and later became publisher of the New York Post. By 2000, he was deputy chief operating officer of the wider company.
He left in 2005 and moved to Sydney. There he built his own investments. He bought into the radio group Nova Entertainment and later chaired Ten Network Holdings.
He returned in 2014 as co-chair of News Corp and 21st Century Fox. In 2015 he became executive chair of 21st Century Fox. After Disney bought most of that company in 2019, he took charge of the new Fox Corporation. He also became sole chair of News Corp in late 2023.
Fox has since extended his contract through 2030. That move signals strong board confidence and long-term stability.
David Cordani Career at The Cigna Group
Cordani became president and chief operating officer of Cigna in 2008. He took over as CEO in 2009. He held the job for nearly 17 years.
On March 3, 2026, Cigna announced that he would retire as CEO on July 1, 2026. Brian Evanko, the president and COO, took over the top job. Cordani moved into the executive chair role.
During his tenure, Cigna grew from a traditional insurer serving about 46 million customers and earning about $18 billion a year into a global health company. It now serves more than 185 million customer relationships and generates about $275 billion in annual revenue. Total shareholder return rose by more than 750% over that time.
Leadership Styles and Business Strategies
Lachlan Murdoch Approach to Media and Broadcasting
Murdoch bets on live content. News and sports draw big audiences in real time, and viewers rarely skip the ads. Fox built its business around that idea.
He keeps the company lean and focused. After the Disney deal, Fox kept Fox News, Fox Sports, and the Fox broadcast network. It left behind the film studios and entertainment channels.
He also pushes into streaming without giving up broadcast strength. Fox bought the free streaming service Tubi in 2020 and launched the Fox One subscription service in 2025. Murdoch is also known for a hands-on style and a strong editorial voice at Fox News.
David Cordani Approach to Healthcare and Health Services
Cordani favors a steady, planned style. He often described leadership as a relay, where the goal is to pass the baton smoothly. His own succession followed that plan.
His core strategy was to move beyond insurance. He grew the health services side, now called Evernorth, which includes pharmacy benefits, specialty drugs, and care services. Cigna Healthcare covers the insurance side.
He also tied pay and strategy to customer measures such as affordability and satisfaction. That approach shaped how Cigna talked about its goals with investors and clients.
Major Deals and Capital Allocation
The Disney–Fox Deal
Disney agreed to buy most of 21st Century Fox for about $71 billion, and the deal closed in March 2019. Murdoch was executive chair of 21st Century Fox at the time. The remaining assets formed Fox Corporation, and he became its CEO.
The move created a smaller, more focused company. It also gave Murdoch full command of a new public business. Fox has since used cash flow for buybacks, dividends, and growth in streaming.
The Cigna–Express Scripts Deal
Cordani’s defining deal was the purchase of Express Scripts, announced in 2018 for roughly $67 billion including debt. It closed in December 2018. The deal made Cigna a major player in pharmacy benefits.
He also pursued other large moves. Cigna’s earlier merger with Anthem was blocked in court. In late 2023, Cigna explored a merger with Humana but walked away. In 2025, it completed the sale of its Medicare business to HCSC.
Murdoch’s digital push centers on streaming and live events. Tubi gives Fox a large free audience. Fox One lets viewers watch live Fox channels without a cable bundle.
Cordani’s push centers on data and care delivery. Evernorth uses analytics, virtual care, and pharmacy services to try to lower costs and improve results. Cigna also invests in digital tools for members and employers.
Both leaders face the same test. They must keep their older, profitable businesses strong while building new ones.
Crisis Management, Regulation, and Public Accountability
Murdoch has faced intense scrutiny over Fox News. In 2023, Fox paid $787.5 million to settle Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit over false election claims. A separate suit from Smartmatic has also drawn attention.
Cordani has faced pressure over drug pricing and pharmacy benefit managers. Lawmakers and employers have questioned rebates and how middlemen set prices. In response, Evernorth announced a move away from rebate-based pricing, starting in 2027.
The two cases differ, but the lesson is the same. Public companies in sensitive industries must answer to regulators, courts, customers, and voters.
Net Worth, Salary, and Compensation Compared
Pay data is public for both men, but net worth is harder to pin down. Lachlan Murdoch’s personal wealth is commonly estimated at around $3 billion. It comes mostly from his Fox and News Corp holdings and family interests. David Cordani’s exact net worth is not publicly known.
Murdoch earned about $33 million in Fox’s fiscal 2025, which ended June 30, 2025. That was up from $23.8 million the year before. His package included a $3 million salary, stock and option awards, and a bonus.
Cordani earned about $22.9 million in 2025, slightly less than the $23.3 million he made in 2024. Most of his pay came from stock awards tied to performance.
Measure
Lachlan Murdoch
David Cordani
Latest annual pay
About $33 million
About $22.9 million
Prior-year pay
$23.8 million
$23.3 million
Base salary
About $3 million
About $1.5 million range
Personal net worth
Estimated near $3 billion
Not publicly known
Murdoch’s new contract also raises his target annual bonus to $9 million and his target equity award to $20 million. That points to higher pay in the years ahead.
Personal Life, Family, and Philanthropy
Lachlan Murdoch’s Family and Philanthropic Activities
Lachlan Murdoch married Sarah O’Hare in 1999. She is an Australian television host and model who now goes by Sarah Murdoch. They have three children and split time between Australia and the United States.
He has long supported arts, culture, and community causes in Australia. His wife is also publicly involved in children’s health and charity work. Details of his private giving are not widely published.
David Cordani’s Family and Philanthropic Activities
David Cordani is married to Sherry, and they have two children. He keeps a lower public profile than Murdoch and rarely shares family details.
He has often spoken about health equity and community well-being. Cigna runs a corporate foundation and wellness programs that reflect those themes. Specific personal donations are not publicly detailed.
Succession and Long-Term Corporate Direction
Murdoch Family Trust and Succession
In September 2025, the Murdoch family settled a long legal fight over control of the family trust. Lachlan’s siblings Prudence, Elisabeth, and James agreed to leave the trust. They received about $1.1 billion each.
A new structure now holds the family’s voting shares in Fox and News Corp. Voting control rests solely with Lachlan. His father, Rupert, stepped back to chairman emeritus in 2023, and Lachlan is now the clear head of the empire.
Cigna Leadership Transition
Cigna handled its change at the top through a multi-year plan. Brian Evanko, a nearly 30-year Cigna veteran who once served as CFO, became CEO on July 1, 2026. Cordani stays on as executive chair to guide the board and support the handoff.
That structure keeps experience close while giving the new CEO room to lead. It is a classic example of an orderly corporate transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani Related?
No, they are not related and have no known family connection.
Do Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani Work Together?
No, they lead separate companies in different industries with no known joint business.
Who Is Older, Lachlan Murdoch or David Cordani?
David Cordani, born in February 1966, is about five years older than Lachlan Murdoch, born in September 1971.
What Does David Cordani Do Now?
Since July 1, 2026, Cordani has served as executive chair of The Cigna Group’s board while Brian Evanko runs the company as CEO.
Who Controls Fox Corporation After Rupert Murdoch?
Lachlan Murdoch holds sole voting control of the family’s Fox and News Corp shares under the 2025 trust settlement.
Conclusion
Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani have no known link beyond their rank, but comparing them is useful. Murdoch combines family control with a tight focus on live news, sports, and streaming, and he now holds firm command of both Fox and News Corp.
Cordani spent nearly 17 years turning Cigna from a traditional insurer into a global health services giant, then passed the CEO role to a trusted successor while staying on as executive chair. Both men show how leaders can reshape large companies through bold deals, disciplined strategy, and careful planning for what comes next.
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