You’ve probably seen the screaming headlines at a bodega or scrolled past a snarky Page Six tweet and wondered, who is actually calling the shots at this place? The New York Post is basically the loud, brash relative of American media. It’s been around since Alexander Hamilton—yes, that Hamilton—founded it in 1801. But today, if you want to know who owns ny post newspaper, the answer starts and ends with the Murdoch family. Specifically, it is owned by News Corp, the massive media conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a soap opera.
The Current Power Player: Lachlan Murdoch
As of early 2026, the keys to the kingdom have officially been handed over. While Rupert Murdoch is the name everyone knows, his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, is the one sitting in the big chair. He’s the Chairman of News Corp and the CEO of Fox Corporation.
For a long time, there was this massive, Shakespearean-level drama about which Murdoch sibling would take over. You had James, Elisabeth, Prudence, and Lachlan all in the mix. But in late 2025, a major legal settlement effectively cleared the path. Lachlan moved to consolidate power, buying out his siblings’ voting stakes in the family trust to ensure the "conservative voice" of the papers stayed intact.
If you’re looking at the corporate paperwork, the New York Post is a subsidiary of News Corp. This is the same parent company that owns The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and a ton of major outlets in the UK and Australia.
Why the Ownership Actually Matters
Ownership isn't just about who gets the profits. In the case of the Post, it defines the vibe. Under the Murdochs, the paper shifted from the liberal-leaning "labor" voice it had in the mid-20th century to the right-leaning, sensationalist tabloid we see today.
- Editorial Stance: The owners have a heavy hand in the paper's "voice."
- Expansion: News Corp is currently pushing the brand westward with the launch of the California Post in early 2026.
- Legal Battles: Because the Murdochs own both the Post and Fox News, they’ve often faced scrutiny over "cross-ownership" rules, though they've navigated those waters for decades.
A History of Passing the Baton
It hasn't always been a Murdoch plaything. The paper has a wild history of owners that reads like a "Who's Who" of American history.
Hamilton started it to bark at Thomas Jefferson. Then you had William Cullen Bryant, who turned it into a high-brow literary and abolitionist broadsheet. Fast forward to 1939, and a woman named Dorothy Schiff bought it. She’s a legend in the business. Schiff owned it for nearly 40 years and turned it into a liberal, gossipy tabloid that New Yorkers obsessed over.
Rupert Murdoch first bought the paper from Schiff in 1976 for about $30 million. But here’s a weird fact: he actually had to sell it in 1988 because of FCC rules. You weren't allowed to own a newspaper and a TV station in the same city back then, and he had just bought WNYW-TV. He sold it to a real estate guy named Peter Kalikow, who eventually went bankrupt.
In 1993, the Post was literally hours away from shutting down. The staff was revolting against a different potential owner (Steven Hoffenberg). Murdoch stepped back in like a white knight, got a special waiver from the government, and bought it back. He’s held onto it ever since.
Is the New York Post Profitable?
That’s the million-dollar question. For years, the rumor on the street was that the Post lost money—sometimes up to $40 million a year—and was kept alive simply because Rupert Murdoch loved the influence it gave him. It’s his "megaphone."
However, in recent years, News Corp executives have claimed the paper has finally turned a corner toward profitability, thanks to a massive digital audience and the "Page Six" brand being a powerhouse in entertainment news. Even if it loses a few bucks here and there, the political capital it provides to who owns ny post newspaper is worth way more than the balance sheet suggests.
What This Means for You
Understanding the ownership helps you decode what you’re reading. When you see a cover attacking a specific politician or championing a certain business move, you can trace that perspective directly back to the boardroom at News Corp.
Actionable Insights for Readers:
- Check the "Parent": Whenever you see a "breaking news" story in the Post, remember it shares a parent company with Fox News. They often share sources and editorial directions.
- Look for the "Page Six" Factor: The ownership prizes celebrity influence. This is why the Post often gets "exclusives" that other papers miss—the owners have built a network that values gossip as much as hard news.
- Monitor the California Expansion: With the 2026 launch of the California Post, watch how the Murdoch style adapts to West Coast politics. It’ll tell you a lot about their long-term strategy for dominating the U.S. tabloid market.
The Murdoch era isn't ending anytime soon; it's just changing faces from father to son.