Rupert Murdoch is reportedly paying $44 million for one of the best apartments in New York, a triplex penthouse across from the entrance to the Central Park Zoo, with 8000 square feet of living space, and 4000 square feet of terrace space, on each of the three levels.

I am very pleased for him. It will rankle the other grandees of Manhattan no end to attend parties at such a trophy property, a former Rockefeller abode, now in the hands of the man who gave us Fox News Channel. I hope that Dan Rather is among the first guests.

It is a new media world, folks. Get used to it. Your place in the pecking order has changed.

I have not a bit of envy. Rupert has worked hard for his billions. I know because I have watched him operate. In the late 1980s, I happened to sit across the aisle from him in the first class cabin (thank—you, my dear client firm!) of a Qantas 747 bound from Sydney to London. The plane left Sydney in the late afternoon. Qantas, being a specialist in long—haul cabin service, throws quite a nice party in the front of the plane. After taking advantage of the excellent food and drink, I settled in for a long nap. But not Rupert.

From virtually the moment the plane achieved cruising altitude, two of his aides scampered in from business class, and brought him a steady stream of documents to review, some to sign, and then when that was done, and endless stream of publications, his own and those of others, to review. He read these quickly, but thoroughly, not missing a page.

I am pretty certain he might have dozed off himself. But not for long. The man worked for his living then, and I am certain he has not slcked off much, if at all. His empire is all the bigger today, though I imagine that somewhere along the line he has picked up a Gulfstream jet, or maybe even a Boeing Business Jet, the long range version of the 737.

Congratulations, Mr. Murdoch! May you enjoy your new digs to the hilt. And please, please invite the media elite over.

Thomas Lifson   12 17 04