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How a Murdoch sailed off with Maxwell's yacht: For years the press titans battled for supremacy and now Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife has bought and refitted Robert Maxwell's boat Lady Ghislaine - named after his disgraced daughter and scene of his death

• Disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell owned Lady Ghislaine superyacht
• He fell overboard in the Atlantic 1991 with his empire on the brink of collapse 
• Lady Ghislaine fell into Rupert Murdoch's family's possession - Maxwell's rival
• The yacht is now named Dancing Hare and owned by Murdoch's ex-wife Anna 

By Paul Bracchi for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:01 EDT, 12 February 2021 | Updated: 00:31 EDT, 13 February 2021

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The Dancing Hare, a 189 ft superyacht, is currently moored in Auckland after traversing the South Pacific and Caribbean Sea.

As displays of conspicuous wealth go, she certainly takes some beating with glass panels encircling the deck, wraparound glass railings, and accommodation for 12 guests — and up to 15 staff — in a master suite, four doubles and a twin stateroom.

The price? £11.8 million; at least that was the asking price when this behemoth was purchased in 2017.

The Dancing Hare, a 189 ft superyacht, is currently moored in Auckland after traversing the South Pacific and Caribbean Sea

Since then, Dancing Hare, flying under the flag of the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific, where she is officially registered, has been spotted sailing around the Galapagos Islands, St Lucia, Fiji, Tonga, and Bora Bora in French Polynesia. 

Those on board, according to online video diaries chronicling the cruiser's progress, enjoyed everything 'from diving adventures with sharks and turtles' to watching 'dolphins swimming off their bow'.

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Yet few outside the boating world will be aware that the white and orange striped flag fluttering in the ocean breeze belonged, in a previous life 30 years ago, to one of the most famous — or rather infamous — yachts in the world.

Back then it had a very different name. It was called the Lady Ghislaine and the owner was disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell.

On the evening of November 5, 1991, with his empire, including the Daily Mirror, on the brink of collapse, Maxwell's naked 22 st body was found floating in the Atlantic off the Canaries, having fallen overboard from the stern of his yacht earlier in the day.

The Lady Ghislaine was owned by disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell and named after his daughter

It soon became apparent that Maxwell, who was 68, was not only bankrupt (about £1 billion) but had also pilfered millions from the Mirror's pension fund.

Many believe his bitter rivalry with fellow media tycoon Rupert Murdoch was to blame for his downfall which 'unhinged him' and drove him to cripplingly over-extend himself.

But Maxwell must be turning in his grave for another reason.

For, three decades on, the Lady Ghislaine, Maxwell's pride and joy which he christened after his favourite daughter, Ghislaine — herself mired in controversy and awaiting trial in New York on charges, which she denies, of trafficking underage girls with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein — has fallen into the hands of the Murdoch family after changing hands several times down the years.

The irony is beyond parody.

The latest owner of the twice-renamed, refurbished Lady Ghislaine (which was first renamed Lady Mona K before her current moniker of Dancing Hare) is none other than Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Anna, a new biography of Robert Maxwell reveals.

Scots-born Anna, 76, is the mother of three of Murdoch's children, Elisabeth, 52, Lachlan, 49, and James, 48, who have all played prominent roles in their father's media conglomerate.

On the evening of November 5, 1991, with his empire, including the Daily Mirror, on the brink of collapse, Maxwell's naked 22 st body was found floating in the Atlantic off the Canaries (pictured on the boat in 1990)

Why, though, of all the yachts, in all the world, would the former Mrs Murdoch — now Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster, having twice remarried since divorcing Murdoch in 1998 — have chosen to buy this particular yacht? Author John Preston offers the following explanation in the very final paragraph of his book, Fall: The Mystery Of Robert Maxwell, which features a photograph of the Lady Ghislaine on the front cover.

He writes: 'In 2017, Rupert Murdoch's former wife Anna decided that she wanted to buy a yacht. Their son James, a keen sailor, offered to help. A few weeks later, he found just what he was looking for — a boat called the Lady Mona K, on the market for $14.5 million [more than £11 million at the time]. His mother went to have a look and liked what she saw.

'It was only after buying the Lady Mona K that Anna learned the yacht's name had been changed years earlier. It had previously been called the Lady Ghislaine.'

But The Times, one of Rupert Murdoch's newspapers, knew about the yacht's history, reporting shortly before the former Mrs Murdoch bought it from a Saudi Arabian lawyer, that the Lady Mona K was on the market and was in fact the Lady Ghislaine 'with a refurbished guard rail'.

This was an open secret in yachting circles.

The latest owner of the twice-renamed, refurbished Lady Ghislaine is none other than Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Anna (pictured)

So would it be beyond the realms of possibility to suggest there could have been more to the acquisition than meets the eye?

That acquiring the old enemy's once prized possession might have provided an unexpected incentive for the wider Murdoch clan, a kind of posthumous schadenfreude?

The Murdochs would be only human if they had. After all, their rivalry was the stuff of legend.

Anna and Rupert Murdoch were together for more than three decades, during which time Maxwell played the role of the pantomime villain, a Trumpian figure whose clashes with Murdoch, inside and outside the boardroom, dominated the 1980s and spilled over into bitter personal animosity.

The feud was even turned into a Jeffrey Archer page turner (The Fourth Estate), a thinly disguised account of the lives of the two tycoons. Anna had a ringside seat to the rivalry. It began in 1968 when Maxwell moved to buy the News Of The World but lost out to Murdoch — 'an Aussie upstart' — who was looking to crack the UK market.

'Never has a man caught a bigger whale with a smaller hook,' Maxwell said later, alluding to the fact that he felt Murdoch underpaid for the title, a deal which proved enormously profitable for him.

Many believe Maxwell's (left) bitter rivalry with fellow media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (right) was to blame for his downfall

Murdoch would also outbid Maxwell for The Sun the following year and The Times and The Sunday Times in 1981.

When Maxwell finally bought Mirror Group Newspapers in 1984, his Daily Mirror slugged it out with Murdoch's Sun, which culminated in a circulation war waged, to quote one colourful account from those times, 'with bingo giveaways, bare-breasted pin-up girls and screaming headlines'.

In New York, they also owned rival tabloids. Maxwell had the Daily News and Murdoch owned the New York Post.

However, Maxwell's spending spree in America, including paying $2.6 billion for publishing house Macmillan U.S., precisely because he was desperate to go toe-to-toe with Murdoch across the pond, left him heavily in hock to the banks — money he could not repay when profits fell, interest rates soared and recession loomed.

This was the background to his last fateful voyage on the Lady Ghislaine.

Just before 5am on November 5, 1991, Maxwell phoned the crew to complain that his cabin was too cold. The air conditioning was turned off. Sometime afterwards, he walked naked to the stern of the boat, probably to urinate, as he was prone to do. He was never seen alive again.

At about 6am, Kevin Maxwell rang his father. They were due to meet the Governor of the Bank of England in London, where they would have been grilled about the state of their business which left a multi-million-pound hole in the Mirror Group pension pot.

Maxwell did not reply. Around 12 hours later, a helicopter pilot with the Spanish national rescue service spotted the body of a man on his back, spreadeagled.

Was his death an accident? Did he jump? Was he pushed? The first scenario is most likely, but we shall never know for sure.

The Lady Ghislaine was placed in the hands of administrators and purchased, it is believed, for around £10 million by the aforementioned Saudi Arabian who reportedly sold the boat, by now renamed as the Lady Mona K, to Anna Murdoch three years ago.

The yacht, to borrow the description of one commentator, was a 'four-storey, floating symbol' of the brash, self-aggrandising attention-seeking Robert Maxwell himself.

It had a gymnasium and discotheque with decor which was '1970s Playboy Baroque' and where guests wore bootees to keep the deep-pile cream carpets clean. The former Mrs Murdoch, who now lives in Florida with her third husband, property developer Ashton dePeyster, 74, must have gained considerable satisfaction giving her acquisition the 'sophisticated' refurbishment referred to in the sailing press.

The entire interior design was replaced by London-based designer Olivia Outred and the yacht spent seven months at the Balk Shipyard in Amsterdam getting a state-of-the art overhaul.

Nevertheless, the new owner — who is understood to have received a $100 million (more than £70 million) divorce settlement from her first husband — has kept a low profile.

She has not advertised her links with Dancing Hare, which was relaunched in May 2018 with a baptism by a priest and a christening by the captain.

The owners are listed as Moonstone Enterprises, incorporated in Delaware in the U.S. where state laws mean individuals behind such companies can remain anonymous. Monaco-based KK Superyachts, which brokered the purchase of the yacht, are the commercial managers.

At the time of writing, neither KK Superyachts or Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster wished to comment.

But why settle on the name Dancing Hare?

One of Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster's favourite artists is the late figurative sculptor Barry Flanagan who was renowned for his bronze statues of hares which were exhibited in Europe and the U.S.

One such statue was called Dancing Hare. A symbol of everything the Lady Ghislaine was not.

• Additional reporting: Tim Stewart

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An $11 million yacht formerly owned by Rupert Murdoch is being sold by Italy's most controversial Prime Minister — see inside 'Morning Glory'

• A 158-foot sailing superyacht owned by Silvio Berlusconi — the highly controversial former Prime Minister of Italy — is for sale for $11 million. 
• The yacht is called Morning Glory, and was originally commissioned and owned by Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who built the Fox empire. 
• Morning Glory has room for eight passengers and eight crew members, a marble fireplace, multiple dining rooms, a vast master suite, and a full bar.  
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

If you've got a spare eight figures sitting around, there's something on the market that fits right in your budget: Silvio Berlusconi's 158-foot sailing yacht, which is yours for a cool $11 million. 

Of course, most things on the market fit right in your budget. This one just happens to emphasize sailing.

The multimillion-dollar vessel, which is listed for sale through Burgess Yachts and was brought to our attention by Robb Report , has pretty much everything you'd expect from a massive — and massively expensive — superyacht. It's decked out in warm wood, has an operational marble fireplace, sports several lounging and dining areas, and sleeps up to eight guests. 

Plus, it's got quite the provenance. Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire businessman behind the Fox empire, had Morning Glory built in 1993. He married his third wife Wendi Deng aboard it in 1999 , according to Robb Report, and sold the yacht to the controversial Italian businessman and former Prime Minister later that year. 

Take a look inside Morning Glory:

Morning Glory, a 158-foot sailing yacht owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, just hit the market with an asking price of $11 million.

The massive yacht was commissioned in 1993 by Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire media mogul behind the Fox Corporation and News Corp.

Berlusconi, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $5.9 billion, reportedly bought the yacht from Murdoch in 1999 for $7.2 million, according to Robb Report.

Source: Robb Report , Forbes

As expected, there's a plethora of different lounging areas to choose from.

There's an L-shaped couch up on the flybridge ...

... by the covered captain's station.

There's also full dining area on the deck ...

And once you get tired of that, you can move to a semi-circular seating area for your after-dinner digestifs.

Climb some stairs and you've reached the "raised sun lounge," perfect for getting some rays while you think about dividends.

Inside, there's a large, U-shaped seating area facing a marble fireplace. There's also a TV for watching videos of your yacht while you're on your yacht.

Off of the "main saloon" there's a room with a formal dining area...

Along with a full bar and game table.

Morning Glory can sleep up to eight guests in four lavishly-appointed suites.

Some rooms have double beds ...

... and others have twins.

The master suite, which spans the full width of the ship, sports a study as well as couples' bathrooms.

Morning Glory also has room to sleep eight crew members.

If you're looking to hole up in a luxurious superyacht for the foreseeable future, you can snatch up Morning Glory or another multimillion-dollar vessel through Burgess Yachts.

• Main content

Rupert Murdoch to sell his yacht for $29.7 million

Rupert Murdoch is parting with one of his favorite trophies—his yacht.

Less than three months after filing for divorce from his wife of 14 years, Wendi Deng, Rupert Murdoch has listed the family's 184-foot sailing yacht called Rosehearty. The asking price: $29.7 million.

( Read more: Murdoch's estranged wife brings in legal big guns )

You can see the listing here , at Camper & Nicholsons International, the yacht broker and charter company. Camper declined to comment on the seller or the reasons for the sale. A spokesperson for Murdoch confirmed the listing.

Yacht brokers said Murdoch had not been spending much time on the yacht in recent years, and that Wendi had been using it more often. A person close to Murdoch said the reason for the sale was not related to the divorce.

"Rupert works all the time," one broker said. "He loves the boat, he loves to sail, but he doesn't really use it much."

The yacht was built in 2006 by Perini Navi, the Italian shipyard known for its luxurious, sleek sailing yachts. Rosehearty has a crisp, modern interior by the famed French designer Christian Liaigre, with five suites for 10 guests, including two VIP suites. The main mast of the yacht towers at 193 feet and it has a sail area of 16,792 square feet.

(Read more: The World's Most Expensive Divorce Settlements )

The boat also has plenty of "toys" on board, including water skis, a wakeboard and full sets of diving gear. The deck also has a large Jacuzzi.

It's fully equipped for a media mogul, with wireless Internet and plenty of plasma televisions in the cabins.

—By CNBC's Robert Frank. Follow him on Twitter @robtfrank .

Rupert Murdoch’s Former Superyacht Sailboat Is Up for Sale

The stunning superyacht is being sold by Silvio Berlusconi, ex-prime minister of Italy.

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In a time when millions of people including the rich and famous find themselves cooped up waiting out the coronavirus pandemic, it’s easy to dream of getting away from it all. A 158-foot superyacht with one hell of a legacy is for sale now for anyone well-heeled enough to spring for it. 

The Morning Glory is being sold by one-time Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who purchased it from Fox media tycoon Rupert Murdoch in 1999.

It’s got a pleasingly old-fashioned look but Murdoch commissioned the Glory in 1993 and even got married on board a few years later before selling it to Berlusconi for just over $7 million.

According to Robb Report, Berlusconi has made multiple upgrades, updating the diesel engines as well as the generators and the boat was rebuilt entirely just three years ago, the rigging refitted and the trim repainted a striking aquamarine.

Additional amenities include luxury dining inside and out, large lounge areas, and a huge master suite. Total capacity is sixteen people—eight guests and eight crew.

Berlusconi is a billionaire, ranked among the top 200 wealthiest people on Earth, so he could afford a few of these. He’s selling the Morning Glory through  Burgess Yachts , list price $11 million USD.

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Rupert murdoch’s newest sailing yacht: vertigo.

Designed by Philippe Briand, Vertigo is the seventh largest sailing yacht in the world and its owner is Rupert Murdoch , the famous magnate behind News Corporation. The beautiful 220-foot vessel boasts lovely interiors by renowned decorator Christian Liaigre. This is not the first time Liaigre is working for Murdoch and the business tycoon is not the first celebrity for whom Liaigre has worked. Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein and other resonant names have also appealed to Liaigre’s expertise and talent.

Vertigo can accommodate 12 guests and a crew of 11 in five luxuriously appointed staterooms. Everything on the yacht is impressive and spells abundance, like the massive owner’s suite or the convertible gym.

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An $11 million yacht formerly owned by Rupert Murdoch is being sold by Italy's most controversial Prime Minister - see inside 'Morning Glory'

Tim levin   .

Burgess Yachts

Morning Glory.

• A 158-foot sailing superyacht owned by Silvio Berlusconi - the highly controversial former Prime Minister of Italy - is for sale for $11 million.
• The yacht is called Morning Glory, and was originally commissioned and owned by Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who built the Fox empire.
• Morning Glory has room for eight passengers and eight crew members, a marble fireplace, multiple dining rooms, a vast master suite, and a full bar.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

If you've got a spare eight figures sitting around, there's something on the market that fits right in your budget: Silvio Berlusconi's 158-foot sailing yacht, which is yours for a cool $11 million.

Of course, most things on the market fit right in your budget. This one just happens to emphasize sailing.

The multimillion-dollar vessel, which is listed for sale through Burgess Yachts and was brought to our attention by Robb Report , has pretty much everything you'd expect from a massive - and massively expensive - superyacht. It's decked out in warm wood, has an operational marble fireplace, sports several lounging and dining areas, and sleeps up to eight guests.

Plus, it's got quite the provenance. Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire businessman behind the Fox empire, had Morning Glory built in 1993. He married his third wife Wendi Deng aboard it in 1999 , according to Robb Report, and sold the yacht to the controversial Italian businessman and former Prime Minister later that year.

Take a look inside Morning Glory:

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Rupert Murdoch Sells Rosehearty Yacht For $29.7 Million

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Christopher Parr, is the Editor and Chief Content Creator for…

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has sold his stunning yacht, named Rosehearty, for a staggering $29.7 million. The 138 feet long yacht with an interior design by Christian Liagre features 5 guest cabins, a dining room, gym and a multi-media room. Water skis and full sets of diving gear were also included in the sale.

Rupert put the sailing yacht up for sale three months after filing for divorce from his ex-wife Wendi Deng, a frequent traveler of the vessel. However, that didn’t influence the sale, as one yacht broker told CNBC : “Rupert works all the time. He loves the boat, he loves to sail, but he doesn’t really use it much.”

The yacht was sold over Christmas by Alex Lees-Buckley in Monoco’s Camper & Nicholsons office. The identity of the buyer is undisclosed.

The yacht was built in 2006 by Perini Navi, the shipyard based in Viareggio, Italy, known for crafting bespoke luxury yachts.

Christopher Parr , is the Editor and Chief Content Creator for Pursuitist, and a contributing writer to USA Today, Business Insider — and the on-air host of Travel Tuesday on Live at 4 CBS. He is an award-winning luxury marketing veteran, writer, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. Named a "Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogger” by USA Today, Parr has also been selected as the official winner in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ list of the “Top 50 Best Luxury Influencers and Bloggers in the World.”