Lachlan Murdoch, the Fox Corporation and News Corp chief, and David Cordani, the longtime Cigna Group boss, lead vastly different empires.
One inherited a famous media name and fought to keep it. The other joined one company in 1991 and climbed every rung himself.
That contrast is exactly why readers compare them. Below, we break down both careers, both fortunes, and the clear winner on wealth.
Quick Answer
In Lachlan Murdoch vs David Cordani, Murdoch is far richer, at about A$3.21 billion in 2025, while Cordani sits near $100 to $200 million.
Lachlan Murdoch vs David Cordani: At a Glance
| Detail | Lachlan Murdoch | David Cordani |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Lachlan Keith Murdoch | David M. Cordani |
| Born | September 8, 1971, London, England | February 10, 1966, Waterbury, Connecticut, US |
| Age | 55 years | 60 years |
| Occupation | Media executive and company chair | Healthcare executive and executive chair |
| Company | Fox Corporation and News Corp | The Cigna Group |
| Known For | Leading the Murdoch media empire | Leading Cigna from 2009 to 2026 |
| Net Worth | About A$3.21 billion (2025) | Estimated $100 to $200 million |
| Nationality | British-born Australian-American | American |
Who Is Lachlan Murdoch?
Lachlan Keith Murdoch is the eldest son of Rupert Murdoch, the builder of one of the biggest media empires on earth.
He was born in London in 1971 and raised mostly in New York. He studied philosophy at Princeton University, graduating in 1994.
Today he is chair of News Corp and executive chair and chief executive of Fox Corporation, home of Fox News and Fox Sports.
He also chairs Nova Entertainment in Australia. Few executives anywhere control influential news, sports, and entertainment brands at the same time.
His path was not smooth, though. He quit the family business in 2005, spent years in Australia, then returned to claim the top jobs.
Who Is David Cordani?
David M. Cordani is an American healthcare executive who spent his whole senior career inside one company, The Cigna Group.
He was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1966 and grew up in a working class family. Nobody handed him a company.
He studied at Texas A&M University, then earned an MBA from the University of Hartford. He joined Cigna back in 1991.
Cordani became Cigna chief executive in 2009 and added the chairman title in 2022. He led the group for about 17 years.
In July 2026 he retired as CEO and moved to executive chair. President and COO Brian Evanko took over the CEO job.
Career of Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani
Lachlan Murdoch Career
Fresh from Princeton, Murdoch moved to Australia in 1994 to run Queensland Newspapers, part of his father's publishing empire.
He rose quickly, running News Limited in Australia, then becoming deputy chief operating officer with US television stations and the New York Post.
In 2005 he resigned after internal disagreements and moved back to Australia. He built his own investment firm, Illyria, during those years.
Many wrote him off as an heir who walked away. Instead, the break gave him a seperate track record away from his father.
He returned in 2014 as co-chair of News Corp and 21st Century Fox. In 2015 he became executive chair of 21st Century Fox.
When Disney bought most of 21st Century Fox in 2019, Murdoch became chairman and CEO of the smaller, sharper Fox Corporation.
His signature early deal was buying streaming service Tubi in 2020 for about $440 million. Tubi grew into a major free streaming platform.
In late 2023, Rupert Murdoch stepped down. Lachlan became sole chair of News Corp while keeping the top Fox Corporation roles.
A September 2025 family settlement then secured his control. His siblings exited the family trust, and his leadership was locked in until 2050.
David Cordani Career
Cordani started out at accounting firm Coopers and Lybrand. He joined Cigna in 1991, long before anyone tipped him for the top.
He rotated through senior roles in finance, marketing, and operations. That slow climb gave him a rare feel for every part of the business.
He became president of Cigna HealthCare in 2005, then company president and chief operating officer in 2008.
In 2009, in his early forties, he became chief executive. He would hold the CEO job longer than most healthcare bosses ever do.
His biggest move came in 2018, when Cigna bought pharmacy benefits giant Express Scripts. The deal reshaped Cigna into a broader health services group.
From that deal grew Evernorth Health Services, covering pharmacy, care delivery, and benefits management. It became the growth engine of the company.
Cordani later sold Cigna's Medicare Advantage business to refocus on employer plans and pharmacy services, a cleaner and more profitable mix.
He also co-wrote a bestselling book on community and leadership. In January 2022, the board made him chairman as well as CEO.
When he stepped down in July 2026, Cigna revenue had grown from about $18 billion to roughly $275 billion under his watch.
Net Worth Comparison
The Lachlan Murdoch net worth story starts with family wealth. His fortune sits in shares, trusts, and property built over two generations.
The Australian Financial Review Rich List put his personal wealth at A$3.21 billion in 2025, before the family settlement was finalised.
Forbes does not list Lachlan on his own. It tracks Rupert Murdoch and family instead, at about $24.4 billion in recent reporting.
His pay adds up too. Fox filings showed total compensation of about $27.7 million in 2021 and $21.7 million in 2022.
The David Cordani net worth picture is very different. His money comes almost entirely from salary, bonuses, and Cigna stock built over decades.
His 2024 compensation was $23.25 million, including a base salary near $1.57 million. Most of the package came from stock awards.
Estimates of his total fortune vary a lot. Salary and wealth blogs commonly place David Cordani net worth at over $100 million.
Other trackers, counting his Cigna shareholdings, have suggested figures closer to $169 million or more. No Forbes listing confirms an exact number.
So treat his figure as a range, roughly $100 to $200 million. Even the top of that range trails Murdoch by billions.
Who Is Richer: Lachlan Murdoch or David Cordani?
Lachlan Murdoch is richer by a huge margin. It is honestly not a close contest on paper.
His A$3.21 billion fortune is roughly 16 to 30 times bigger than Cordani's estimated wealth, depending on which Cordani estimate you use.
The gap comes from ownership. Murdoch holds a controlling stake in two public media companies through the family trust structure.
Cordani, by contrast, was a hired executive, however senior. Top CEO pay builds millions, but ownership of an empire builds billions.
Still, richer is not the same as more self-made. Cordani built his fortune from a standing start, and that deserves real credit.
Lifestyle and Influence
Murdoch lives a billionaire lifestyle. He and his wife Sarah bought the Chartwell estate in Los Angeles for a reported $150 million.
They also own major property in Sydney and a ranch in Aspen. He is a keen sailor and keeps a fairly private profile.
His real influence is editorial and cultural. Decisions at Fox News and News Corp shape political debate in several countries every day.
Cordani lives more quietly in Connecticut. He is famous inside business circles for completing triathlons and guiding wounded veterans in races.
Through the David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation, he supports community health projects. He also works with Achilles International.
Cordani's influence runs through healthcare policy. Insurers, hospitals, and employers all watched his moves on costs, pharmacy benefits, and care delivery.
Both men recieve plenty of criticism too, Murdoch over Fox News coverage, Cordani over insurance costs and claim denials in America.
FAQs
Who is richer in Lachlan Murdoch vs David Cordani?
Lachlan Murdoch is much richer. His fortune is about A$3.21 billion, while David Cordani is estimated at $100 to $200 million.
What is Lachlan Murdoch net worth in 2025?
The Australian Financial Review Rich List valued him at A$3.21 billion in 2025. Forbes tracks the wider Murdoch family fortune instead.
What is David Cordani net worth?
Most estimates put David Cordani net worth between $100 and $200 million. Figures vary because his full assets are not publicly disclosed.
What was David Cordani salary as Cigna CEO?
His total compensation in 2024 was $23.25 million. That included a base salary near $1.57 million, plus large stock and option awards.
Is David Cordani still the CEO of Cigna?
No. He retired as CEO on July 1, 2026, and became executive chair. Brian Evanko, the former president and COO, succeeded him.
How old are Lachlan Murdoch and David Cordani?
Lachlan Murdoch was born on September 8, 1971, so he is 55. David Cordani was born on February 10, 1966, so he is 60.
Conclusion
Lachlan Murdoch vs David Cordani is really a story about two routes to the top. One route is inheritance, defended through a family fight.
The other route is patience. Cordani joined Cigna in 1991 and simply outlasted everyone, reshaping the company over 17 years as CEO.
On money, Murdoch wins by billions. On the self-made scoreboard, Cordani's rise from a working class start is hard to beat.