The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (2025)

Table of Contents

Wendi Deng Murdoch, who was born Deng Wenge, grew up poor in a small town in China as the daughter of engineers. "You didn't know you were poor," Murdoch told Vogue. "It's just the way it was. So to get anyone's attention, you had to be smart." Murdoch enrolled in medical school to please her parents, then dropped out. She met a couple from California, Jake and Joyce Cherry, who sponsored her to come to the US. Murdoch and Jake Cherry later married, but they split after less than three years. Murdoch went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics from Cal State Northridge, and she attended the Yale School of Management on scholarship. After graduating from Yale, Murdoch landed a job at Star TV in Hong Kong and became a vice president. That's where she met her second husband, the media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Wendi Deng Murdoch and Rupert Murdoch were married for 14 years. They split in 2013. They have two teenage daughters, Grace and Chloe. While she was married to Rupert Murdoch, Wendi Deng Murdoch brokered business deals in China and networked with power players such as Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, and the actress Nicole Kidman. Since her divorce, Wendi Deng Murdoch has been linked with Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Eric Schmidt, the Google chairman who recently announced he would step down. Murdoch has reportedly been dating Bertold Zahoran, a 21-year-old model, since May. In 2011, Murdoch produced a movie, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," based on the best-selling novel by Lisa See. She also became the chief strategist of MySpace China. As of 2016, Murdoch was an investor in Uber, Snap, and Warby Parker. Below is a photo from her Instagram featuring Arianna Huffington, who's on Uber's board of directors. Murdoch is notorious for her matchmaking skills. She reportedly helped get Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner back together after they split up in 2008 because of religious differences. Personally or professionally, Murdoch's primary passion seems to be connecting leaders from different fields and parts of the world. "Put people together," she told Vogue, "and things can happen." Read next References

US Markets Loading... h m s

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Home

Newsletters

Strategy

Shana Lebowitz

2018-01-16T13:46:00Z

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (1)

Wendi Deng Murdoch grew up in a small town in China as the daughter of two engineers who hoped she'd become a doctor.

Today, Murdoch, 49, is a powerful businesswoman with a varied career. She's been married twice, once to the media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Now, reports have emerged that Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner was warned that Deng may be a Chinese spy.

Here's a look at some of the highlights of Murdoch's life.

Wendi Deng Murdoch, who was born Deng Wenge, grew up poor in a small town in China as the daughter of engineers. "You didn't know you were poor," Murdoch told Vogue. "It's just the way it was. So to get anyone's attention, you had to be smart."

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (2)

Source: Splinter News, Vogue

Murdoch enrolled in medical school to please her parents, then dropped out. She met a couple from California, Jake and Joyce Cherry, who sponsored her to come to the US.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (3)

Source: Splinter News, Vogue

Murdoch and Jake Cherry later married, but they split after less than three years.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (4)

Source: Splinter News

Murdoch went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics from Cal State Northridge, and she attended the Yale School of Management on scholarship.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (5)

Source: Vogue

After graduating from Yale, Murdoch landed a job at Star TV in Hong Kong and became a vice president. That's where she met her second husband, the media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (6)

Source: Vogue

Wendi Deng Murdoch and Rupert Murdoch were married for 14 years. They split in 2013.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (7)

Source: Vogue

They have two teenage daughters, Grace and Chloe.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (8)

Source: Vogue

While she was married to Rupert Murdoch, Wendi Deng Murdoch brokered business deals in China and networked with power players such as Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, and the actress Nicole Kidman.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (9)

Source: Splinter News

Since her divorce, Wendi Deng Murdoch has been linked with Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Eric Schmidt, the Google chairman who recently announced he would step down.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (10)

Source: Splinter News, Vanity Fair

Murdoch has reportedly been dating Bertold Zahoran, a 21-year-old model, since May.

新年快樂 🎉@wendimurdoch ❤ Happy New Year!🎉 Boldog új évet!🎉

A post shared by Bertold Zahoran (@bertoldzahoran) on Dec 31, 2016 at 7:46pm PSTDec 31, 2016 at 7:46pm PST

Source: The Daily Mail

In 2011, Murdoch produced a movie, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," based on the best-selling novel by Lisa See. She also became the chief strategist of MySpace China.

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (11)

Source: Splinter News

As of 2016, Murdoch was an investor in Uber, Snap, and Warby Parker. Below is a photo from her Instagram featuring Arianna Huffington, who's on Uber's board of directors.

@Uber @AriannaHuff, Didi CEO Cheng Wei and @Grab CEO Anthony Tan in one picture at Coatue's East Meets West Conference in Pebble Beach

A post shared by Wendi Murdoch (@wendimurdoch) on Jun 27, 2017 at 11:24pm PDTJun 27, 2017 at 11:24pm PDT

Source: Splinter News

Murdoch is notorious for her matchmaking skills. She reportedly helped get Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner back together after they split up in 2008 because of religious differences.

Happy Birthday Jared!!! Last night was so much fun. Thank you @ivankatrump and @joshuakushner for throwing one of the best birthday parties ever!

A post shared by Wendi Murdoch (@wendimurdoch) on Jan 10, 2016 at 8:45am PSTJan 10, 2016 at 8:45am PST

Source: Vogue, Business Insider

Personally or professionally, Murdoch's primary passion seems to be connecting leaders from different fields and parts of the world. "Put people together," she told Vogue, "and things can happen."

The fabulous life of Wendi Deng Murdoch, a close friend of Ivanka Trump whom Jared Kushner was reportedly warned may be a Chinese spy (12)

Source: Vogue