Money Matters.

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Author: Joseph, Nicole L.

The Murdochs

Aside from game shows, most family feuds leave people hurt, not millions of dollars richer. Of course, most families aren't the Murdochs. Elder son Lachlan, who recently quit his post as deputy chief operating officer of family-owned News Corp., is walking away with a severance package that could total more than $7 million, filings show.

Father Rupert may do better, with a bonus plan disclosed last week that could pay him $25 million this year, double his 2004 bonus. That's walking-around money to a billionaire, but the bump puts his pay package only on par with his No. 2, Peter Chernin. This seems to be standard practice in media moguldom: last year Viacom's Sumner Redstone was paid roughly $58 million, slightly more than his right-hand men, Les Moonves and Tom Freston. "Some people want to be the top paid because 'I'm the biggest guy, I'm the best guy and I own the most stuff'," says Steven Hall, president of Pearl Meyer, a compensation-consulting firm. "People have egos." Feeding them can get expensive.

PHOTO (COLOR): Pay days: Lachlan, Rupert

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By Nicole L. Joseph