A US tribunal began picking over the bitter spat between media magnate Rupert Murdoch and his children Monday in a case that could determine the fate of his empire, including the influential right-wing Fox News.

Billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his family will head to court in Nevada. The Fox News and Wall Street Journal owner reportedly seeks to rewrite an irrevocable trust to benefit his eldest son to the detriment of three of his other children.

A court battle to determine the future of Rupert Murdoch's media empire and a £14.9bn family trust begins on Monday. The case will pit 93-year-old Mr Murdoch against three of his eldest children over who will gain the most voting shares and power to control News Corp and Fox News when the billionaire dies.