Rupert Murdoch's family has always been close. But if you really want to trace the extent of filial and sibling affection, you have to follow the money.

In a family which is so awkward about talking to each other that they sometimes use newspaper articles to communicate, cash is the great social lubricant.

The last great family split two decades ago, over Rupert's desire to give Grace and Chloe, his two daughters with third wife Wendi Deng, equal standing in the Murdoch Family Trust, was settled with a little compromise and $US900 million ($1.36 billion) in cash and shares to be split between the six children.

It didn't heal all the wounds but it kept them talking to each other, after a fashion.

So where does this week's rapprochement between Rupert and his unhappy older children, Prud

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