The bankers are trying to crunch me. They’ll fail.” Rupert Murdoch looked frazzled but defiant. We were having what was supposed to be a friendly coffee, but this was 2006 and he was under siege from bankers who were trying to cope with his financial over-reach.

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.

Rupert, 93, is aiming to cut three of his children out of the family trust, which would allow his most conservative son to call the shots without interference