James Murdoch last night turned down a £3.7 million bonus in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.
The News International chairman was due to receive the bonus as part of an £11m pay package for the year to June.
He said he would not accept it “in light of the current controversy surrounding News of the World”, which closed in the wake of the scandal.
Mr Murdoch added: “While the financial and operating performance metrics on which the bonus decision was based are not associated with this matter, I feel declining the bonus is the right thing to do.
“I will consult with the compensation committee in the future about whether any bonus may be appropriate at a later date.”
It also emerged his father Rupert, chief executive of News Corp, saw his wages rise by £20m during the last financial year, despite the turmoil surrounding his media empire. News Corporation’s accounts show the chief executive took home a £7.7m cash bonus while his total renumeration package rose by 47%.
The pair were grilled by the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee in July on the extent of their knowledge of the illegal practices carried out by the News of the World.
The details of their huge wages came at a time when most of the 200 members of staff at the tabloid newspaper are facing redundancy after the newspaper shut its doors on July 10.
Rupert Murdoch’s daughter Elizabeth was paid £1m for her role as chief executive of TV production company Shine. Ms Murdoch received £131m in cash after News Corp bought Shine this year.
The salary details were for the year ending in June – just before the hacking scandal became a full-scale crisis involving the resignation of several News Corp executives, including former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks.
A series of high-profile figures have been arrested, including Ms Brooks and former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.
A 30-year-old man yesterday became the 15th person to be arrested as part of the Met Police’s inquiry into the scandal. The suspect, who has not been named, was questioned suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice and intercepting voicemails.
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