Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is looking to raise tens of thousands of dollars for an Israeli technology college by offering himself as a lunch date for diners who are prepared to pick up the hefty bill.
The Australian-born chairperson of News Corporation has posted an advert on the internet auction site eBay, inviting bids starting at $25 000 for lunch at the company’s Manhattan headquarters.
“The winning bidder and four friends will have the unique opportunity to dine with their host, Mr Murdoch, and know that 100% of their winning bid will benefit the world-class academic institution, the Jerusalem College of Technology,” said the posting on eBay.
The Jerusalem college has built up a reputation since it was founded in 1969 for its research work in such fields as electro-optics, medical technology, information technology, micro-electronics and bio-informatics.
Murdoch said the college has produced “top-notch graduates whose world-class education will no doubt lead to many innovations and advances in the world of information technology”.
Bidding for the lunch date at will start on November 3 and last for about a week.
News Corporation is the umbrella company for an empire that includes the Fox television network and newspapers including The Times of London, The New York Post and The Australian. — AFP