London (CNN) -- Until last year, James Murdoch was widely regarded as heir-apparent to his father Rupert's global News Corp. media empire -- a remarkable turnaround for a college dropout once viewed as the family's black sheep. But that aspiration took a hit following revelations that -- while he was boss of News Corp. Europe and Asia -- the group's British Sunday tabloid the News of the World eavesdropped illegally on politicians, celebrities, army veterans and even a teenaged murder victim in search of stories. The scandal has exposed collusion between journalists, media groups, politicians and police, claiming the jobs of top police officers, newspaper executives and Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman, while dozens of people have been arrested.
@highlight
James Murdoch once regarded as heir-apparent to father Rupert's News Corp. empire
@highlight
Now that dream is in disarray after accusations of illegal phone-hacking under his watch
@highlight
James and Rupert Murdoch appearing before Leveson Inquiry into journalistic ethics
@highlight
Murdoch, 39, dropped out of Harvard to start a hip-hop record label
As its deputy chief operating officer and head of international operations, Murdoch was the third most senior figure at @placeholder, wielding considerable influence through the stable of newspaper titles at his command.