Joachim Napoléon Murat was born on 28 February 1856 at Boissy-Saint-Léger, Val-de-Marne, France.

His parents were Joachim Joseph Murat, 4th Prince Murat and of Malcy Louise Caroline Berthier de Wagram.

His paternal grandparents were Prince Napoleon Lucien Charles Murat, 2nd Prince of Pontecorvo and 3rd Prince Murat, the second son of Joachim Murat, King of Naples, who married Napoleon's sister, Caroline Bonaparte, and Caroline Georgina Fraser (Charleston, South Carolina, 13 April 1810 – Paris, 10 February 1879), daughter of Thomas Fraser.

His maternal great-grandfather was Louis-Alexandre Berthier (1753–1815), 1st prince de Wagram, 1st duc de Valangin, 1st sovereign Prince of Neuchâtel, who was a Marshal and Vice-Constable of France beginning in 1808, and Chief of Staff (Major général) under Napoleon.

Prince Murat died at the family estate, Château de Chambly in Oise on 2 November 1932.