Ted Turner, CNN Founder and Media Tycoon, Dies Aged 87
Key Points
TED Turner, the pioneering founder of CNN and cable TV legend, has died aged 87 after a long battle with Lewy body dementia.
Turner Enterprises confirmed he passed away on Wednesday morning.
The media mogul revealed his diagnosis back in 2018, shortly after his 80th birthday.
Ted changed the TV landscape forever when he launched the world’s first 24/7 news channel, CNN, in 1979.
His empire grew to include TBS Superstation, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.
At one point, he even owned most of MGM Studios’ film library.
His cable channels remain household names today.
He also made waves outside TV, owning the Atlanta Braves and Hawks, and World Championship Wrestling.
In 1977, he won the America’s Cup, landing him on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Nicknamed the “Mouth of the South,” Ted was known for his bold, fearless approach to business and media innovation.
He was married three times, including to Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001, and had five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson paid tribute, saying, “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement.
He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN.” Ted Turner was also a philanthropist, signing the Giving Pledge in 2010 to donate the majority of his fortune to charity.
His legacy as a trailblazer in cable TV and media will be remembered for generations.
