ATLANTA — Ted Turner, the outspoken entrepreneur who transformed global television with the launch of CNN, has died at the age of 87.
The news was confirmed Wednesday through a statement released by Turner Enterprises, according to CNN. No cause of death was disclosed.
Ted Turner changed television forever
Turner became one of the most influential figures in media history after building a broadcasting empire that reshaped news, sports, and entertainment.
Known for his fearless personality and larger-than-life ambition, Turner launched CNN in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour news network — a move many critics initially dismissed.
Instead, the channel revolutionized how audiences consumed breaking news, covering wars, disasters, revolutions, and major world events around the clock.
Turner once famously declared, “Barring satellite problems, we won’t be signing off until the world ends.”
From billboard business to billionaire empire
Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner first entered business through his family’s billboard company before eventually purchasing a struggling Atlanta television station in 1970.
That station later evolved into WTBS, America’s first “superstation,” helping Turner pioneer satellite television distribution nationwide.
Over the years, his empire expanded into sports broadcasting, movies, and entertainment through the creation of the Turner Broadcasting System.
In 1996, Turner made one of the biggest moves in media history by merging Turner Broadcasting with Time Warner in a multibillion-dollar deal.
Sports owner, environmentalist, and philanthropist
Beyond television, Turner became known for owning the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks.
He also founded the Goodwill Games in 1986 and competed as an accomplished yachtsman, even winning the America’s Cup.
Turner later emerged as one of America’s most prominent environmental advocates and philanthropists.
In 1997, he pledged $1 billion to support the United Nations, one of the largest charitable donations ever made at the time.
He also became one of the largest private landowners in the United States, owning nearly two million acres and operating massive bison ranches.
Health struggles and personal life
In 2018, Turner revealed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a degenerative brain disease.
Turner was married three times, including a high-profile marriage to Jane Fonda that lasted a decade before ending in 2001.
He is survived by his five children.
Legacy of a ‘televisionary’
Turner’s bold personality earned him nicknames including “Captain Outrageous,” “Mouth of the South,” and “Terrible Ted.”
Despite controversy throughout his career, he remained widely recognized as one of the pioneers who permanently altered the media landscape.
In 1991, Time named Turner its “Man of the Year,” praising his influence on global communication and television news.
His legacy continues through CNN and the broader media empire he helped build.
