Ted Turner, the outspoken media entrepreneur who transformed global television journalism by creating CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network, has died at the age of 87.
Turner died peacefully surrounded by family, according to a statement released by Turner Enterprises. His death marks the end of an era for modern television and global media.
Known as the “Mouth of the South” because of his larger-than-life personality and blunt public style, Turner built one of the most influential media empires in American broadcasting history. Beyond television, he became widely recognized as a philanthropist, environmentalist, sports owner, and advocate for nuclear disarmament.
The Man Who Changed Television News
Ted Turner permanently altered the media landscape when he launched CNN on June 1, 1980.
At the time, many critics dismissed the idea of a 24-hour news channel as unrealistic. Television news was largely limited to scheduled evening broadcasts on major networks.
Turner believed audiences wanted constant access to information.
“I worked until 7 o’clock, and when I got home the news was over,” Turner once explained, arguing there were millions of viewers like him who missed traditional news broadcasts.
Despite skepticism, CNN quickly evolved into one of the most influential news organizations in the world, especially during major international events such as the 1991 Gulf War, which became the first conflict broadcast live globally around the clock.
CNN later expanded internationally and inspired the creation of countless rolling news networks across the world.
Building a Media Empire
Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1938, Turner entered the media business after taking over his father’s billboard company following his father’s suicide in 1963.
He later acquired struggling television stations and transformed one of them into WTBS, cable television’s first “superstation,” using satellite technology to distribute programming nationwide.
Turner also expanded into sports ownership, purchasing:
- the Atlanta Braves baseball team,
- and the Atlanta Hawks basketball team.
Over time, his media empire grew to include:
- CNN,
- CNN International,
- TNT,
- Turner Classic Movies (TCM),
- Cartoon Network,
- and Headline News.
In 1996, Turner sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in a landmark multibillion-dollar deal.
Philanthropy and Environmental Advocacy
Outside media, Turner became one of America’s best-known philanthropists.
In 1997, he pledged $1 billion to the United Nations, one of the largest charitable commitments ever made at the time.
He also founded:
- the United Nations Foundation,
- the Nuclear Threat Initiative,
- the Captain Planet Foundation,
- and the Turner Endangered Species Fund.
Turner became one of the largest landowners in North America and played a major role in restoring bison populations in the United States through conservation efforts on his ranches.
Personal Life and Jane Fonda
Turner’s personal life often attracted public attention, especially his high-profile marriage to actress Jane Fonda.
The two married in 1991 and became one of America’s most famous celebrity couples before divorcing a decade later.
Despite their separation, both maintained mutual admiration and friendship over the years.
Health Challenges and Final Years
In 2018, Turner publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. Earlier in 2025, he reportedly recovered after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
He is survived by:
- five children,
- 14 grandchildren,
- and two great-grandchildren.
A Lasting Global Legacy
Ted Turner’s influence on journalism and broadcasting remains enormous.
CNN changed how the world consumed breaking news, politics, wars, disasters, and live global events. His vision helped create the modern era of continuous television journalism and reshaped international media forever.
Even decades after leaving active management, Turner continued to describe CNN as the “greatest achievement” of his life.
For millions around the world, his legacy will remain tied to the transformation of television news into a real-time global experience.
