Ted Turner, the bold entrepreneur who revolutionised the global media landscape by founding CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network, has died at the age of 87.
Turner’s family confirmed he passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Turner had previously announced in 2018 that he was battling Lewy body dementia, a neurodegenerative disease.
Before Ted Turner, news was a scheduled event. In 1980, Turner defied industry experts by launching CNN (Cable News Network). Despite being dismissed as “Chicken Noodle News” by critics, Turner’s vision changed the world. By providing real-time coverage of global events, most notably during the 1991 Gulf War, CNN became the primary source of information for world leaders and the public alike.
Turner’s influence extended beyond the newsroom. As the owner of the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks, he became a titan in the sports world. By broadcasting Braves games on his “superstation,” WTBS, he turned a local baseball team into a national brand, earning them the nickname “America’s Team.”
He was also the architect behind entertainment staples like TNT, TCM (Turner Classic Movies), and Cartoon Network, ensuring his footprint was visible in every corner of the television dial.
In 1997, Turner made history by pledging $1 billion to the United Nations, a staggering act of philanthropy that spurred other billionaires to increase their charitable giving.
A dedicated conservationist, Turner was once the largest private landowner in the U.S. He used his vast holdings to save the American bison from the brink of extinction and co-created the environmentalist cartoon Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Known for his outspoken personality and signature moustache, Turner remained a beloved, if sometimes controversial, figure in American life. His marriage to actress Jane Fonda in the 1990s further cemented his status as a cultural icon.
Turner is survived by his five children. His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Turner Environmental Law Clinic or the United Nations Foundation, continuing the mission of the man who spent his life trying to save the world.
