5th May, 2026
Ted Turner, the American media billionaire and founder of famous CNN, has died at the age of 87.
Turner, a fine gentleman died at his home near Tallahassee, Florida. He had been living with Lewy body dementia, which he publicly disclosed in 2018.
Born Robert Edward Turner III in 1938, he took over his father’s billboard business in 1963 before expanding into broadcasting.
In 2018, shortly before turning 80, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder. In early 2025, he was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering at a rehabilitation facility.
Turner founded CNN in 1980, creating the world’s first 24-hour cable news network, revolutionizing global news coverage. Built a media empire that included channels like TNT, TBS, and Cartoon Network.
He owned the Atlanta Braves, who won the 1995 World Series under his ownership.
His philanthropic and personal life was exemplary.
Turner donated $1 billion to the United Nations and supported environmental conservation efforts.
He married three times, including to actress Jane Fonda and he is survived by five children.
His legacies have reshaped media reportage globally. Turner is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern broadcasting, credited with transforming how news is delivered worldwide through continuous, real-time coverage.
Tributes have begun to pour in from across the media industry, with colleagues and admirers reflecting on his enduring influence.