Ted Turner, the outspoken media billionaire who founded cable news giant CNN and helped transform television journalism, has died at the age of 87.
According to a report by Sky News, Turner died on Wednesday after a long battle with Lewy body dementia, a degenerative neurological disease that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Turner launched CNN in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour all-news television network, fundamentally changing the way people consumed news by making live coverage available around the clock.
Known for his outspoken personality and high-risk business style, Turner built his father’s billboard business into a vast media empire that eventually included multiple television networks, professional sports teams, and movie studios.
In 1996, Turner sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in a deal valued at $7.3 billion. Despite remaining associated with CNN afterward, he later expressed regret over losing control of the company.
Beyond broadcasting, Turner was also known for his philanthropy and environmental work. He donated $1 billion to United Nations causes and funded a wide range of environmental initiatives through the Turner Foundation.
Turner also became one of the largest private landowners in the United States, owning nearly 2 million acres across several states, along with large bison herds and ranches in Argentina.
US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Turner, calling him “one of the Greats of Broadcast History”.
Turner was married three times, including a decade-long marriage to actress Jane Fonda, and had five children.
Sky News reported that Turner had also battled depression during his life and had spoken publicly about mental health struggles.
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