Outlook Business Desk
CNN founder and media pioneer Ted Turner passed away at the age of 87 on Wednesday local time. Turner Enterprises confirmed his death in an official statement, marking the close of a significant chapter in global media history.
Known as the Mouth of the South, Ted Turner founded the United Nations Foundation and supported nuclear disarmament. He was a conservationist and major landowner, and began his media career at 24 after taking over his father’s billboard business.
Turner launched CNN, creating the world’s first 24-hour news channel. He expanded its coverage beyond politics to include business, health, sports and more, changing the way news was delivered globally.
Turner built a major media empire with CNN, TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network and also acquired MGM’s film library. Meanwhile, he also owned sports teams like the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers.
According to Forbes, Turner’s net worth stood at $2.3 billion as of May 6, ranking 1504 globally. At the time of his death, it was $2.8 billion. His peak wealth reached $10 billion before losses from the AOL Time Warner merger, fluctuating between $2.2 billion and $2.8 billion from 2017 to 2026.
Ted Turner made a landmark donation of $1 billion to the United Nations in 1998. The amount was used to create the United Nations Foundation, a charitable organisation focused on supporting and advancing the goals of the UN.
Ted Turner was a conservationist and one of the largest private landowners in the United States with around 2 million acres across eight states. His properties also supported more than 45,000 bison.