Ted Turner, the pioneering media executive who revolutionized television news by establishing CNN, has died at the age of 87. The news was confirmed by his family and first reported by CNN, which cited a statement from Turner Enterprises.
Mark Thompson, chair and CEO of CNN Worldwide, paid tribute to Turner in a statement, describing him as an intensely involved and committed leader who was intrepid, fearless, and consistently prepared to follow his instincts. “He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN,” Thompson said. “Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.”
Turner fundamentally changed the landscape of global television news when he launched CNN, creating the world’s first 24-hour news channel. The innovation turned viewers in more than 150 countries into immediate witnesses to unfolding history, a contribution that earned him Time magazine’s Man of the Year title in 1991.
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Beyond broadcasting, Turner built a significant legacy as a philanthropist. In 1998 he founded the United Nations Foundation, donating a record $1 billion to UN agencies. According to the foundation, his aim was to highlight the value of investing in the UN, attract new partners, and support strong American leadership within the organisation.
He also established the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit group focused on reducing risks from nuclear, biological, and emerging technological threats to humanity.
In the 1990s, Turner sold his Turner Broadcasting System, which included CNN, to Time Warner Inc. Later in life, he faced health challenges, announcing in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. He was briefly hospitalised in early 2025 with a mild case of pneumonia.
Turner is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The family’s spokesperson also confirmed the news to the New York Times.
His passing marks the end of an era for a figure whose bold vision reshaped how the world receives news and whose philanthropy addressed some of the most pressing global issues of his time.
