Media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner has died at the age of 87, according to reports confirmed Wednesday by Turner Enterprises and multiple news outlets.
Turner is widely credited with changing television news forever after launching CNN in 1980, creating the world’s first 24 hour news network. His vision helped shape modern cable television and transformed how breaking news is delivered around the world.
Beyond CNN, Turner built a massive media empire that included TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network. He also became a major figure in Atlanta through his ownership of the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and later World Championship Wrestling.
Turner earned nicknames like “Captain Outrageous” and “The Mouth of the South” during his rise in the media industry. He was also known for his philanthropy and environmental work, including a $1 billion pledge to support United Nations causes and conservation efforts across the country.
In 2018, Turner publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. No official cause of death has been released at this time.
Turner leaves behind five children and a legacy that reshaped television, sports, and global news coverage for generations.
